Business Studies | Madison College

Business Studies

Program Number: 908096CERT

Your Degree: Certificate

Estimated Time to Complete: 14 Credits | Finish in 1 year

Delivery Method: 100% Online, Some Online/Some In Person

Area of Study: Business

Estimated Program Cost: $2,903.18

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Program Overview

The Business Studies program at Madison College gives you the best of both worlds: a flexible, affordable way to earn general education credits and the educational foundation to transfer into a business program at a four-year institution.
While completing the Business Studies program at Madison College, you will learn key skills in Business Organization, Business Management, Accounting, and Economics. You will become proficient in Excel while earning this employable business credential.
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Program Details
Students in Madison College's Business Studies program can attend full or part-time.
Business Studies classes are offered at the Madison College Truax campus.
Program Courses

Here's a sample course sequence that shows how classes for full-time students are typically organized by semester.
Once you're admitted, your full curriculum and sequence—including any pre-requisites—is defined in your Degree Progress Report.
Required Courses
10-101-244
Financial Accounting
Introduction to the field of accounting. The accounting cycle and the preparation of accounting statements is emphasized for service industries and merchandising concerns. Topics include details of accounting for cash, receivables, fixed assets, current and long-term liabilities. Further consideration will focus on accounting for partnerships and corporations, the statement of cash flows and analysis of financial statements.
4 credits
10-101-118
Management Accounting
Emphasizes the managerial use of accounting reports, the problem-solving functions of accounting in relation to current planning and control, performance evaluation, long-range planning, budgets and cost-volume-profit relationships.
4 credits
Choose Two of the Following Courses
10-102-134
Introduction to Business
Explore concepts related to business strategy, marketing, operations, finance, and corporate culture, as well as their interrelationship within the organization. Expand understanding through case studies and a computer business simulation. Recognize the role of small businesses and their participation in international markets. Use an Ethics framework, further explored in upper-level Program classes, to promote and enforce ethical behavior.
3 credits
10-102-143
Organizational Management
Learn why results and relationships are key to effective management, in the context of the traditional managerial elements of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. Apply techniques for problem solving, critical thinking, decision-making, delegation, motivation, change management, and political savvy behavior to case studies, simulations, and activities. Self-assess Emotional Intelligence (EI) and apply techniques to improve EI. Manage tasks while working independently and/or remotely.
3 credits
10-104-102
Marketing Principles
Explore the dynamic and engaging world of marketing where creativity meets strategy. This course dives into the four key principles: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Students will uncover how marketing shapes business through topics like target markets, consumer behavior, product development, pricing strategies, distribution channels, and innovative promotions.
3 credits
10-116-145
Introduction to Human Resources
This course explores the basics of human management including strategic human resource planning, issues in human resources, planning, equal employee opportunity, analyzing and staffing jobs, training and development, and global and international employment.
3 credits
20-809-294
Introduction to Data Analytics
This course is an introduction to data analytics, designed for beginners. Topics include data collection and cleaning, handling missing data, exploratory data analysis, basic statistical methods, and techniques for visualization of data. Useful data science tools will be introduced, including Excel and SQL.
3 credits
10-102-104
Business Statistics
Introduces the theory of, and application to basic statistical methods. Emphasizes solving practical business problems. Topics include basic measures, probability, sampling, and time series analysis. Knowledge of Excel is strongly recommended.
3 credits
Basic Statistics may be taken instead of Business Statistics
20-804-240
Basic Statistics
Appropriate statistical techniques are studied for the systematic collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of experimental results, including surveys and quality control. The focus is on understanding the techniques of statistical inference (confidence intervals and hypothesis testing) and interpreting results as found in articles and reports. Emphasizes the inherent uncertainty when decisions are made based on sample data. Includes descriptive statistics, basic probability theory, sampling distributions and the Central Limit Theorem; the binomial, normal, Student t, chi-square, and F distributions; and techniques of 1- and 2-sample tests, linear regression, correlation, and an introduction to analysis of variance.
4 credits
How to Apply
Earning a certificate is a great way to expand your skill set and add professionalism to your resume. Applications are always open, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.
There are no admission requirements for this certificate. Simply submit your application by the deadline for each term.
Application Dates
Fall 2026
Application open
Application completion deadline is November 15, 2026
Spring 2027
Application open
Application completion deadline is April 15, 2027
Fall 2027
Application available on October 15, 2026
Application completion deadline is August 31, 2027
Additional Notes
Certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid.
Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a certificate does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the certificate.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Business Studies career.
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Career Outcomes
After completing the Business Studies program at Madison College, you will be able to:
Use identified critical thinking skills to pose questions, process information and make decisions.
Exhibit self-awareness and self-management skills necessary to succeed in increasingly challenging academic environments.
Participate in collaborative learning activities to achieve shared learning goals.
Explore the operations of a business across functional areas.
Record, analyze, and report on financial data.
Examine the relationship between economic principles, business, and society.
Use communication strategies to build professional relationships.