Business and Management Programs

It's been said that the business of America is business. Companies, large and small, need capable employees with a keen knowledge of strategic business concepts. Bottom-line, at SCC we offer you the education and training you will need to help launch your career in the ever-expanding world of business.

In SCC's department of business and management, you may choose from five options. There are three associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degrees available in:

• General Business (accounting, computers, management, etc.)
• Marketing (advertising, retailing, sales, corporate marketing, etc.)
• Management (strategic planning, employee relations, administration, etc.)

In each of these two-year (six-quarter) programs, you spend the first year taking core classes such as accounting, business principles, computer literacy, economics, business math and communications. During the second year, individualized coursework is focused on your chosen area of specialization under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Growth forecasts are very strong in the small business/entrepreneurial sectors. The A.A.S. business degree programs are designed to prepare you for the demands of small or large companies – or to start your own business. The choice is yours!

A one-year certificate (three-quarter) program is offered in:

• Business Occupations
• Management

These fast-track options train you in specific, marketable skills with the goal of quickly entering the job market.

A two-year associate of arts (A.A.) degree program is available for students who plan to continue their business education at a four-year college or university. SCC has articulation agreements (allowing your SCC credits to transfer) with:

• Whitworth University
• Eastern Washington University
• University of Idaho

SCC has articulation agreements (allowing your SCC credits to transfer) with:

• Whitworth University
• Eastern Washington University
• University of Idaho

In addition to the core business classes, this option emphasizes liberal arts classes and advanced business concepts. It is definitely recommended for anyone pursuing a higher level position in the corporate world.

In addition to classroom learning, there are three ways to gain more business experience:

• Enrolling at SCC for cooperative work experience and seminars which enable you to earn credit and get paid for working.
• Volunteering for a nonprofit or government agency where you will earn unpaid credit.
• Participating in SCC's DECA lets you become part of an exciting campus club that offers hands-on experience in leadership training.

No matter what you choose, experience clearly counts – paid or unpaid – when applying for a job in business and management.

Because the business world is so broad and diverse, the more appropriate question may be, "Where do you want to work?" Here are a few positions you may be qualified to pursue with a business degree or certificate from SCC:

• Marketing specialist or marketing manager
• Store or department manager
• Buyer or merchandise manager
• Accounts receivable or accounts payable clerk
• Sales representative or distribution manager
• Customer service or telemarketing representative
• Starting your own business!

Whatever your career goals are, SCC is here to help you achieve them! In addition, the SCC instructors work closely with a community advisory committee to continually evaluate program content, matching it with the job market demands in today's business world.

The location and size of a company will have a significant impact on wages you can earn. Although entry-level jobs may start out at minimum wage level – add to the mix your education, work experience, on-the-job opportunities and determination – and you can advance further in a short period of time. It's up to you!

The earning potential of SCC graduates depends on many factors. Visit salary.com for salary information by position and location. How much you can earn depends on the kind of work you enjoy doing and the type of business career you choose.

Please view our list of programs offered.

Diana Jenno
Communications/Tourism
Development Assistant
Spokane Area Convention &
Visitors Bureau

"It took me twenty years to return to college, starting with SCC and more recently with Whitworth, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, with a 3.7 GPA. The greatest thing that prepared me for Whitworth was the business classes I took at SCC and the entire business department. Every day, still, I use concepts and lessons learned at SCC."

Special Note: Diana was SCC's DEC 1998-99 student of the year. She placed 3rd in the international marketing segment of the 1999 DEC national competition.

People in accounting are record keepers for businesses and government agencies. Their work may include making bank deposits; recording checks, purchases, and vendor payments; billing customers; bill collection; maintaining inventory records; and sales. They may also prepare financial statements, tax returns, statistical reports, cost analysis, sales projections, and cash requirements for managerial purposes.

If you work in accounting, you are involved in the heart of a business. The accounting staff deals with the organization's finances and provides managers with information they need to make good decisions. Prospective accountants should enjoy working with people as well as with numbers. Since they must communicate information to others, accountants also need good reading and writing skills.

SCC offers an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in accounting. The program trains students for all areas of record keeping and offers an emphasis on computer applications to make its graduates more marketable.

The A.A.S. degree program is not designed to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. However, SCC also offers a two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree for students who wish to transfer. The A.A. degree consists of liberal arts classes and includes the first few accounting courses required at four-year schools. This is the program certified public account (CPA) candidates would enter.

If you have been taking classes in the A.A.S. program and then decide to pursue a four-year degree, contact your business counselor or your accounting instructors so they can assist you in tailoring your coursework toward a transfer degree.

Full-time students with good reading and math skills have little trouble completing the coursework in six quarters. If you need refresher courses in reading, writing, math, or study skills, they are offered each quarter at SCC. However, plan to complete these courses in time to begin the accounting program fall quarter.

