Contemporary Business AAS

Program Details Page Contemporary Business AAS

Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Contemporary Business AAS program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information reflects requirements starting in summer 2022, and it may be subject to change at any time without notice. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.

You also can look at the program map for the Contemporary Business Certificate.

Bookstore Information

a picture of an open bookInformation regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore Links to an external site.. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!

The bookstore has what you need in regards to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!

General Overview

When can I start? Fall (September), Winter (January), Spring (April), or Summer (July)

length of the program icon How long is the program?

  • 3 to 4 quarters (6 to 9 months) for the Entrepreneurship certificate (32 credits)
  • 6 quarters (17 months) with 92 total credits
  • 7 quarters (19 months) if you start in the Summer

When do classes meet? Times vary but online and FLEX options are available

Are summer classes required? Yes. You cannot complete the certificate or degree without attending classes during summer quarter (July and early August).

Learn skills to start and run a small business or manage someone else’s company with training in management, finance, marketing, and planning.

The Associate of Applied Science builds on the Contemporary Business Administration certificate with 10 credits of General Education and then 20 credits of additional General Education classes or classes from other programs in the Business Management area of study: Accounting, Construction Management, Legal Assistant, and Office Assistant. Choose classes that relate to your business plans or that prepare you to transfer to an applied bachelor degree (BAS) program.

What does a manager do?

What is the average salary?

$72,700 annually in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most first-line supervisors earn at least $50,950; there is a wide salary range.

Who can I contact for questions?

 (Links to an external site.)

Overall Materials Needed:

  1. Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers on the RTC campus)
  2. USB drive (thumb drive)
  3. Webcam
  4. Headset with microphone
  5. Working internet connection

*Open Educational Resources are given for BUS and BUS& classes. This means that your textbooks are free! Please be aware that your elective class choices may require you to purchase books, software, or other materials.

Minimum grades or GPA to graduate 

You need to pass each class with a 1.0 or better, and your cumulative or overall GPA must be 2.0 or higher to complete your degree.

Materials Warning

Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!

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Fall

Quarter 1

 [Fall] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,012
Description: You learn the foundations of the contemporary world of business and start working on your business start-up plan. You also complete your choice of a social science class in General Education; recommendations are included below.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
BUS 125 Concept to Commercialization NO 5
BUS& 101 Introduction to Business NO 5
ANTH& 234
or ECON& 201		 Religion and Culture
or Microeconomics
or another General Education social science class		 NO 5

Quarter 2

[Winter] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: Learn how to find and keep customers. You will study quality practices for both product- and service-oriented businesses. You also complete your choice of a General Education or Business Management elective. You can find all of your options in the final tab on this page.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 130
 Small Business Marketing NO 5
BUS 230
 Principles of Operations Management NO 5
CMST& 101
or CMST& 220		 Introduction to Communication
or Public Speaking
or another elective		 varies by class 5

Quarter 3

[Spring] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will research start-up funding and money management for a small business and also effective ways to find (and keep) customers. You also explore planning and decision-making for efficient business processes in BUS 280.
It's time to apply for your Entrepreneurship certificate!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 135 Finance for Small Business NO 5
BUS 240 Principles of Selling and Negotiation NO 5
BUS 280 Office Procedures NO 5

Quarter 4

[Summer] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will explore the benefits of social media platforms to reach your target customers. You also learn how to recruit, interview, hire, train, and keep employees. Finally, you take a General Education class from either the Communication or Humanities distribution areas (see recommendations below). What are your placement options for ENGL&101?
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 110 Social Media Marketing NO 5
BUS 270 Human Resources Management NO 5
ENGL& 101 English Composition (recommended for transfer)
or another communications or humanities class		 varies by class 5

Quarter 5

[Fall] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: In this quarter, you study general management principles. You also complete your math requirements and choose one elective from General Education or another Business Management program (Accounting, Construction Management, Office Assistant, or Legal Assistant). Recommendations are included below. If you are interested in enrolling in an applied bachelor degree (BAS) program, you may want to take AMATH 190, which is the prerequisite for two transfer-level math classes. Learn more about math placement options.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 180 Principles of Management NO 5
AMATH 175
or AMATH 190		 Financial Math
or Financial Algebra (prerequisite for transfer math)
or another mathematics class		 NO 5
ACCT& 201
or ASST 144		 Principles of Accounting I (recommended for transfer)
or Introduction to Computer Applications
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Quarter 6

[Winter] Quarter 6 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will learn how to follow local and national American business laws and choose choose two electives from General Education (recommendations below) or another Business Management program.
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 201 Business Law NO 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146		 Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5
GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (recommended for transfer)
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Grand Total Estimate for Your Contemporary Business AAS Degree: $11,216

Winter

This program may change next year, which means that your fall 2025 quarter could look different.

