Business
A degree in business will give you the jump start you need toward an exciting career. With subjects ranging from accounting to marketing, Rend Lake College can bring your goal within reach. Most graduates with an Associate Degree in Business choose to go on and obtain their Bachelor's Degree, while some continue further in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Furthering your education in business throws the doors wide open. Studies have consistently shown that your earnings increase with a college degree. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, average annual earnings ranged from $18,900 for those without a high school diploma to $25,900 for high school graduates, $45,400 for college graduates and $99,300 for those obtaining professional degrees. An MSN Money article by Liz Pulliam Weston described an Associate Degree as a "Slam Dunk." She said, "These two-year degrees seem to result in massive payback, compared to their relatively low cost, for a high school graduate."
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A Business Degree can be used in just about any field and can provide the foundation necessary to start your own business. Everything we encounter in daily life seems to stem from some sort of business. Every industry, from agriculture to hedge fund management, ect is founded on basic business principles.
Mastery of the fundamentals of business can be accomplished here at Rend Lake College. Students are given the opportunity to experience real-world applications of in accounting, economics and mathematics. To be successful, business students should be comfortable with math and problem-solving as well as communication.
To learn more about the opportunities available, please contact the Business Department at Rend Lake College.
Degrees & Certificates in Business
APPLIED SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
BUSINESS — Degree (A.A.S.)
Associate in Applied Science Degree
This two-year program leads to an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Business with specializations in finance or management. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a general background in all areas of business and to prepare them for careers in the fields of banking, accounting, management or marketing at the mid-management level in a variety of businesses and industries. The curriculum also provides those individuals already in positions in the local workforce the opportunity to upgrade job skills or advancement potential.
►Total = 64 Hours
First Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)
Third Semester (18 Cr. Hrs.)
- BUSI 2105 Legal / Social Environment of Business (3)
- BUSI 2206 Business Dynamics (3)
- MGMT 2201 Principles of Management (3)
- MRKT 2201 Principles of Marketing (3)
- Elective – Core* (3)
- Elective – Core* (3)
Fourth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)
1 Prerequisite course(s) may be required based on test scores.
* See Core Elective Selection below
Core Elective Selection
The student must choose any combination of the courses listed below for a total of 15 credit hours to complete the 64 credit hours required for the Associate of Applied Science Degree.
ACCOUNTING / FINANCIAL FOCUS
- ACCO 1101 – Principles of Financial Accounting (4)
- ACCO 1102 – Principles of Managerial Accounting (4)
- ACCO 1202 – Payroll Accounting (2)
- ACCO 2201 – Intermediate Accounting I (3)
- BUSI 1103 – Business Law I (3)
- COOP 1101 – Cooperative Education I (.5 – 4)
- COOP 2101 – Cooperative Education II (.5 – 4)
- ECON 2101 – Principles of Economics I (3)
- ECON 2102 – Principles of Economics II (3)
- MGMT 2207 – Supervision (3)
- MATH 1108 – College Algebra (3)
- MATH 1111 – Statistics (3)
- MATH 2115 – Business Calculus (4)
MANAGEMENT / HUMAN RESOURCE FOCUS
- BUSI 1103 – Business Law I (3)
- BUSI 2101 – Business Law II (3)
- BUSI 2205 – E-Commerce (3)
- BUSI 2208 – Intercultural Business (3)
- BUSI 2209 – Inventory Management (3)
- COMM 1101 – Principles of Effective Speaking (3)
- COOP 1101 – Cooperative Education I (.5 -4)
- COOP 2101 – Cooperative Education (.5 – 4)
- MGMT 2201 – Principles of Management (3)
- MGMT 2207 – Supervision (3)
- PSYC 2101 – Introduction to Psychology (3)
- PSYC 2104 – Personality Dynamics (3)
- PSYC 2106 – Human Relations (3)
- SOCI 1101 – Introduction to Sociology (3)
MARKETING FOCUS
- GRD 1201 – Intro to Graphic Design (3)
- GRD 1203 – Advertising Design (3)
- GRD 1215 – Web Page Design (3)
- GRD 2201 – Adobe Essentials (3)
- GRD / UAS Elective (3)
BUSINESS — Degree (A.A.)
