Contemporary Business AAS

Program Details Page Contemporary Business AAS

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 may be subject to change. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.

There may be a new version of this degree starting fall 2025, pending approval.

The new Entrepreneurship AAS is based on a 50-credit certificate plus 10 credits of General Education and 30 credits of electives from a wide range of programs. We hope to have final approval shortly to enroll new students in fall quarter.  If you want to begin in summer 2025, please click on the Entrepreneurship link to see your suggested map.

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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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

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