2019-2020 Catalog

Business Careers (A.S.)

Associate in Science

Program Advisor: Kevin Bechard, Dean of Business & Outreach

413-236-2109 • kbechard@berkshirecc.edu

The Business Careers degree program is for the student primarily interested in going to work in business after graduation from BCC. This program is not designed for transfer to baccalaureate institutions. This flexible program can help students prepare for responsible positions in areas such as first-level management in an applied technology or service organization. Students study accounting, computer literacy, economics, and oral and written communications, along with business specialty courses in the areas of their choice.

Program graduates can expect to find employment in manufacturing operations, accounting, finance, customer service, sales, government, insurance, marketing, human resources management and other career areas. 

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Use the necessary math skills to handle complex economic, accounting and finance problems;
  • Recognize, analyze and calculate sales, cost, revenue, profit and other financial data to make informed business decisions;
  • Possess excellent communication skills to relate well to customers, management and their peers in the workplace; and
  • Demonstrate ethical and social responsibility as they go to work in the real world for business firms or government organizations.

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-247Business Communications

3

BUS-
Electives

6

CIS-102Fundamental Computer Literacy

4

CIS-225Spreadsheets and Databases for Professionals

4

-
Free Elective

3

-
Professional Electives

8

Total Credit Hours:37

Professional Electives: See footnote 2

General Education Courses

BUS-105Business Mathematics

3

MAT-
Mathematics

3

COM-
Communication

3

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

6

-
General Education Elective

3

-
Humanities & Fine Arts

3

Total Credit Hours:24

Additional Requirements

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

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall 2.000
All program requirements (except the free 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

CIS-102Fundamental Computer Literacy

4

-
 

BUS-105Business Mathematics

3

-
Or

MAT-
Mathematics

3

-
 

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3

Total Credit Hours:16

MAT Mathematics: See footnote 1

Second Semester

BUS-112Principles of Accounting II

3

CIS-225Spreadsheets and Databases for Professionals

4

COM-
Communication

3

ENG-
English Composition/Writing

3

-
Humanities & Fine Arts

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Third Semester

BUS-
Electives

3

-
Free Elective

3

-
Professional Elective

3

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3

-
General Education Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Professional Elective: See footnote 2

General Education Elective: See footnote 3

Fourth Semester

BUS-247Business Communications

3

BUS-
Electives

3

-
Professional Electives

5

ECO-211Principles of Microeconomics

3

Total Credit Hours:14
Professional Electives: See footnote 2

Footnotes

  1. Mathematics to be chosen from any MAT course with the “MA” General Education designation.
  2. Professional Elective chosen from BUS, CIS, CUL, ECO, and HSP courses.
  3. General Education Elective chosen from History, Natural or Physical Science, Environmental Studies.