Associate in Arts Degree
This program is for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in accounting, business administration, finance, information systems, management or marketing and parallels the first two years required by most four-year schools of business. Students should check with the four-year institution or a Rend Lake College advisor for any additional requirements. RLC and Southern Illinois University Carbondale have partnered in a 2+2 program through which graduates of this program may transfer smoothly into SIUC's Accounting or Business Management bachelor's degree programs.
►Total = 64 Hours
First Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (17 Cr. Hrs.)
- BUSI 2107 Business Communications (3)
- CSCI 1102 Intro to Computers w/ Business Applications (3)
- ENGL 1102 Rhetoric and Composition II (3)
- MATH 2106 Finite Mathematics 1 (3)
- Elective – Business (2)
- Elective - Humanities (3)
Third Semester (17 Cr. Hrs.)
- ACCO 1101 Principles of Financial Accounting (4)
- COMM 1101 Principles of Effective Speaking (3)
- ECON 2101 Principles of Economics I (3)
- Elective – Fine Arts (3)
- Elective – Physical Science (4)
Fourth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)
- ACCO 1102 Principles of Managerial Accounting (4)
- ECON 2102 Principles of Economics II (3)
- HEA 1101 Supervision (2)
- Elective – Fine Arts / Humanities 2 (3)
- Elective – Life Science (4)
1 Prerequisite course(s) may be required based on test scores.
2 One Fine Arts course and one Humanities course needed to meet IAI core requirements.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT — Certificate
The Business Management certificate program is designed to provide students with a general background in all areas of business and to prepare them for entry-level careers in the fields of banking, accounting, management or marketing in a variety of businesses and industries. The curriculum also provides those individuals already in positions in the local workforce the opportunity to upgrade job skills or advancement potential and aspiring entrepreneurs the skills necessary to grow their own businesses.
► Total = 16 Hours
Gainful Employment Information
First Semester (9 Cr. Hrs)
Second Semester (7 Cr. Hrs.)
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT II — Certificate
This two-semester program leads to a certificate in Business Management. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the general background in all areas of business and prepare them for entry-level positions in a variety of businesses and industries. The curriculum also provides those individuals already in positions in the local workforce the opportunity to upgrade job skills or advancement potential. The target audience includes individuals seeking entry-level employment, current employees looking to increase their skill sets or advance, and small business developers. The Business Management II certificate is targeted to focus on the entrepreneurial skilled worker to promote success by increasing communication and math skills necessary to grow their own businesses.
► Total=31 Hours
Gainful Employment Information
First Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)
BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP — Certificate
The Entrepreneurship certificate program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in business as an entrepreneur and to prepare them for further educational opportunities in a variety of business areas. This certificate will lay the foundation in preparing students to be enterprising individuals who contribute to the economic development of our community.
► Total=13 Hours
First Semester (5 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (8 Cr. Hrs.)
FINANCIAL ASSOCIATE — Certificate
Occupational Certificate
The Financial Associate Certificate is designed to provide an entry-level financial associate content and competency development for bookkeeping positions within small, medium, and large-size financial departments and/or in an employment role as a financial department of one. Students will get an overall look at the major functions of financial management including general office accounting procedures, preparation, and interpretation of financial statements, ethical and social responsibilities, employment legislation, and trade regulations. This program allows current practitioners to supplement and update their knowledge, and provides those looking to begin a career with a great foundation in the field. Business owners and supervisors will benefit from completing this certificate by enhancing their practices with tools learned in the program. This certificate may also be completed within the Business Associate of Applied Science Degree (see above).
Gainful Employment Information
► Total = 18 Hours
First Semester (9 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (9 Cr. Hrs.)
HUMAN RESOURCE ASSOCIATE — Certificate
Occupational Certificate
The Human Resource Associate Certificate is designed to provide an entry-level human resource associate content and competency development for Human Resource positions within small, medium, and largesize human resource departments and/or in an employment role as a human resource department of one. Students will get an overall look at the major functions of human resources management including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, employee, and labor relations, and the legal environment in which HR professionals function. This program allows current practitioners to supplement and update their knowledge, and provides those looking to begin a career with a great foundation in the field. Business owners and supervisors will benefit from completing this certificate by enhancing their practices with tools learned in the program. This certificate may also be completed within the Business Associate of Applied Science Degree (see above).
Gainful Employment Information
► Total = 19 Hours
First Semester (9 Cr. Hrs.)
Second Semester (10 Cr. Hrs.)
