Entrepreneurship Classes
The following courses can be applied towards Houston Community College’s Business Plan Certificate and/or Entrepreneurship Certificate. See the Schedule of Classes for current course offerings.
Foundation Courses
BUSG 1373 Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
This course is an introduction to entrepreneurship and covers the characteristics of an entrepreneur, the process of evaluating business opportunities, target customers and market mix, business plan basics, and securing and managing funds to start a business. Students will learn how to assess and evaluate their ideas for a new business and how to develop a business plan: developing an idea into a written outline. BUSG 1373 is recommended before enrolling in BUSG 2309 although it is not a requirement. Houston entrepreneurs will visit the class to share their expertise. Faculty for this class are experienced entrepreneurs.
BUSG 2309 Small Business Management–An Entrepreneurial Approach
An in-depth course designed to prepare a Business Plan for a specific business venture. This course goes beyond an outline and students will prepare the specific sections of a business plan. The role of the entrepreneur, opportunity recognition and evaluation, business plan financials, marketing and organization strategies are covered as well as business ownership, financing, and marketing.
Students receive instruction from professors who are entrepreneurs and from guest entrepreneurs. Students are encouraged to enter the annual HCC/Newspring Business Plan Competition and benefit from the guidance of world business advisors who work with each contestant team. Competition entrants compete for prize money and develop their business plan sufficient to seek financing for their proposed business venture.
Supporting Courses
ACNT 1303 Introduction to Accounting
A basic understanding of accounting is essential for an entrepreneur. Students will learn how to analyze, classify, and record business transactions in a manual and computerized environment. The course prepares the entrepreneur to maintain basic accounting records (books), or to effectively review the work of a bookkeeper.
ACCT 2301 Principles of Accounting I (Prerequisite ACNT 1303 or Dept. Waiver)
This course is designed for the entrepreneur who needs a deeper understanding of accounting principles. The course is designed for those students who are preparing for a career in accounting or for those intending to start a business.
More information on Accounting Courses
BUSG 1301 Introduction to Business
This course will introduce you to fundamental business principles: structure, functions, resources, and operational processes. Topics include global business, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, technology, the stock market, investment, and financial management. A passion (for filmmaking, web design, music, cooking, cosmetology, horticulture, etc.) can remain a hobby, or become a fully supporting career or entrepreneurial venture. The difference lies in your talent, drive and your knowledge of what it takes to do business. If you are new to business, this course is the first step toward making your passion your livelihood.
BUSG 1382 Cooperative Education-Entrepreneurship and Economic Studies
Under the supervision of the college and the entrepreneur employing the student, students combine classroom learning with work experience. The course includes a lecture component. Students must have a minimum of 6 (six) semester hours of instruction and grade point average of 2.5. This is a “capstone” course and should be taken in the final semester of study as a hands-on experience through the application of academic knowledge to real world entrepreneurial experience. Students will identify entrepreneurial career paths; skills needed to augment career growth; completion of degree plan to transfer to four-year programs; develop leadership skills for professional growth; identify values for today’s competitive workforce; develop career awareness; identify challenges and solutions in the entrepreneurial workplace; develop a network of employers and peers and design a model for sharing information about findings.
BUSG 2305 Business Law Contracts
This course will enable the aspiring or existing entrepreneur to operate a business within the framework of the legal system. This includes compliance with tort law, with the rules and regulations of Texas Common Law and US constitution, and rules of business ethics. Also discussed, how to settle disputes and minimize time spent in litigation.
HRPO 2301 Human Resources
A course that delves into the multiple interactions involved in each human resource functional area: Staffing; Human Resource Development; Compensation and Benefits; Safety and Health and Employee and Labor Relations. Developing personnel, managing labor cost and mitigating risk are crucial HR management issues in a small business.
LEAD 1200 Workforce Development and Critical Thinking
A course designed to develop leadership skills and critical thinking strategies for success in college and for career development. Students learn key elements to success, strategies for promotions; critical thinking strategies, leadership skills; effective business communication skills; decision-making skills utilizing data and information; group processes and team building. Students will become familiar with college campus policies, departments and learning tools, basic computer applications, student email, and Blackboard. The course also covers time management and prioritization techniques, and effective skills in reading, note-taking and test-taking, resume writing, interviewing skills and utilization of career resource guides. Since entrepreneurship crosses all fields of study and types of industries, you will learn about entrepreneurial certificates as well as other workforce careers.
MRKG 1311 Principles of Marketing
Marketing is key to any entrepreneurial venture. This course explores economic, psychological, sociological, and global issues as well as identifying consumer and organizational needs. Students will learn how to: 1) identify the five major concepts of marketing; 2) conduct market research; 3) prepare and implement a basic communication plan; 4) identify external and internal marketing forces; and 5) write a basic marketing plan.
MRKG 2312 E-Commerce
This course is an introduction to various e-commerce tools for marketing, communications, market analysis and customer feedback techniques. E-Commerce becomes more important for entrepreneurs as consumers rely increasingly on their computers to communicate and make purchase decisions. You will learn how to stay connected to your customer and how to optimize electronic strategies to sell your products and services.