Quarter 1

 [Winter] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,012
Description: Learn how to find and keep customers. You will study quality practices for both product- and service-oriented businesses. You also complete your choice of a General Education social science class (recommendations included below).
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
BUS 130 Small Business Marketing NO 5
BUS 230 Principles of Operations Management NO 5
ANTH& 234
or ECON& 202		 Religion and Culture
or Macroeconomics
or another General Education social science class		 NO 5

Quarter 2

[Spring] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will research start-up funding and money management for a small business and also effective ways to find (and keep) customers. Finally, you take a General Education class from either the Communication or Humanities distribution areas (see recommendations below). What are your placement options for ENGL&101?
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 135 Finance for Small Business NO 5
BUS 240
 Principles of Selling and Negotiation NO 5
ENGL& 101 English Composition (recommended for transfer)
or another communications or humanities class		 varies by class 5

Quarter 3

[Summer] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will explore the benefits of social media platforms to reach your target customers. You also learn how to recruit, interview, hire, train, and keep employees. Finally, you take a General Education class from either the Communication or Humanities distribution areas (see recommendations below). If you are interested in enrolling in an applied bachelor degree (BAS) program, you may want to take AMATH 190, which is the prerequisite for two transfer-level math classes.  Learn more about math placement options.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 110 Social Media Marketing NO 5
BUS 270 Human Resources Management NO 5
AMATH 175
or AMATH 190		 Financial Math
or Financial Algebra (prerequisite for transfer math)
or another mathematics class		 NO 5

Quarter 4

[Fall] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You learn the foundations of the contemporary world of business, with a focus on supervising other employees, and start working on your business start-up plan.
It's time to apply for your Entrepreneurship certificate!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 101 Introduction to Business NO 5
BUS 125 Concept to Commercialization NO 5
BUS 180 Principles of Management NO 5

Quarter 5

[Winter] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will learn how to follow local and national American business laws and choose choose two electives from General Education or another Business Management program (Accounting, Construction Management, Office Assistant, or Legal Assistant). Recommendations are included below.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 201 Business Law NO 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146		 Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5
ACCT& 201
or ASST 144		 Principles of Accounting I (recommended for transfer)
or Introduction to Computer Applications
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Quarter 6

[Spring] Quarter 6 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You explore planning and decision-making for efficient business processes in BUS 280. You also choose your last two electives from General Education or another Business Management program (Accounting, Construction Management, Office Assistant, or Legal Assistant). Recommendations are included below.
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 280 Office Procedures NO 5
CMST& 101
or CMST& 220		 Introduction to Communication
or Public Speaking
or another elective		 varies by class 5
GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (recommended for transfer)
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Grand Total Estimate for Your Contemporary Business AAS Degree: $11,216

Spring

This program may change next year, which means that your fall 2025 quarter could look different.

Quarter 1

 [Spring] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,012
Description: You learn the foundations of the contemporary world of business, including start-up funding and money management for a small business and effective ways to find (and keep) customers. Finally, you take a General Education class from either the Communication or Humanities distribution areas (see recommendations below).
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
BUS& 101 Introduction to Business NO
BUS 135 Finance for Small Business NO 5
BUS 240
 Principles of Selling and Negotiation NO 5

Quarter 2

[Summer] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will explore the benefits of social media platforms to reach your target customers and learn how to recruit, interview, hire, train, and keep employees. You also complete your choice of a General Education elective or class from another Business Management program (Accounting, Construction Management, Office Assistant, or Legal Assistant). Recommendations are included below.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 110 Social Media Marketing NO 5
BUS 270 Human Resources Management NO 5
CMST& 101
or CMST& 220		 Introduction to Communication
or Public Speaking (recommended)
or another elective		 varies by class 5

Quarter 3

[Fall] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You learn the foundations of the contemporary world of business, with a focus on supervising other employees, and start working on your business start-up plan. You also complete one elective from General Education or another Business Management program (recommendations are included below).
It's time to apply for your Entrepreneurship certificate!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 125 Concept to Commercialization NO 5
BUS 180 Principles of Management NO 5
ACCT& 201
or ASST 144		 Principles of Accounting I (recommended for transfer)
or Introduction to Computer Applications
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Quarter 4

