AA in Small Business Management from LA College International

How Can I Get This Degree?

LA College International has offered this degree to students seeking to learn to think entrepreneurially, to develop strategies to launch a small business, and to grow that business into a successful company. In order to earn this degree, students take both core and concentration courses designed to give them a foundational background in small business practices, such as courses in marketing, managing databases, entrepreneurship, business law, and public speaking. These courses will help students gain skills and knowledge in negotiation and deal-making, sales styles and techniques, business growth strategies, and marketing and distribution. The total time it will take students to earn this degree is 68.5 semester credit hours, which should take full-time students about two to three years to complete. The cost of education at LA College International is typically about $550 per credit for the first 27 credits, and then it drops to about $160 per credit, though prospective students should check with the college for specific prices. You'll also be able to apply for financial aid in order to help fund your education.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

After earning an associate degree in small business management, graduates are prepared to be successful entrepreneurs or to carry on their education and earn a bachelor's degree in business administration or a related subject. Because this degree is focused on small business management, many students use it to help them launch their own successful businesses. There is good news for those who have this degree, as the number of Americans employed by small businesses continues to increase: in 2005, that number was 55 million. Small businesses accounted for 99.7 percent of businesses in the United States as of 2005, which makes it a very important part of our economy and our daily lives. Fortunately, small businesses seem to be rebounding on the heels of this economic recession. Many reported higher earnings for the first quarter of 2010, and after peaking and then falling in 2007, sales of small businesses are again rising. It seems that soon the economy will turn around, again making small businesses a worthwhile investment for recent graduates to consider.