About

What is the Business Essentials program?
Business Essentials is a two-part program that gives you a foundation in marketing, management and organizational behavior, accounting, financial analysis, and organizational performance, and an integrated understanding of how these disciplines interact in a multifunctional organization. You will learn to observe an organization from the inside as you analyze its culture, strategy, and performance-and from the outside as you learn how strategy plays out with customers, investors, and other stakeholders. Business Essentials is one part of the Penn State Business Series, a suite of accelerated programs addressing core business competencies.

Why is Business Essentials for me?
Business Essentials will be valuable for current and future professionals who:

need the ability to understand business concepts and communicate them effectively throughout the organization
have an interest in supplementing their professional or technical skill set with business knowledge
need a competitive edge to jump-start career advancement or prepare for an expanded organizational role
want to work toward their associate or baccalaureate degree by earning credits at an accelerated pace and apply these credits to a Penn State degree

Develop a manager's perspective
The Business Essentials program stresses leadership, organization, and planning, and will help you prepare for future or current managerial roles. As a participant, you will learn how to speak the language of different business functions and how to deal effectively with both colleagues and customers. Class sessions will give you the opportunity to view issues from a manager's perspective, while practical exercises will help you practice decision making and apply the performance-enhancing strategies used by effective business executives.

Flexible delivery: Learn while you earn
Business Essentials is taught partially on weekends, allowing you to continue your career or schooling while you take courses. The two parts may be taken in any order. The program also features "blended delivery," combining Internet-delivered and classroom instruction.

"Step-up" to a Penn State degree
The credits you earn from the Business Essentials program can be applied to a number of Penn State degrees as required courses or electives. We recommend the bachelor of science degree in organizational leadership as a way to apply the credits you earn in the Business Essentials program. Call 800-228-1627 and ask to speak with an academic adviser to be sure these courses are right for your educational goals.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Organizational Culture, Employees, and Customers

Strategic Decision Making and Performance

Business Essentials, Part 1, will cover how to deal positively with fellow employees and create a culture in which employees thrive, and how the organization implements its strategy to increase market share. You will learn:

how to motivate, persuade, and meet the needs of customers
how to identify and work with both formal and informal power centers
how customers and competitors shape the product and service mix
how an organization tailors market strategy to market segments

Primarily, participants will gain insights to address this key question: What is my organization's unique culture and how can I be successful in my role?

If the credit option is chosen, participants who complete the program requirements will receive Penn State academic credit for:

MGMT 301 Basic Management Concepts
(3 credits)
MKTG 301 Principles of Marketing (3 credits)

Business Essentials, Part 2, provides a deep understanding of accounting, financial metrics, financial planning and analysis, and strategic decision making. You will learn how an organization measures its performance and adjusts its strategy. As you learn financial principles and practices essential to managing a business, you will also learn how you can contribute to the organization's success. This segment will cover:

how to interpret financial metrics to understand organizational performance
how firms acquire, allocate, and control their financial resources
how an organization plans for profitability
how an organization determines and implements strategy

Primarily, participants will gain insights to address this key question: How can I ensure that my own projects and contributions are strategically focused?

If the credit option is chosen, participants who successfully complete the program requirements will receive Penn State University academic credit for:

ACCTG 211 Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making (4 credits)
FIN 301 Corporation Finance (3 credits)

Business Essentials is an program of the
Division of Business and Engineering of Penn State Altoona.
This site is a product of Penn State, Outreach Marketing and Communications.

Page last modified on Tuesday, February 20, 2007