How to Get an Online Associate’s Degree in Entrepreneurship

If you’ve always dreamt of working for yourself and having an exciting career where you get to take risks and be creative, then pursuing an associate’s degree in entrepreneurship may be a promising choice. With more of the workforce becoming freelance, having an entrepreneurial spirit really helps you stay competitive. With this degree, you could ultimately create your own business and make a great living doing what you love to do.

Many small businesses fail due to lack of knowledge and experience. This is why getting education in entrepreneurship first will give you an advantage so that you can avoid certain pitfalls that you otherwise wouldn’t be aware of had you not studied the field. Earning your associate’s degree in entrepreneurship will not only give you a competitive edge in the business world, it will also increase your chances of success in the long run.

An associate’s degree in entrepreneurship generally takes around two years to complete. It can be obtained at most accredited community colleges, but if you have other important responsibilities in life and require a flexible schedule for school, a distance learning program from an accredited college is a promising option to consider.

Online learning is a great alternative to traditional classroom learning because it can allow students to complete classes quicker, while taking advantage of many of the same resources as traditional classes, like tutoring or faculty assistance when needed. It does, however, requires potential students to be dedicated independent learners needing little to no hand-holding; after all, the material will be taught entirely online. With that said, you would be expected to keep track of class schedule and complete assignments on your own time. An advantage to studying online is that you can work comfortably in your pajamas, at whatever time and place is most convenient for you. Online learners must have reliable internet access, but from there, there’s plenty of freedom and flexibility. Earning an online degree can be a productive way to balance school with other obligations, such as employment.

Common Associate’s in Entrepreneurship Curriculum

By enrolling in the associate’s program in entrepreneurship, you can expect to learn about different aspects of owning and managing a business. Even taking charge of a small business is a lot of work. There’s a lot involved, such as financing. With that said, it’s almost impossible to know everything you’re doing without at least some foundational knowledge. The associate’s degree will give students a glimpse in the following topics:

  • Business finance
  • Conducting market research
  • How to write a business plan
  • Customer service techniques
  • Information systems
  • Business communications
  • Marketing for a small business

Depending on where you study, the curriculum may vary, but students will get a good overview of entrepreneurship upon graduation. From there, they can choose to either try their hand at starting their own business if they already have an idea of what they want to go for. Alternatively, students can opt to earn their bachelor’s degree in a related field for added legitimacy. The more you know, the more prepared and successful you can be.

In addition to entrepreneurship-related courses, students will also have general education requirements and electives to complete, which will vary from college to college. These classes are usually not directly entrepreneurship related. They are designed to give students the opportunity to explore other fields while getting a well-rounded foundation of knowledge that will be useful in helping them understand real-life situations and succeed in whatever career they choose to be in. For example, students may have an introductory course in math, science, history, language, and fine arts, to name a few.

Associate’s in Entrepreneurship Careers

The career choices for those with an entrepreneurship degree are endless. You can start a new business in potentially any industry, so your salary will depend greatly on a variety of factors such as your location, how well you run your company, and what you are selling.

Entrepreneurs can take the form of a designer, photographer, writer, consultant, accountant, restaurant owner, massage therapist, hair stylist, and so much more. The beauty of the subject is that you don’t need to know what you want to do before starting your associate’s degree. Entrepreneurship is such an open-ended field that you can decide along the way what you might want to dabble in after graduation.

Starting a small business is a lot of hard work. The first couple years often don’t yield any profits, but it’s all about investing time and effort into growing something with potential. With that said, business owners must have dedication and patience for success. Many will work hours outside of the typical 9-5, and more than 40 hours a week. The more work you put into the business, the chances are, you’ll yield more rewarding results.

If you fancy the idea of making your own hours and being your own boss, getting your associate’s degree in entrepreneurship will give you the leg up. While it sounds like a lot of fun, it is definitely challenge. Not everyone can afford to take risks, and certainly have the patience to sit through potentially several rocky years before reaching any success. However, by getting some basic knowledge in the field, you will know what to do in certain situations.