About the Certificate
Highlights:
- Online and available during the summer – can be completed in one summer!
- Open to currently enrolled non-Poole undergraduate NC State students and Non-Degree Seeking (NDS) students
- The certificate will appear on your NC State transcript
Through this program you will:
- Be able to identify the primary business functions and the attributes that make each function important
- Gain practice in the way in which businesses operate and identify strengths and weaknesses of a process within a company
- Show proficiency in two core areas –– Business Essentials and Financial and Managerial Accounting
- Gain additional proficiency in two selected topics: HR, marketing, operations and supply chain management, personal finance or individual income tax
Courses & Requirements
To earn a certificate, you will need to complete 4 courses (12 credit hours). For Summer 2025 enrollment, undergraduate students can check their MyPack Portal for their individual enrollment appointment. Open Enrollment for Non-Degree Studies students will open on November 22nd.
Core (required):
| Course # | Course Title | Offered Summer I 2025 | Offered Summer II 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC 280 | Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting | ✓ | —- |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business Processes | ✓ | ✓ |
Electives (select 2 courses):
| Course # | Course Title | Offered Summer I 2025 | Offered Summer II 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC 230 | Individual Income Taxation | — | ✓ |
| BUS 225 | Personal Finance | ✓ | — |
| BUS 360 | Marketing Methods | ✓ | ✓ |
| BUS 370 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | — | ✓ |
| MIE 330 | Human Resource Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Admitted students should email business_essentials@ncsu.edu if they encounter enrollment issues.
Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and a grade of D- or above for all classes taken towards the certificate.
How to Apply
Undergraduate NC State Students
- Submit a simple application form.
- 2.0 cumulative GPA required to apply to and to complete the certificate.
- Students in a Poole major (Business, Accounting, Economics), Business Administration minor or Business Entrepreneurship minor may not pursue the certificate.
- Please note that NC State Graduate students are not eligible to apply.
Non-Degree Studies Students
- If you are not a current NC State student, you must first apply to NC State as a Non-Degree Studies student.
- As part of your application, you will have the option to select the Essentials of Business Certificate as your desired program.
Questions?
Email us at business_essentials@ncsu.edu