The small business sector is one of the fastest-growing in the nation’s economy. With an ever-increasing number of adults today self-employed, many people either work for a small business or plan to start one of their own. Coastline’s entrepreneurship certificate of achievement can help prospective entrepreneurs launch new ventures or, if you are an entrepreneur who already has your business established, you can strengthen your managerial and business skills to grow your business.

You will learn the fundamentals of starting and operating your own business. The program includes basic business skills as well as specific courses in starting and managing a business. Course work covers evaluating a business opportunity, preparing a business plan, planning advertising and sales promotions, marketing a product or service, and financial management for the entrepreneurial company.

Program Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate solutions to business problems using appropriate business terms and strategies.
2. Analyze and recommend effective business decisions/solutions using a systematic, evaluative, and data-driven approach.

Certificate Graduation Requirements

A Certificate is awarded upon completion of the required coursework with a grade of C or higher in each course. A grade of P (Pass) is acceptable, however, the student must meet an overall GPA requirement of 2.0 to receive the certificate. To receive the certificate, a student must file a petition for graduation during their final semester prior to the application deadline as noted on the Coastline Graduation webpage. 

Certificate of Achievement

Certificate programs are designed to prepare individuals to enter a particular field of employment or to provide in-service training to those already employed.  Certificates of Achievements are majors that include 16 units or more and will be posted on the transcript. They may be used as elective units towards the A.A. or A.S. Degree.

• Student must be in attendance at the time requirements are completed.
• Students must also earn a minimum of 12 units of coursework at Coastline, excluding experiential credit.
• A student with prior experience may be excused from certain certificate courses.
• 50 percent of the certificate program’s units must be completed at Coastline no matter how the total number of units required for the certificate can be met.

Course List Units

Course	Title	Units
Required Core
Complete the following:
BUS C141	Introduction to Entrepreneurship	3
BUS C142	Entrepreneurial Marketing and Operations	3
BUS C143	Entrepreneurial Financial Strategies	3
ACCT C116	ACCT for Non-Financial Managers, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners	3
Electives
Complete two of the following:		6
MGMT C100	Principles of Management
or MS C100	Principles of Management
MGMT C101	Management and Employee Communication
or MS C101	Management and Employee Communication
MGMT C115	Human Relations in Business
or MS C102	Human Relations in Business
MGMT C111	Human Resource Management
or MS C104	Human Resource Management
BUS C100	Introduction to Business
BUS C110	Business Law/Legal Environment of Business
BUS C120	Personal Finance
BUS C150	Introduction to Marketing
Total Units		18