[Winter] Quarter 4 Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: Learn how to find and keep customers. You will study quality practices for both product- and service-oriented businesses and complete your General Education math requirement. If you are interested in enrolling in an applied bachelor degree (BAS) program, you may want to take AMATH 190, which is the prerequisite for two transfer-level math classes.  Learn more about math placement options.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 130
 Small Business Marketing NO 5
BUS 230
 Principles of Operations Management NO 5
AMATH 175
or AMATH 190		 Financial Math
or Financial Algebra (prerequisite for transfer math)
or another mathematics class		 NO 5

Quarter 5

[Spring] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will explore planning and decision-making for efficient business processes in BUS 280. You also complete your General Education social science requirement for your degree and choose one elective from General Education or other Business Management programs.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 280 Office Procedures NO 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146		 Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5
ANTH& 234
or ECON& 201		 Religion and Culture
or Microeconomics
or another General Education social science class		 NO 5

Quarter 6

[Summer] Quarter 6 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will learn local and national business laws and complete your General Education communication or humanities class requirement. You also choose you final elective from General Education or another Business Management program (recommendations are included below). What are your placement options for ENGL&101?
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 201 Business Law NO 5
GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (recommended for transfer)
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5
ENGL& 101 English Composition (recommended for transfer)
or another communications or humanities class		 varies by class 5

Grand Total Estimate for Your Contemporary Business AAS Degree: $11,216

Summer

Quarter 1

[Summer] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,607
Description: You will explore the benefits of social media platforms to reach your target customers and learn how to recruit, interview, hire, train, and keep employees.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
BUS 110 Social Media Marketing NO 5
BUS 270 Human Resources Management NO 5

Quarter 2

[Fall] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You learn the foundations of the contemporary world of business, with a focus on supervising other employees, and start working on your business start-up plan.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 101 Introduction to Business NO 5
BUS 125 Concept to Commercialization NO 5
BUS 180 Principles of Management NO 5

Quarter 3

[Winter] Quarter 3 Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: Learn how to find and keep customers. You will study quality practices for both product- and service-oriented businesses. You also complete your choice of a General Education elective or class from another Business Management program (Accounting, Construction Management, Office Assistant, or Legal Assistant). Recommendations are included below.
It's time to apply for your Entrepreneurship certificate!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 130
 Small Business Marketing NO 5
BUS 230
 Principles of Operations Management NO 5
ACCT& 201
or ASST 144		 Principles of Accounting I (recommended for transfer)
or Introduction to Computer Applications
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Quarter 4

[Spring] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You learn about start-up funding and money management for a small business and effective ways to find (and keep) customers. You also explore planning and decision-making for efficient business processes in BUS 280.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 135 Finance for Small Business NO 5
BUS 240
 Principles of Selling and Negotiation NO 5
BUS 280 Office Procedures NO 5

Quarter 5

[Summer] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,436
please note that this quarter only has 10 credits
Description: You will study local and national laws related to ethical business practices. You also complete one elective from General Education or another Business Management program. Recommendations below are for students interested in transfer.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS& 201 Business Law NO 5
CMST& 101
or CMST& 220		 Introduction to Communication
or Public Speaking
or another elective		 varies by class 5

Quarter 6

[Fall] Quarter 6 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,841
Description: You will study ways to supervise other employees. You also complete two General Education requirements: communication or humanities, and mathematics. If you are interested in enrolling in an applied bachelor degree (BAS) program, you may want to take AMATH 190, which is the prerequisite for two transfer-level math classes. Learn more about English and math placement options.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
BUS 180 Principles of Management NO 5
ENGL& 101 English Composition (recommended for transfer)
or another communications or humanities class		 varies by class 5
AMATH 175
or AMATH 190		 Financial Math
or Financial Algebra (prerequisite for transfer math)
or another mathematics class		 NO 5

Quarter 7

[Winter] Quarter 7 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $1,436
please note that this quarter only has 10 credits
Description: In your final quarter, you choose two electives from General Education or another Business Management program (recommendations included below).
It's time to apply for your AAS degree!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (recommended for transfer)
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5
MATH& 107
or MATH& 146		 Math in Society
or Introduction to Statistics
or another elective choice		 varies by class 5

Grand Total Estimate for Your Contemporary Business AAS Degree: $11,842

Business Management Electives for the AAS

You get to select 25 credits of electives for your AAS degree.

You can choose classes from any of the five General Education areas, or you can use one or more of the classes listed below from other programs in the Business Management area of study.

