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Undergraduate Certificates

Advance Your Business Skills with Hands-on Learning

Business Essentials Certificate

Undergraduate Business Essentials Certificate

Ready to boost your core business skills? Show employers that you’re eager to take your ambition to the next level by adding a Business Essentials certificate to your résumé. 

With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 7% growth on a national level for business and financial roles by 20311, now may be a great time to break into this evolving field. Jumpstart your future by gaining knowledge in entry-level business functions and building your soft skills in communication, teamwork and more.

If you’re taking the first step toward a career in business or are looking to add a credential to your current experience, our Business Essentials certificate is designed to help you jumpstart your future, one that’s full of possibilities at the rate the business world is growing. By honing your core business knowledge, you will have the ability to demonstrate proficiencies in many entry-level business functions, such as accounting, marketing fundamentals, analytics and more. In addition, these skills are often transferable across many industries.

This program equips you to:

  • Engage and inform decision-makers

  • Become an effective and efficient team player

  • Utilize business and management principles to solve problems

  • Perform key tasks involving basic computing, marketing and data analysis

Classes Start Every 8 Weeks

Earn your  Undergraduate Certificate in Business Essentials in as little as 8 months*—or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits.

*Not including breaks. Assumes year-round, full-time enrollment.
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  • 01 Knowledge & Skills
  • 02 Embedded Programs
  • 03 Career
  • 04 Program Courses
  • 05 FAQs
  • 06 Catalog Download
Knowledge & Skills

What You'll Learn

In addition to helping you gain a strong foundation in business, our online Business Essentials classes will also cover these key topics:

  • Computer Applications
    Get hands-on experience with common business programs including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Business Technology and Technological Applications
    Examine major functional areas of business while exploring the organizational theories and technological factors affecting organizations.
  • Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving
    Learn how to identify and solve common business problems.
  • Financial Accounting Concepts
    Learn how to analyze accounting records and financial statements to inform business decisions.
  • Data Analysis and Decision-Support
    Leverage spreadsheet software and data from real-world business situations to organize, analyze and present information.
  • Budgeting and Forecasting
    Learn to design and implement a long-range budget forecast and assess its impact on departmental planning.

Stack Your Credits into a Degree

Once you earn your certificate, you can come back at a time that is right for you and apply all credits toward an applicable DeVry University associate or bachelor’s degree program, helping you prepare to pursue more advanced roles.

Embedded Programs

Build Skills With Stackable Degrees

Earn a Credential at Every Step

You don’t have to wait four years to show a credential on your resume.  At DeVry, several programs are designed to stack. 

  • Start with a shorter credential that takes less time so it’s more affordable

  • Flexible online classes build your professional skills right away

  • Every course counts toward the next degree level2

How Do Credentials Stack?

Here’s an example: When you earn an Undergraduate Certificate in Business Essentials, all courses you complete in the program apply to your Associate Degree in Business. When you complete the associate, you can stack those credits into a qualifying bachelor’s degree. Build your confidence – and your résumé – when you start your journey at DeVry.

Bachelor's
+59-63
Credit Hours Remaining
120-124
Total
Associate
+36
Credit hours remaining
61
Total
Certificate
25
Credit Hours

This represents the Business Essentials Undergraduate Certificate, Associate in Business and qualifying bachelor’s degree. The figures displayed represent the minimum credit hours required for graduation. Additional coursework may be necessary to complete program requirements.

Career

Career Opportunities

 

Graduates of DeVry’s undergraduate Business Essentials online certificate program may consider the following careers:

  • Administrative Services Manager

  • Office Clerk General

  • Customer Service Representative

Program Courses

Business Essentials Courses

Our undergraduate Business Essentials Certificate program is made up of 8 courses totaling 25 credit hours. Of that, 18 credit hours you complete will be in Business Core courses, with the remaining 7 hours being electives. You can choose the electives you want to help you hone specific business skills or follow our suggested path. Either way, you can gain real-world, hands-on knowledge in a variety of relevant subject areas.

