2024-2025 Catalog

Business Administration (A.A.)

Associate in Arts

Program Advisor: Karen Hines, Associate Professor of Business

413-236-4533 - khines@berkshirecc.edu

The Business Administration A.A. program, designed to be a transfer program toward a bachelor's degree, will set you on a path toward an advanced degree in a number of business-related four-year programs. In addition to providing a solid background in accounting, economics and core business courses, the program requires course work in liberal arts and sciences to help students understand themselves and their society.

Students who complete this program receive a solid two-year foundation in the field of business and, in many cases, can transfer with junior status to a four-year college or university. Students transfer into programs such as business, finance, marketing, accounting, economics and management.  This program qualifies for MassTransfer, which guarantees credit transfer to Massachusetts state universities and the University of Massachusetts with the appropriate grades and GPA.  

After completing their baccalaureate work, BCC graduates have built successful careers in business throughout Massachusetts, across the nation and globally.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Use their academic skills, behaviors and attitudes to successfully pursue further studies in a business-related discipline;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the practice of management, marketing and accounting, and the applications of these topics in the business environment and their contribution to strategic planning
  • Use critical thinking skills to appraise and evaluate business practices, including the use of quantitative and qualitative techniques;
  • Possess excellent communication skills to relate well to customers, management and their peers in the workplace; using written, oral and nonverbal techniques, including the use of technology in the gathering and presentation of information
  • Recognize the presence of various cultures in the business world and comprehend the need to have a global perspective when analyzing and planning in a business environment;
  • Comprehend the rapid change taking place in the business environment and demonstrate an ability to engage in ongoing professional development.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

BUS-107Fundamentals of Business

3

BUS-111Principles of Accounting I

3

BUS-112Principles of Accounting II

3

BUS-220Managerial Accounting

3

BUS-122Computer Applications With Business Analytics

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

BUS-206Principles of Management

3

BUS-208Principles of Marketing

3

BUS-251Law for Business I

3

Total Credit Hours:27
 

General Education Courses

COM-Communication

3

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

ENG-English Composition/Writing

6

HIS-History

3

-Or

PSY-Psychology (3)

3

-Or

SOC-Sociology (3)

3

MAT-102College Algebra

3

MAT-123Elementary Statistics

3

-Or

MAT-145Applied Calculus

3

-Humanities & Fine Arts

6

-Natural or Physical Science

7

Total Credit Hours:43

MAT Mathematics: See footnote 1
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 3

Additional Requirements

Core Competencies Portfolio 4 items
FORUM 4 units
Health/Fitness 30 hours

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall 2.000
 All required BUS & ECO courses & CIS-102 courses & science electives  2.000

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time to complete the program may vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

BUS-107Fundamentals of Business

3

BUS-111Principles of Accounting I

3

BUS-122Computer Applications With Business Analytics

3

-History

3

-Or

PSY-Psychology (3)

3

-Or

SOC-Sociology (3)

3

ENG-101Composition I

3

Total Credit Hours:21
 

Second Semester

BUS-112Principles of Accounting II

3

BUS-206Principles of Management

3

-Or

BUS-208Principles of Marketing

3

-Or

BUS-251Law for Business I

3

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

MAT-102College Algebra

3

ENG-102Composition II

3

Total Credit Hours:21
 

Third Semester

BUS-206Principles of Management

3

-Or

BUS-208Principles of Marketing

3

-Or

BUS-251Law for Business I

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

COM-Communication

3

-Humanities & Fine Arts

3

-Natural or Physical Science

3

Total Credit Hours:21

Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 2

 

Fourth Semester

BUS-206Principles of Management

3

-Or

BUS-208Principles of Marketing

3

-Or

BUS-251Law for Business I

3

BUS-220Managerial Accounting

3

MAT-123Elementary Statistics

3

-Or

MAT-145Applied Calculus

3

-Humanities & Fine Arts

3

-Natural or Physical Science

4

Total Credit Hours:25

MAT Mathematics: See footnote 1

Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 2

Footnotes

  1. If attending UMass Amherst is must be MAT151 Calculus or Applied Calculus I transferred in.
  2. The Natural or Physical Science requirement must be fulfilled with two 4-credit laboratory science courses. Students who complete an environmentally focused laboratory science, such as BIO-109BIO-110ENV-101ENV-102, have fulfilled both the Natural or Physical Science and the Environmental Studies requirements.