Build Your Future in Business
Business is an ever-changing, always-growing industry that needs professionals like you. The Business Transfer Major AA Degree at Iowa Lakes Community College provides the perfect foundation for launching a successful career in business, finance, and management.
Earn your Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Business and set yourself up for a seamless transfer to Iowa’s regent universities, including the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa, and Iowa State University. Our curriculum ensures you develop a strong foundation in key business principles, mastering essential coursework such as Principles of Business I and II, Macroeconomics, and Microeconomics. These courses equip you with critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills before you even transfer.
Completing your AA degree at Iowa Lakes will fulfill all necessary general education requirements while ensuring your Business Transfer Major is documented on your transcripts. With dedicated advisors to help you navigate specific transfer requirements, you’ll have a smooth transition to your chosen university and a clear pathway to your bachelor’s degree.
Explore career opportunities and salary expectations in business-related fields through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. Ready to take the first step? Connect with an enrollment coach today and turn your ambitions into achievements!
Find Your It!
A Smart Start to a High-Potential Degree
Gain a Strong Business Foundation
Whether you aspire to work in accounting, financial analysis, actuarial science, admissions counseling, or even business education, Iowa Lakes gives you the head start you need. With a curriculum focused on fundamental business concepts and economic principles, you’ll graduate with a well-rounded skill set that will set you apart.
Seamless Transfer for Career Success
Designed to align with Regent University transfer pathways, our Business Transfer Major allows you to maximize your education at Iowa Lakes while preparing for the next step in your academic journey. Work with our advisors to tailor your coursework, ensuring a smooth transition to a bachelor’s program that fits your career aspirations.
Program Details
Length
4 terms
Degree
Associate in Arts (64 credits)
Campus
ALL campuses
Training
Real-World
Additional Information
Term 1
ACC 131 – Principles of Accounting I
The course examines the accounting methods, principles and terminology needed in the preparation and analysis of financial statements. Included is a study of partnership accounting.
CSC 116 – Information Computing
This course presents the basic concepts of information systems and computer literacy. The course incorporates theory as well as hands-on practice which focuses on spreadsheets and database management systems (DBMS).
ENG 105 – Composition I
Emphasis on expository and argumentative writings including a review of usage and mechanics.
Prerequisites: Satisfactory score on the ACT, Accuplacer, ASSET, COMPASS as determined by Iowa Lakes policy
MAT 157 – Statistics
This course provides a foundation of statistical concepts and procedures that can aid the student as both a consumer and producer of statistical information. The course emphasizes descriptive and inferential statistical methods, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing and linear regression. Students are also introduced to software as it applies to introductory statistical methods.
Prerequisites: Appropriate placement score or MAT 110, MAT 140, MAT 120, MAT 121, MAT 127 or MAT 210
SDV 103 – Successful Learning
Students master the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in higher education and in life. Content will cover academic, communication and life management skills. Goal setting, time management, note taking, test taking and how to be a lifelong learner will also be covered.
Term 2
ACC 132 – Principles of Accounting II
Continuation of ACC 131, covering corporate accounting, long-term debts, financial analysis, managerial accounting and budgeting concepts.
Prerequisites: ACC 131 – Principles of Accounting I
BUS 210 – Business Statistics
Throughout this course, students develop an in-depth knowledge of the following statistics principles: frequency distributions, cumulative frequency distributions, relative frequency distributions, histograms, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, probability, the Central Limit Theorem, confidence interval estimates, methods of sampling, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, linear and multiple regression analysis, chi-squared test, time series and forecasting, statistical quality control, and statistical decision-making.
Prerequisites: MAT 156 – Statistics, MAT 157 – Statistics or BUS 211 – Business Statistics
ENG 106 – Composition II
Continuation of ENG 105 with emphasis on research and documentation as well as literary analysis.
Prerequisites: ENG 105 – Composition I
SPC 101 – Fundamentals of Oral Communication†
The fundamentals course develops the basic skills involved in a variety of communication situations, including oral presentations and interpersonal speaking. Emphasis is placed on organization, audience analysis, vocal and physical delivery, listening, nonverbal communication, critical thinking, and methods of dealing with communication apprehension through class discussion and activities.
SPC 112 – Public Speaking
This course examines both the theoretical and practical basis of speech communication, particularly public speaking. Emphasis is placed on speech preparation, organization, support, delivery, and audience analysis.
SPC 122 – Interpersonal Communications
Examines how humans communicate in one-on-one situations through personal and professional relationships.
Choose either SPC 101, SPC 112 or SPC 122
Plus Humanities: 3 credits
Term 3
BUS 185 – Business Law I
Business Law 1 is an introduction to Business Law in the areas of legal environment of business, contract law, contracts for the sale of goods (UCC) and real and personal property law.
ECN 120 – Principles of Macroeconomics
Reviews national income and output; employment and prices; money and credit; government finance; monetary and fiscal policy; economic growth and development; and international finance.
Term 4
ECN 130 – Principles of Microeconomics
Reviews the organization and workings of modern economic systems; the role of markets, prices and competition in the promotion of economic welfare, alternative systems and international trade.
General Education & Program Learning Outcomes
By obtaining an Associate in Arts (AA) degree from Iowa Lakes, you will learn the following:1
Communications:
- Students are able to communicate clearly, both written and oral using the correct medium.
- Students are able to support ideas with appropriate and adequate information.
Sciences:
- Demonstrate safe laboratory practices.
- Apply scientific inquiry/scientific method to answer questions about the natural world.
Mathematics:
- Apply mathematical methods to solve real world problems.
- Evaluate the validity of mathematical solutions.
Social Sciences:
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills in written and oral communication.
- Students will critique the diversity of human experience, individually and collectively.
Humanities:
- Respond critically using established aesthetic principles or criteria, or an ethical judgement of specific examples as it relates to the discipline.
- Express the principles of the discipline within the global community by using the language, syntax, and cultural context of the discipline appropriately.
Computers:
- Integrate the technology necessary in the workplace environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge in utilizing software application tools.
1The What You’ll Learn section of our website provides a description of Learning Outcomes for students who successfully complete all requirements for obtaining an Associate in Arts degree from Iowa Lakes Community College.
Hands-On
Training
Career-Ready
Day One
Transfer data to Iowa Regent Universities
First Year University GPA
Note: This is the average of transfer with associates and transfer, no associates
2.94
Average Retention One Year After Transferring to a Regent University
86%
Average University Graduation Rates Three Years After Entry to a Regent University
58%
START YOUR LAKER JOURNEY IN 4 STEPS!
Questions? Let's Talk
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Tiffany A. Nolta Academic Advisor 712-362-6833 | tnolta@iowalakes.edu |