Business

Business Degrees at SMC

Study business at SMC for a strong start to your degree that pairs quality education with hands-on practice—all for half the cost of most four-year schools.

Whether you strive to work in marketing, management, finance, or other areas, SMC’s business degree will prepare you to begin your career with confidence.

About the Degrees

Instilling confidence in your skills is a key aspect to this program. Through our hands-on degree programs, you’ll develop a business plan, build a marketing strategy, practice financial planning, and learn to communicate business needs effectively.

You’ll gain a thorough understanding of developing a competitive advantage, business law, and accounting. You’ll also learn how to maximize efficiency, motivate employees, delegate work, conduct market research, and more. You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge hiring managers are looking for and be equipped for a strong career in business or related fields.

SMC offers two degrees in business, the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and the Associate in Arts (AA). The AAS in business is designed to help you gain entry-level employment in business. The AA in business, which offers in-seat and online program options, is a two-year transfer program designed to help you complete the first half of a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. The curriculum meets Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) requirements and will transfer to institutions nationwide. Students have gone on to top schools like University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

You can also enhance your resume with a certificate in business management, human resource management (through Ferris), international business (Ferris), or leadership and supervision (Ferris).

The business degree is also offered at the Niles Campus.

What You’ll Learn

View curriculum guide for the Associate in Applied Science in Business.

View curriculum guide for the Associate in Arts in Business.

What Can I Do With a Business Degree?

Business majors learn how to effectively run a business and may get jobs in any area related to business operations, including sales, marketing, human resources, management, finance, law, and more.

Because business is a broad field, you’ll be able to apply your degree to many applications in any industry. Business professionals might manage the operations of a sports venue, track the finances of a non-profit, lead a sales team, or develop marketing strategies to effectively position an organization in the marketplace. Below is a sample of some careers that can be obtained with a business degree.

Careers and Salaries
Career Option	Salary
Administrative Services Manager:	$104,900
Budget Analysts:	$84,940
Fundraisers:	$64,160
Human Resources Specialists:	$67,650
Market Research Analysts:	$74,680
Sales Manager:	$135,160
Training and Development Specialists:	$64,340
Top Executives:	$103,840

2023 median pay. Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Related Programs

Business Online

Business Management

Sports Management

Bachelor's Degree Option

Earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration on our Dowagiac campus through our partnership with Ferris State University.

SMC business programs are designed to transfer into Ferris programs, saving you time and money.

Learn more about Ferris at SMC programs here.

Entrance of SMC with Students who are taking Ferris State University classes

Clubs and Honor Societies

Business Club

The Business Club is open to students of any major. The Business Club allows students to engage with each other and professionals in various industries. The Business Club also hosts various events on campus and typically participates in a field trip each semester to various businesses/industries so that students can see first-hand the experience of what it is like to work in that business/industry.