Business Communications Certificate of Achievement

Completion of the Business Communication Certificate prepares students to use effective workplace communications, written and oral. Effective documents, reports, and other written communications, internal and external, print and electronic, are emphasized. Students learn to communicate clearly, use effective interpersonal skills, and apply listening skills, all for the business environment. While a vast array of occupations requires communications skills, occupations specific to communications include, but are not limited to, Media and Communication workers, Public Relations Assistants, Sales and Marketing Assistants, Office Assistants, Event Planners, Dispatchers, Fundraising Specialists, and Supervisors.

This certificate builds or “stacks” onto the Business Communication Skills Certificate and adds depth to students’ familiarity with business functions and environments that provide the contexts for communications.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this program will be able to:

Apply principles, planning, organization, and styles to written and oral business communications, including consideration of ethical, cultural, gender, and other aspects of the communication.
Use principles of effective business communication to create written business documents, such as letters, memorandums, reports, proposals, requests for proposals (RFPs), instructions, employment-related documents, as well as email and other online written business communications. They will use correct grammar, style, and format.
Orally communicate clearly, effectively, and appropriately, including critical listening, communication with workplace superiors, coworkers, customers, clients; use telephone, webinar, and other online communications; use teamwork, meeting, and leadership skills; use appropriate interviewing techniques, business etiquette, presentation skills, as well as nonverbal communications.
Consider relevant fundamentals of legal systems, and social, ethical, and political forces affecting the operation and communications of businesses; apply familiarity with the functions of business including the major concepts related to business ownership and the factors that influence them; competition and marketing; and the systems, technologies, and operational controls through which business organizations operate, to business communications.
Integrate expertise in technical knowledge and skills with thinking and reasoning strategies to create, innovate, and devise solutions.
Behave in a professional manner appropriate to organizational expectations, including the exercise of initiative and self-direction andobservation of laws, rules, and ethical practices.
Create classic and contemporary marketing communications, including product and service planning, pricing, distribution, promotion, and uses of new technologies, including social media and e-commerce.

Required Courses

BUS 1 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3 Units
or
BUS 1H HONORS INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3 Units
BUS 13 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT AND BUSINESS LAW 3 Units
BUS 102 ORAL BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS 3 Units
BUS 104 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION 3 Units *
BUS 103 BUSINESS ENGLISH 3 Units
or
ENG 1A PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION I 4 Units *
or
ENG 1AH HONORS PRINCIPLES OF COMPOSITION I 4 Units *
BUS 125 HUMAN RELATIONS IN BUSINESS 3 Units
BUS 105 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING 3 Units
or
BUS 109 E-COMMERCE MARKETING 3 Units
or
BUS 135 MARKETING 3 Units
BUS 196 WORKPLACE SUCCESS SKILLS 1 Unit
Select from Restricted Electives 3-4.5 Units

Restricted Electives: Select 3-4.5 units from the following courses

CWE 180 CO-OP-ED-BUSINESS 1 Unit
or
CWE 180 CO-OP-ED BUSINESS 2 Units
or
CWE 180 CO-OP-ED-BUSINESS 3 Units
CIM 112 MICROSOFT OFFICE 3 Units
CIMA 102 WORD PROCESSING - WORD 3 Units
CIMA 102A WORD PROCESSING - WORD–BEGINNING 1.5 Units
CIMA 102B WORD PROCESSING - WORD–ADVANCED 1.5 Units
CIMA 108 BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS - POWERPOINT 3 Units
SP 5 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3 Units
SP 20 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 3 Units

Total Units for the Certificate 25-27.5

*Course has a prerequisite, corequisite, limitation, or recommended preparation; see course description.