This major will provide you with knowledge, skills, and resources to start, manage, and grow a small business. Specifically, this program will help turn an initial business idea into a reality through a series of 'must-do' actions and learning activities. As a capstone project, you will synthesize all of the program's learning experiences by completing a thorough and well-written business plan for a business idea.
To help launch a new business, you will learn how to assess market opportunities, conduct a risk assessment, and distinguish the options for doing business, such as freelancing, working from home, franchising, or running a business online or in a brick-and-mortar. You will also explore financial options and strategies to navigate the legal environment, as these steps are key to initiating a successful new business. Once your enterprise is off the ground and running, this program will show you how to successfully manage and grow a business by exploring proven operational, marketing, financial, and human resource strategies for the small business.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally include a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MATH 115 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | Not Available |
Purpose Statement
The mission of the NAU Personalized Learning Bachelor of Small Business Administration will be a lead provider of personalized and customized undergraduate online business education that will promote and encourage participation of partnerships within the business industry and global community as well as a variety of governing agencies and trade associations.
Our primary goal is to prepare NAU students to sustain valuable contributions in their communities and create a culture of inclusion that contributes to a rich foundation of engaged social responsiveness and professional excellence in a local, national and global environment.
Our vision for the SBA Personalized Learning Program is driven by our principle to provide high-quality, competency-based business and entrepreneurial training, as measured by the critical performance indicators for effective entrepreneurship education and a skill set essential to the success of the local and global community of learners. The PL competency model provides entrepreneurial skills that optimize worker’s technical and professional skills.
In pursuit of these goals and vision we are committed in fostering a sense of community and to uphold the values of:
The Personalized Program is student-centered and shall provide the each student journey a customized learning path that will be prepare students for with a comprehensive understanding of the skills in management, operations, decision-making and business analytics to apply them to real-life experiences and long-term career planning. The SBA Personalized Learning Program is for the student who seeks a non-traditional bachelor’s degree in business with an option to a minor that fits their personal interests and specialization.
Student Learning Outcomes
The SBA program is dedicated to the mission and goals of the university and the sustainability of continuing business education and industry collaboration, to integrate four major areas in business:
PL students will examine in-depth competencies-based in a variety of business areas, including foundational development skills associated with key entrepreneurship performance indicators, emerging trend in postsecondary entrepreneurial education and direct skills assessments as related to industry specific standards.
Small Business Administration Personalized Learning Graduates will be able to:
Course Credit Earned (54 - 57 units)
You may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your faculty mentor for details.
Science Requirement, select from the following (12 units):
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Some courses may have departmental prerequisites required by students in other majors. Any prerequisites not fulfilled with transfer credit may be met by successfully completing a pretest; however, the pretest credit(s) will not be granted for the completion of the plan requirements.
This degree is offered only through the Personalized Learning program. Work with a faculty mentor for any questions regarding the applicability of coursework completed through Personalized Learning to any other plan of study at NAU.
See the following sites for additional information.
Grading and Transcripts
Definition of a Term