Core Courses
Business Core
BIS155
Data Analysis with Spreadsheets with Lab
BUSN115
Introduction to Business and Technology
BUSN219
Marketing Fundamentals
COMP100
Computer Applications for Business with Lab
LEAD150
Leadership and Facilitating Change

+ Choose one below:

ACCT207
Fundamentals of Accounting
ACCT212
Financial Accounting

*Students must take ACCT212 if selecting the Budgeting and Forecasting option in the Electives course area.

Suggested Electives
Budgeting and Forecasting
ACCT360
Managerial Accounting
BUSN278
Budgeting and Forecasting
General Business
GSCM206
Managing Operations Across the Supply Chain
MGMT210
Human Resource Functions
Healthcare Business
HIT111
Basic Medical Terminology
HSM310
Introduction to Health Services Management
Retail Management
BUSN258
Customer Relations
MGMT230
Contemporary Retail Management

Business Essentials Certificate Coursework Preview

DeVry’s Business Essentials certificate includes these courses:

  • Financial Accounting2

    This course focuses on ways in which financial statements reflect business operations and emphasizes use of financial statements in the decision-making process.

  • Fundamentals of Accounting3

    This course introduces financial accounting principles through coursework, examining financial statements and rules that dictate their construction.

  • Data Analysis with Spreadsheets with Lab

    This course focuses on analyzing real-world business situations using current spreadsheet software.

  • Introduction to Business and Technology

    In this business essentials course, students examine the roles of major functional areas of business and interrelationships among them.

  • Marketing Fundamentals

    This course introduces the theory, systems and processes of communicating the value of goods and services to satisfy needs and wants, while considering business goals and social responsibilities.

  • Computer Applications for Business with Lab

    This course introduces the basic concepts and principles of productivity tools widely used in business, such as word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

  • Leadership and Facilitating Change

    This course examines critical thinking skills needed to develop leadership skills and facilitate change within professional communities.

Take Business Essentials Classes Online

Our Business Essentials Certificate program is offered in an engaging, 100% online format. Each 8-week business essentials course you take is taught by an experienced professor. You’ll engage in weekly discussions with your classmates and get hands-on experience finding solutions to real business problems.

You’ll also have access to a wide array of student resources such as:

  • 24/7 Live Tutoring

    Get help when and where you need it.5

  • E-Library

    Access books and resources and get support from DeVry librarians.

  • Mobile App

    Submit assignments, manage your tuition and more.

  • Community Powered by GetSet

    Engage with peers around the country.

  • Career Services

    Take advantage of support from certified career coaches and résumé writers.6

FAQs: Business Essentials

Earning your Business Essentials Certificate gives you the opportunity to advance your core business skills and build your résumé. With each business essentials class you complete, you’ll be able to gain hands-on skills – ranging from accounting and finance to marketing and technology – which you can use to pursue entry-level careers in today’s business world.

Business essentials are the core skills and knowledge you need to understand and effectively perform the job functions for entry-level roles in the business world. This includes work such as managing spreadsheets, using standard technology, communicating with leaders and peers, and understanding financial statements, as well as gaining a general knowledge in key disciplines including accounting, marketing and management.

Academic Catalog
2023-2024 Academic Catalog
Download PDF
Program Guides
Program Overview
Download PDF

1Growth projected on a national level. Growth will vary by location. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
2Students must take ACCT212 if selecting the Budgeting and Forecasting option in the Electives course area.
3ACCT207 requires successful completion of transitional studies courses or standard placement.
4At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied.
5Each student is allotted a set number of hours of tutoring per academic session through www.tutor.com (available 24/7). Additional tutoring services are also available through www.DevryTutors.com.
6Our Certified University Career Coaches are certified by The Academies (www.theacademies.com). Our Certified Professional Résumé Writers are certified by the Professional Association of Résumé Writers and Career Coaches (https://parwcc.com/page/CPRW).