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College of Applied and Technical Studies

Essentials for Business Decision Making

Course Delivery
100% online
Total Credits
16
Completion Time
Complete in 1 year
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Certificate articulates into the Associate of Applied Business degree or the Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

The Essentials for Business Decision Making Undergraduate Certificate at Kent State University offers foundational knowledge in business principles for students seeking to enhance their decision-making skills. This online program covers key areas such as financial analysis, management principles, and strategic planning, preparing students for roles in a variety of business environments. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to build a strong business acumen.

Essentials for Business Decision Making Undergraduate Certificate Program Overview

The Essentials for Business Decision Making undergraduate certificate provides a background for both experienced and aspiring business managers. For the business manager who may already have a degree in a field other than business, the program offers professional certification. For the person who aspires to be a management position, the certificate articulates well into the Associate of Applied Business degree or the Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify and define contemporary approaches to applied business and management practice.
  2. Develop and apply critical thinking, research and analysis skills necessary for professional success.
  3. Discuss various aspects of teams in business: team dynamics, different types of teams, meeting rules and management.
  4. Analyze and assess basic financial reports for evaluation and performance of a business.
  5. Apply principles of organizational leadership and management to ethical business practices.

Essentials for Business Decision Making Undergraduate Certificate Program Admissions Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog’s Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program’s Coursework tab.

Important Dates

Aug
19
Classes Begin
Fall 2024 Semester
Jan
13
Classes Begin
Spring 2025 Semester
May
12
Classes Begin
Summer 2025 Semester
Aug
18
Classes Begin
Fall 2025 Semester
Jan
12
Classes Begin
Spring 2026 Semester
May
11
Classes Begin
Summer 2026 Semester
Aug
24
Classes Begin
Fall 2026 Semester

Program Courses

Program Requirements

Program Requirements
Course List
Code Title Credit Hours
Certificate Requirements
ACCT 23020
UC 10162

and INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
4
ACTT 11000 ACCOUNTING I: FINANCIAL
BMRT 11000 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3
BUS 10123 EXPLORING BUSINESS
BMRT 11009 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY 3
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
CIS 24053 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES 3
IT 11000 INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours: 16

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary - Certificates
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Essentials for Business Decision Making Undergraduate Certificate Program Tuition and Fees

Ohio Residents

Per Credit Hour Per 3-Credit Course Approximate Tuition Cost
$335.57 Lower Division Courses
$1,006.71 

$5,369.12 part-time¹

$3,692.65 full-time²

Non-Ohio Residents

Per Credit Hour Per 3-Credit Course Approximate Tuition Cost
$345.57 Lower Division Courses
$1,036.71

$5,529.12 part-time³

$3,851.65 full-time4

¹The $335.57 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester. This certificate consists of all lower division courses.

²The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester.

³The $345.57 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses applies to part-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge. This certificate consists of all lower division courses.

4The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge for actual credits taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180).

An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.

Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.

The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken.  Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person.  Program costs are subject to change without notice.

Careers

Management analysts
  • 10.7% much faster than the average
  • 876,300 number of jobs
  • $87,660 potential earnings
Project management specialists and business operations specialists, all other
  • 5.9% faster than the average
  • 1,361,800 number of jobs
  • $77,420 potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Other Programs You Might Like
The Associate of Applied Business degree in Business Management Technology provides students with a core consisting of communication, management, accounting, marketing, e-commerce, economics and liberal arts courses. Students may have the opportunity to participate in internships, which help to link theory with hands-on practice.
The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in General Business is for students who desire a holistic understanding of all business areas rather than a specialized area of business, i.e., accounting, business management, computer information systems, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, managerial marketing and marketing.
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