Associate of Applied Technology Degree
The AAT Retail Business Management degree prepares students for careers in marketing, sales, retailing, customer service, entrepreneurship, and general business applications. Students develop both the technical and human relations skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive work environment. Current business procedures and computer applications, including online retail services, are covered.
The program combines business theory with practical applications that include the proper use of technology in today’s workplace, ensuring students are making appropriate decisions in business settings. Students are introduced to e-commerce concepts and applications and learn how to use social media to invite potential customers to interact with their company.
This program has a built-in certificate component approved by the Western Association of Food Chains. This certificate prepares individuals to manage a variety of retail sales or lines of merchandise operations. The program serves both entry-level job candidates and incumbent employees. This certificate, endorsed by the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), provides grocery employees in Washington access to a consistent curriculum and also meets the needs of other segments of the retail industry.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Retail Business Management degree, students will:
- Identify multiple types of business communications and explain when and why each is used.
- Develop a general understanding of retail management as it relates to the sales and marketing of services/products and apply these concepts to real-world situations.
- Develop a professional presentation technique.
- Discuss the importance of a supervisor’s role in management and delegation and how ethics plays a role.
- Demonstrate an understanding of corporate culture and the responsibilities of the supervisor, including the hiring and firing process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how various forces within business influence marketing decisions and how these trends affect current and future marketing practices.
- Discuss real-world examples of successful and unsuccessful electronic commerce companies, their accomplishments, their struggles, and their business practices.
- Explain how to establish and maintain trust with customers.
- Implement tactics to execute, monitor, and tune social media marketing campaigns for success.
- Demonstrate the ability on how to listen to the social web to identify marketing opportunities and potential target audiences.
Important Note: Students may take the following courses in order to complete the Retail Management Certificate prior to taking the Accuplacer assessment or equivalent for general education placement.
Included in this program are academic courses in communication (English Composition, Speech), Quantitative Reasoning (Math), and Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology) that provide knowledge and abilities upon which technical skills are built and personal development is enhanced.
This degree has been designed to meet the educational needs of working adults. It is 100 percent web-based instruction with face-to-face interaction when requested by students.
Program Length
This program is approximately five-to-six quarters long, depending on the time students need to satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements.
Admission Dates
Summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters.
Completion Requirements
Prerequisite(s)
None.
Program Course
| RBM 105 | Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| RBM 107 | Marketing | 3 |
| RBM 109 | Principles of Retailing | 3 |
| RBM 111 | Essentials of Business Communication | 3 |
| RBM 113CL | Business Technology for Retail Applications | 3 |
| RBM 115 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| RBM 117 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| RBM 119 | Financial Management | 3 |
| RBM 123 | Customer Service | 5 |
| RBM 129 | Speaking for Success | 5 |
| RBM 133 | Effective Selling | 5 |
| RBM 159 | E-Commerce Principles & Applications | 4 |
| RBM 162 | Social Media Marketing | 5 |
| RBM 164 | Marketing Communications | 5 |
| RBM 166CAP | Successful Career Development | 5 |
| RBM 168 | Consumer Behavior | 5 |
| RBM 201 | Introduction to Business Etiquette | 5 |
| CAS 105 | Keyboarding | 3 |
BUS& 201
| Business Law | 5 |
| Any 100-Level Math Class | 5 |
| | |
| English Composition | 5 |
| Or | |
| Public Speaking | 5 |
| | |
| General Psychology | 5 |
| COLL 102 | College Success for All | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 94 |
NOTE:
English Composition or higher
General Psychology or other social science or humanities class
RBM 105 and RBM 109: Articulated courses with high schools for dual enrollment.