Business

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Overview

The associate degree in business and related business certifications from Elgin Community College allows you to study multiple facets of this growing field. Learn the skills required to meet the demands of corporate functions and develop solid industry knowledge and understanding of the foundations of business.

ECC’s Associate of Applied Science in Business degree is a two-year program that prepares you for entry-level employment in today’s ever-changing business world. Topics covered include business basics, management principles, marketing concepts, financial accounting, e-commerce, sales, and global business needs. Additional business skills are developed through studying economics, business law, communication concepts, and math applications for business.

Within the two-year degree, concentrations are available:

  • in entrepreneurship
  • marketing
  • management
  • retail management

These concentrations provide the opportunity to study a specific aspect of business in-depth, as well as marketing concepts, pricing, advertising, merchandise planning, product planning/development, promotion, and sales techniques.

Interested in ECC’s Guided Transfer Pathway? Learn more about a plan ECC offers to guide you toward courses relevant to your interests and based on the requirements of certain 4-year institutions. 

Prepare for Immediate Employment

The employment outlook for Business majors varies depending on the specific field they choose to specialize in. Generally, the demand for business majors is high, as they are versatile and can be applied to various industries, such as finance, marketing, and management. Roughly 715,100 new jobs are projected over the next decade.

Refer to Career Coach for more information regarding similar occupations and compensation.

Median Pay Rates

Plan of Study and Course Descriptions

Elgin Community College also offers several basic certificates and vocational certificates in Business, offering focused, in-depth programs of study. All certificates can be completed in 8-12 months. Review the ECC catalog for details about the business plan of study and course descriptions.

Associate of Applied Science

Basic Vocational Certificates

Vocational Certificates

Business Certifications

In addition to the two-year Associate of Applied Science in Business degree, you can pursue certifications in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Retail Management, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Supervisory and Administrative Management. ECC’s certifications emphasize career readiness and preparation for immediate employment.

The option to add a Marketing or Retail Management concentration within the two-year degree provides you with opportunities to study marketing concepts, pricing, advertising, merchandise planning, product planning/development, promotion, and sales techniques.

When you pursue a management concentration, you will study the principles and concepts of business management, develop an understanding of interpersonal skills, and allocate resources necessary to effectively plan, organize, staff, and lead within an organization.

Careers in Business

Graduates of our associate degree in business and certification programs have found employment in a wide variety of fields and positions, such as:

  • Advertising and Promotions Managers
  • Marketing Managers
  • Sales Managers
  • Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
  • Business Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Chief Executives
  • Chief Sustainability Officers
  • General and Operations Managers
  • Regulatory Affairs Managers
  • Compliance Managers
  • Investment Fund Managers
  • Supply Chain Managers
  • Security Managers
  • Loss Prevention Managers
  • First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

Learn more about the Associate Degree in Business and Certifications at ECC!

Earning an A.A.S. degree or certificate in business at Elgin Community College can set your career in motion.

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