Entrepreneurial Studies

Maybe you’ve felt the urge to start a business your whole life. Maybe you decided to be your own boss just recently. Either way, if you have the spirit of entrepreneurship, consider enrolling in our Entrepreneurial Studies program to get started on the right foot. Upon completion of this program, you will be equipped with the skills necessary to run a successful small business.

Our experienced instructors will teach you how to develop, pitch, and execute your ideas — be it for a product or small business. You’ll learn how to create a preliminary business plan, evaluate different start-up opportunities, assess an opportunity’s financial feasibility, and build the first steps in starting a thriving company. You’ll also learn about entrepreneurship concepts, running a small business, and the impact of entrepreneurship on society.

Make it happen. Begin your journey with our Entrepreneurial Studies program today.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

Fast Track Certificate, which can be completed in two semesters or less.

Program Description

Learn how to launch a successful company and develop, pitch, and execute new products or business ideas. Build your skills in an accelerated format and acquire the tools needed to research an opportunity, evaluate its financial feasibility, study the competition, assess different business models and take action!

The Entrepreneurial Studies program at SCC is a set of interdisciplinary classes that will help you learn how to take your plan from idea to business formation and beyond. Whether you envision a large or small, public or private, for-profit or non-profit company, the skills learned in the entrepreneurship classes are critical factors in the future success of your business.

What is entrepreneurship? Being an entrepreneur isn’t what you are; it’s who you are. It’s a philosophy and belief in your ability to grow something from an idea, to a startup, and into a thriving company.

There are two levels of certificates for this program. Level I (10 credits) is designed to provide students with an introduction to the entrepreneurial process. Courses include an overview of entrepreneurship, raising capital, business start-up opportunities, building financial security, and writing a basic business plan.

Note: The Level I certificate alone is NOT eligible for Federal Financial Aid. In order to receive aid, you must also sign up to complete the Level II certificate.

Level II (an additional 8 credits) is designed to provide students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities to start and run their own business. Courses include new venture legal issues, financial projections, and market research to determine business feasibility. It also covers management skills and entrepreneurial thinking for owning and operation a small business.

Note: You must earn the Certificate of Completion in Entrepreneurial Studies Level I before starting on Level II.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

  • Business internships
  • DECA (student business association with professional development opportunities)
  • Service learning and volunteerism

Course Format

Classes are offered in a variety of formats: in-person, online, hybrid, day, evening, full-time and part-time.

Textbooks

Most of our courses use low-cost textbooks or no cost material provided by your instructors. General education courses may have textbooks that cost more.