You may have wondered what the differences are between the 4 business degree options offered at the College and which is the best fit for you. This guide will help you select the best program to meet your academic and professional goals. 

Accounting A.A.S. *

Students who pursue an Associate’s degree in Accounting receive training in accounting theory and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as well as basic management skills. They also learn specialized concepts as related to accounting and the certified public accountant (CPA) exam, including but not limited to:

• Advanced reporting
• Auditing
• Budget maintenance 
• Financial analysis

The Accounting degree prepares students to become valuable assets in the workforce as payroll clerks, tax preparation specialists, accounts payable administrators, credit analysts, junior accountants and more. An Associate’s degree in Accounting can help students find a job in the accounting field and/or continue their studies to earn as they learn through a bachelor’s completion degree or continuing education program. 

This program may be completed entirely online or in-person. 

Business-General A.A. **

The Business-General program was designed with students in mind who are planning to transfer to a 4-year business program, including those accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) such as the Fox School of Business (Temple University), Haub School of Business (St. Joseph’s University), LeBow College of Business (Drexel University) and others. Through this Associate’s degree, students gain a strong foundation in general business concepts such as:

• Business Law
• Financial accounting
• Management techniques 
• Marketing principles 
• Risk management 

The Business-General program allows students to transfer to a wide variety of business programs in areas such as: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, and others. This degree provides the fundamental knowledge necessary to be a successful business student with the ultimate goal of graduation from a business transfer institution and finding employment in any field. A degree in business prepares students for careers as accountants, entrepreneurs, financial analysts, marketing specialists, finance advisors, and much more! 

This program may be completed entirely online or in-person. 

Business-Accelerated A.A. **

The Business-Accelerated program is a select enrollment option of the Business-General program that allows students to complete their degree in just 21 months. The Accelerated Business Associate’s degree requires that students start and complete the program in a cohort by following a specified course sequence. The program allows students to transfer to a variety of business programs in areas such as, but not limited to: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, and others. 

This degree option offers the same courses in the Business-General program in an accelerated format:

• 4-week hybrid course offerings with on-campus sessions held on Saturday’s 
• 7-week fully online distance education course offerings 

The accelerated format and course sequence allows students to graduate in a shorter time-frame and still have the option to transfer to a 4-year bachelor’s degree program. The distance/hybrid formats especially allow extreme flexibility for working adults who are unable to attend classes during the day, in a traditional format.  

This program requires Saturday attendance, hybrid and fully online coursework, and year-round enrollment.On-campus sessions are held at the Northwest Regional Center in a dedicated classroom.

Select programs require additional admissions requirements for entry into the program. See the catalog for specific details: https://www.ccp.edu/college-catalog/degree-programs/associate-arts-aa/business-accelerated 

Business Leadership A.A.S.*

The Business Leadership program is for students who are looking for an associate's degree that they can put to immediate use in various fields and for those looking to advance in their current careers, transition into a new field, and/or start their own business. Through this associate's degree, students gain a strong foundation in specialized business leadership skills, such as:

• Business analytics
• Business law
• Critical thinking & problem solving 
• Customer service
• Organizational culture 
• People management 

The Business Leadership program also requires students to study a complementary discipline course sequence in a separate (pre-approved) academic area. To complete the complementary discipline course requirements, students should enroll in the Entrepreneurship proficiency certificate, the Corporate Social Responsibility proficiency certificate, or any other proficiency certificate offered at the college. As another option, students may apply a set of pre-approved courses or prior learning assessment credits to complete the minimum 15 credits in a complementary discipline. By gaining proficiency and knowledge in a separate discipline area, students become more marketable in the workforce. Graduates of this program wishing to continue their studies have the option to transfer to a bachelor’s degree completion program.

*An A.A.S. Associate in Applied Science degree provides students career-specific skills leading directly to employment. Students with this degree may also transfer to bachelor’s degree-granting institutions.  

** An A.A. Associate in Arts degree is designed for those who plan to transfer to bachelor’s degree-granting institutions to continue their academic studies. 

Transfer Opportunities

If you are interested in transferring to a bachelor’s degree-granting institution upon completion of a Business Associate’s degree, counselors in the College's Counseling Center (include a hyperlink to website - https://www.ccp.edu/student-support/counseling) are here to help students explore general transfer opportunities. For transfer assistance specific to your program of study, program coordinators, counselors and academic advisors are here to offer additional insight to ensure you are fulfilling your transfer requirements.

Questions?

To learn more about the Business degrees offered through the Department of Business Administration, call 215-751-8314 or visit https://www.myccp.online/division-business-and-technology