Cleveland State's Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Business Entrepreneurship Concentration is for individuals who want to start a business or who have a small business and want to learn how to increase markets, profits and productivity by using management tools and techniques.
“The Business Department at Cleveland State is proud to introduce a new Entrepreneurship Concentration within our Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business,” said Susan Webb-Curtis, Dean of Business and Healthcare.
“This program will not only include critical core courses in business, but will also incorporate experiences in business plan development, student competitions, and experiential learning through capstones and internships.”
According to Ms. Webb-Curtis, the entrepreneurship concentration is a direct result of a recommendation from the college’s Business Advisory group. Comprised of members from the local community in different areas of business: manufacturing, banking, accounting, utilities, and universities, the goal of the Advisory Board is to support the CSCC Business Department and advise the college on the up and coming needs within industry and make recommendations for possible courses the college can offer to meet those needs.
In addition to offering entrepreneurship as a new concentration, CSCC students can also take advantage of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) located on the Cleveland State campus. This center provides small business start-up services including business plan development, financial planning assistance, marketing plan development, sources of capital and social media guidance. Also located on the CSCC campus, the Cleveland / Bradley Business Incubator (CBBI) provides businesses with some of the latest innovations in business technology and an affordable space for businesses to grow.
“The Small Business Development Center and Business Incubator on campus provide our program with a unique opportunity for greater immersion experiences for our students,” said Ms. Webb-Curtis. “This real world exposure will provide students with an enriched college experience and better prepare them for their future careers.”
“We are excited about the launch of the entrepreneurship concentration which is a part of a bigger picture for Cleveland State,” said Patty Weaver, vice president of Workforce and Economic Development. “We are already working with entrepreneurs every day and look forward to collaborating with our partners in the SBDC and Business Incubator and growing these efforts even more in the future.”
Fall registration at Cleveland State is currently underway, and classes begin on Monday, Aug. 24. For more information on the entrepreneurship concentration, email business@clevelandstatecc.edu or call (423) 472-7141, Ext. 224 or 478. For more information on Cleveland State, visit the college at ClevelandStateCC.edu.