Aviation Business Law & Finance Series

Certificate in Start-Up and Business Owner Management

The Start-Up and Business Owner Management certificate program will provide an excellent foundation for anyone interested in starting, owning, and operating their own business. Courses in this program include Business Plan Development, Positioning for Finding Financing, as well as Buying and Selling a Business, Marketing Management, and Legal Issues in Operations. Requirements for completion of the certificate program consist of a total of 9 courses, 5 required, and 4 out of 7 offered electives, however, anyone may take any of the courses at anytime without pursuing the certificate.

Each course is $240 (USD) and is 30 contact hours with 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) awarded.  The cost of the entire certificate program is $2160.

Each online course can be completed at your own pace, anytime, anywhere with a high-speed Internet connection and personal computer. A certificate program may be completed within 6-9 months.

 Required Courses:

ALF-3000 Essentials of Business Ownership ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
Students will learn the basics of starting, owning and managing a business.  This course will cover the fundamentals from idea generation all the way to implementation.

ALF-3001 Financial/Accounting Management ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
This course provides an understanding of financial and accounting terms even for students with no financial background. The course will cover foundational principles of interpreting financial statements, determining company profitability and measuring cash flow.

ALF-3002 Marketing Management ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
This course focuses on the principles and techniques of marketing by exploring the issues necessary in the management of the marketing process. The course will detail the entire marketing process including the role of ethics and technology and the basic principles of advertising and public relations.

ALF-3003 Strategic Management in Operations ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
This course develops the practical and managerial skills necessary to effectively plan for operational success. This course covers the basic details for developing an operational plan and designing the strategic direction necessary to achieve company goals.

 Electives: (Choose 4 of the following:)

ALF-3010 Business Plan Development ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
In this course students will learn the essentials of creating and developing a successful business plan that can be used for both internal strategic management and external positioning for financing. This course is a pre-requisite for Positioning for and Finding Financing.

ALF-3011 Understanding Financial Statements ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
In this course students will learn the fundamentals of understanding financial statements for purposes of obtaining financing. It is critical that every business owner understands how to interpret and explain the financial condition of their business. This course is a prerequisite for Positioning for and Finding Financing.

ALF-3043 Positioning for and Finding Financing ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
This course is essential for any business owner or manager who must find financing either for start-up purposes or for running existing business operations. This course discusses the various types of financing from venture capital to traditional financing sources. If taken as part a part of the certificate program, this course requires two prerequisites; ALF-3010 Business Plan Development, and ALF-3011 Understanding Financial Statements.

ALF-3012 Persuasive Communication ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
Persuasive communication is essential for not only selling products and services of a business, but for obtaining financing and running daily operations as well. This course will provide students with the opportunity to gain confidence and improve their communication skills. Even the most skilled communicator can always learn additional techniques for success.

ALF-3014 Organizational Leadership and Decision Making ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
Leaders in any organization often set the tone and establish benchmarks for success. In this course the focus is on developing a successful leadership style to facilitate team building, collaboration and a corporate culture that promotes success. Different decision making techniques will be explored in the context of successful leadership styles.

ALF-3015 Organizational Development and Change ($240) [30 hours, 3 CEUs]
Since most business organizations are social systems, this course focuses on the organizational culture and how it influences the way people work to maximize the long term health of an organization and its people. This course explores the development process and how to successfully effectuate change.