Distance Delivery Option
Many people dream of earning a college degree, but the hectic schedules of work and family life make it difficult. Rend Lake College’s distance-delivered Associate in Science Degree may be the answer. This degree, which has a business focus, is made up of both online and hybrid classes to give you the flexible schedule you need. Most classes are delivered online, and the remaining hybrid classes are made up of online instruction with a small number of face-to-face meetings.
Distance-delivered instruction can be incredibly convenient for those who have tight schedules or are unable to attend class on a fixed schedule. You’ll need to have some basic computer skills and have access to a computer and the Internet in order to take advantage of this program. For more details, contact the Academic Advising Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266.
Why Online?
Study on your own time
Although many courses are not set up for you to work at your own pace, they still allow you to complete tasks on your schedule. If your a night owl you can spend the night working on a degree from home. If your a morning person, you can get up and go right to class working on your future.
Flexibility
This brings us to Flexibility. With an Online degree from Rend Lake College you are in control. If you work days, fitting a standard college course into your work schedule is difficult. As an online student you access to more than seventy courses to choose from. Some of our classes, due to the rigor, are offered in hybrid form. Hybrid utilizes the online aspect of course development along with face to face class time, a blending of the best of both worlds.
Fewer Costs
As a business student you may be aware of the importance costs make when making decisions. If you think of the costs associated with taking a stand class you must take into consideration the cost of transportation. Driving to the college every day can get expensive, online courses reduce and may even eliminate this cost from your budget. This reduction in costs allows you to strech your dollar even farther. The need to print out papers may be eliminated entirley as most instructors require you to turn your homework in electronically.
Program Outcomes
Business
1. Develop basic Accounting skills necessary in problem solving.
2. Apply critical thinking process to understanding and evaluating Business situations.
3. Demonstrate ability to solve problems relating to real world applications.
4. Demonstrate the process of communication and recognize its importance in business.
Articulation
Articulation agreements document a pathway between Rend Lake College and the following schools for the academic program(s) listed.
Missouri Baptist University
BPS Applied Management
Southern Illinois University
Business Administration (Online)
Accounting (Online)
Transfer Information
Rend Lake College is accredited by the
Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six regional accreditors in the United States. Accreditation is vital to what we do. It serves as a measure of quality, allows us to access and distribute federal student aid, facilitates the transfer of classes between institutions and more. The Higher Learning Commission is recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education and by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Rend Lake College has been accredited since 1969. Voluntary accreditation is an activity of great importance to Rend Lake College and the community it serves. The process ensures that RLC is accountable – that our programs are effective and that we are delivering on our guarantees of educational quality.
Students who graduate with an Associates in Science (AS) or an Associates in Arts (AA) have the ability to transfer to institutions that will allow them to continue towards a goal of a Bachelors degree (BA or BS).
Rend Lake College works with other institutions to allow for an easy transition to a four year university. Some of the Universities that have this working relationship are:
Faculty & Staff
Dean of Applied Science & Technology
Phone Extension: 1292
Building: Advanced Technology Division
Office: 138
M.S. & B.S., Southern Illinois University
Dean of Enrollment Services
Phone Extension: 1331
Building: Administration
Office: 139
Vickie has worked at RLC in several positions. Vickie started teaching business classes part time in January of 2007. She then went to work full time in the Financial Aid office as an enrollment specialist, later becoming the Director of Student Records/Registrar and then Director of Institutional Research. In 2019, she was made Dean of Enrollment Services. Before her career at Rend Lake College, Vickie worked in the private sector for 15 years as a division manager at a telecommunications company, managing the financial services, collection, quality assurance and legal departments. Vickie received her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College, and also holds a CCE from the National Association of Credit Management.
Business Associate Professor
Phone Extension: 1754
Building: Advanced Technology Center
Office: 180
A.A.S., Rend Lake College | B.S., Mid-Continent University
Business Associate Professor
Phone Extension: 1273
Building: Advanced Technology Center
Office: 185
Mark received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with an emphasis in Financial Analysis from Benedictine University and followed that up with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). He has worked in the private sector as a small business owner and Registered Investment Adviser Representative for more than 20 years. Mark has been the lead instructor in Accounting, Economics, and Business at Rend Lake College since 2010.
M.B.A. & B.A., Benedictine University
Administrative Assistant | Applied Science & Technology Division
Phone Extension: 1261
Building: South Oasis
Office: 139
A.A. & A.S., Rend Lake College | A.S., John A. Logan College