If you started another Business Management program before enrolling in Contemporary Business Administration, you should be able to use those credits towards your degree!

Accounting

All accounting classes are 5 credits each. Most have prerequisites.

  • ACCT 124 Accounting with MS Excel
  • ACCT 130 Payroll Accounting
  • ACCT 132 Basic Excel (no prerequisites)
  • ACCT 179 Taxation I (no prerequisites)
  • ACCT 275 Taxation II
  • ACCT& 201 Principles of Accounting I (no prerequisites)
  • ACCT& 202 Principles of Accounting II
  • ACCT& 203 Principles of Accounting III

Construction Management

Construction Management classes can be 2, 3, 4, or 5 credits. Some have prerequisites.

  • CONST 103 Introduction to Computers (2 credits)
  • CONST 115 Budgeting & Accounting for Construction Management (5 credits)
  • CONST 140 Construction Plan Reading (3 credits)
  • CONST 160 Materials, Methods & Equipment (3 credits)
  • CONST 183 Mechanical and Electrical Systems (3 credits)
  • CONST 185 Civil Construction (3 credits)
  • CONST 202 Quantity Survey and Estimating (4 credits)
  • CONST 225 Contract Administration and Procurement (3 credits)
  • CONST 230 Project Management-Planning and Scheduling (5 credits)
  • CONST 250 Project Safety and Accident Prevention (4 credits)
  • CONST 251 Safety Planning and Administration (3 credits)
  • CONST 261 Human Relations for the Construction Industry (3 credits)
  • CONST 266 Advanced Technology for Construction I (2 credits)
  • CONST 267 Advanced Technology for Construction II (2 credits)
  • CONST 269 LEED® Green Associate Preparation (2 credits)
  • CONST 270 Understanding Structural Design (2 credits)
  • CONST 280 Building Codes (2 credits)

Legal Assistant

Legal Assistant classes can be 1, 3, 4, or 5 credits. There are no prerequisites.

  • LGL 101 Introduction to the Legal Profession (5 credits)
  • LGL 105 Legal Keyboarding (1 credit)
  • LGL 108 Law Office Procedures I (5 credits)
  • LGL 109 Law Office Procedures II  (5 credits)
  • LGL 110 Family Law and Estate Planning Procedures (5 credits)
  • LGL 113 Business Law Procedures (5 credits)
  • LGL 117 Law Office Procedures III (5 credits)
  • LGL 120 Human Relations in the Legal Office (3 credits)
  • LGL 121 Word Processing (5 credits)
  • LGL 127 Office Applications I (4 credits)
  • LGL 128 Office Applications II (4 credits)
  • LGL 140 Technology in the Law Office (4 credits)
  • LGL 162 Business Math (3 credits)
  • LGL 192 Job Search (4 credits)
  • LGL 201 Civil Litigation (5 credits)  
  • ENGL 075 Business English (4 credits)
  • ENGL 085 Business Communication (4 credits)

Office Assistant

Many students take these classes before they start another program, because they cover very basic computer skills, but anyone can enroll in ASST classes.

  • ASST Business Math (3 credits)
  • ASST 115 Keyboarding and Document Processing (5 credits)
  • ASST 144 Introduction to Computer Applications (5 credits)
  • ASST 181 Career Prep and Human Relations (5 credits)

Classes by quarter

When are Contemporary Business classes offered?

List by class

  • BUS& 101: fall, winter, and spring
  • BUS& 201: fall, winter, spring, and summer
  • BUS 110: summer
  • BUS 125: fall
  • BUS 130: winter
  • BUS 135: spring
  • BUS 180: fall
  • BUS 230: winter
  • BUS 240: spring
  • BUS 270: summer
  • BUS 280: spring

List by quarter

  • Summer
    • BUS& 201 Business Law
    • BUS 110 Social Media Marketing
    • BUS 270 Human Resource Management
  • Fall
    • BUS& 101 Introduction to Business
    • BUS& 201 Business Law
    • BUS 125 Concept to Commercialization
    • BUS 180 Principles of Management
  • Winter
    • BUS& 101 Introduction to Business
    • BUS& 201 Business Law
    • BUS 130 Small Business Marketing
    • BUS 230 Principles of Operations Management
  • Spring
    • BUS& 101 Introduction to Business
    • BUS& 201 Business Law
    • BUS 135 Finance for Small Business
    • BUS 240 Principles of Selling and Negotiation
    • BUS 280 Office Procedures

Not quite the career path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!

Back to Program Map