Contact your accounting instructors during your first quarter for help in planning your curriculum.

The accounting curriculum changes often in response to changes in the business world, but the types of classes you would take include college accounting, computerized accounting, payroll, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, business communications, speech, economics, business law, and nonprofit accounting. Specific course information is available from your counselor and the SCC Business and Management Department.

The SCC accounting program is affordable. A year's full-time tuition is less than other educational institutions in the area. Books, supplies, and lab fees run from $150 to $300 each quarter. Tuition and other costs are subject to change. Please call (509) 533-7391 for current information.

There is a variety of grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study awards available to students. Financial aid is on a first-come, first-served basis. To get the best financial package, start early and work closely with SCC's Financial Aid office. Call them at (509) 533-7017.

"The SCC accounting program gave me the skills I needed to begin my career. The instructors really care about how students are doing. It helped my self-esteem to see that I could do something and do it well."

Jan McCowan
SCC Accounting graduate
Bookkeeper, Pinnacle Investigations

According to recent projections by the Washington State Employment Security Department, the employment outlook in accounting is expected to remain strong. SCC placement data shows that graduates who want to work find jobs in accounting.

For more information on job placement, consult SCC Student Success and Career Services.

Since the accounting field is so broad, graduates of this program will find job opportunities ranging from small, one-person offices to large industrial corporations and government agencies. Job titles include accountant, inventory clerk, bookkeeper, accounting assistant, cost accountant, and office manager.

Recent graduates of SCC's accounting program have received entry-level salaries of $18,000 to $24,000 per year. Wage increases often depend on an individual's professional attitude and job performance. Those who wish to advance into management positions in accounting should complete a four-year degree.

Like any business, law firms achieve goals and conduct day-to-day operations in an organized, effective and profitable environment. In today's busy legal setting, attorneys are relying more on "trained specialists" to assist in providing outstanding service and cost savings to clients.

As a "trained specialist," while not admitted to the practice of law, you function as a vital part of a legal team. You perform duties requiring knowledge of various legal processes enabling a practicing lawyer to focus on more complex matters.

SCC's Business & Management department offers four areas where you can earn an associate of arts and sciences (A.A.S.) degree or a professional certificate in specific areas of legal studies:

• Legal Administration A.A.S. (six quarters)
  Note: The Legal Administration A.A.S. degree has its own program code and is completely separate from the Legal Nurse and Paralegal programs.
• Legal Nurse (four quarters)
• Paralegal A.A.S. (six quarters)
• Paralegal certificate (four quarters)

Note: SCC also offers legal office programs through the Business Technology Department.

Depending on the degree or certificate you plan to pursue, the prerequisites may differ. Therefore, it's critical to meet with the program coordinator and counseling department early to determine the best program and course schedule for your needs.

For example, acceptance into the paralegal A.A.S. degree program requires that you pass a college assessment test and satisfactorily complete specific general/basic education courses (all with a 2.0 or 'C' grade minimum).

In the other three legal studies areas, the program coordinator and counseling department will consider your previous work experience, other degrees achieved and accredited college course transcripts in determining whether you are accepted into a program.

Note: SCC also offers legal office programs through the Business Technology Systems Department.

Most classes are designed to accommodate students who work full-time. The majority of specialty courses are taught in the evening and/or early in the morning to complement a typical workday. Most specialty law courses are taught every other year, so it's important to register for those courses as soon as they become available in the quarterly SCC class schedule.

Careful planning is necessary to finish your legal studies coursework in as few quarters as possible. Once again, it's very important to contact the program coordinator to help you plan your course schedule early in your program.

An important component of obtaining your degree or certificate is working in a law firm (or other legal setting). This opportunity gives you the chance to work with legal professionals--exchanging ideas and comparing analyses--particularly as your legal experience grows. Permission and supervision from the program coordinator is required for an assignment.

Historically, law firms hire the majority of our graduates. However, career choices are constantly expanding and may include:

• credit unions and banks
• real estate and title companies
• insurance firms
• hospitals and medical clinics
• government agencies
• law libraries
• court systems
• corporations

These are just a few examples of employers now interested in hiring SCC graduates in legal careers.

In addition, our program coordinator works with an advisory committee to continually evaluate course content, matching employment demands for legal personnel with your skills training at SCC.

Locally, legal administration and paralegal wages can range up to $15.00 per hour depending on the scope of responsibilities and firm size combined with your experience and skills. Graduates with a legal nurse certificate can start as high as $20 per hour.

Paralegal Welcome Brochure (5/26/2011)

The Graduate's Perspective (6/27/2011)

Paralegal and Legal Nurse Program Classes' Book List (01/2015)

Questions and Answers Sheet - LA 245 and LA 285

Weekly Planner

What Paralegals Do

Prior Learning Assessment & Challenge Policy