Business Essentials

The Business Essentials Pathway Program is designed for aspiring and entry-level professionals seeking to gain relevant skills for today’s dynamic business environment. Tailored to address the challenges of onboarding and training new hires, the program equips learners with practical knowledge to jump-start their careers. It covers the fundamentals of traditional and digital marketing, process automation, global business operations, and effective communication for influence and impact.

Whether you're looking for a step in or a step up, this program provides the tools to succeed in a modern, globalized workplace.

Who Should Register

This program is ideal for:

• Recent graduates or individuals seeking entry-level business roles.
• Professionals looking to transition into the business field.
• Aspiring professionals who want to enhance their foundational business knowledge and skills.

Why Choose Nexford

At Nexford, learners benefit from:

• Practical Skills: Gain immediately applicable business skills for entry-level roles.
• Flexible Learning: Study at your own pace with a fully online, asynchronous format.
• Mission-Driven Education: Nexford is a Public Benefit Corporation prioritizing accessibility and workforce alignment.
• Global Perspective: Learn in an environment designed for a connected and international business landscape.
• Innovative Approach: Benefit from a curriculum built to meet real-world employer needs using cutting-edge learning analytics.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must provide:

• Government-issued identification
• Passport-style photo or selfie
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Official transcripts verifying:
  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or
  • High school completion or equivalent (e.g., GED or national exam certificate)

Additional Notes:

• Non-English documents require official translations.
• Self-certification of high school completion may be validated through internal review.

Required Courses

BUS1100 Roadmap to Success

Roadmap to success is the foundational course for the Business program. This course prepares learners for success in the degree program and promotes a journey towards lifelong learning. You’ll develop skills for communication, academic writing, self-discovery, career development and presentation skills.

This course is a hybrid competency-courses and introduces the learner to the competency-based model of Nexford courses in the BBA program.

BUS2125 The World of Business

The World of Business introduces the domain of business and key elements of the functional areas within the context that an organization operates. You’ll examine a variety of functional areas and types of business in order to understand their interconnectedness. Additional topics include the business cycle, global business practices, and impact on productivity.

DTF2100 Fundamentals of Digital Transformation

This course provides a survey of three types of capability transformations that enable digital transformation: people, tool, and process. At the people capability level, digital transformation requires the organization to hire and retain customer-centric and service-oriented talent; this talent search demands more collaboration and knowledge sharing while breaking down the silos between business and technology. At the tool capability level, a horizontal digital enabling layer is required to be developed, covering big data analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, IoT, wearables, augmented and artificial reality, and modular manufacturing. Vertical business applications require digitization by the horizontal digital enablers in vertical business applications such as supply chain management, customer experience, finance and administration, and more. At the process capability level, digital transformation requires the business processes to be automated via the horizontal digital enablers.

MKT2150 Digital Marketing Fundamentals

Digital Marketing Fundamentals provides an understanding of the digital marketing landscape, key trends impacting the industry, the changed customer journey, and the role each channel can play in that journey. The course also examines the advantages and subsequent challenges of this expanding marketing venue.

You’ll explore the tools that currently exist and the potential for future applications of the digital platform for marketing purposes. The course will further explore the digital platform as a tool for businesses in general in order to increase its levels of efficiency, effectiveness, and competitive position in the market space. You’ll also learn how to define and develop a digital strategy to help a business achieve its goals.

COM1200 Professional Communication

Professional Communication places an emphasis on communication styles and approaches in today's workplace to include digital, verbal and nonverbal communication. The course focuses on the evaluation of case analysis and discussion and on practical business and professional communication skills, including writing, speaking, and listening. Emphasis is on clarity, organization, format, appropriate language, and consideration of audience, for both written and oral communication.

You’ll engage in self-assessment of communicative competence and learn strategies for enhancing their skills. The course explores how technology and other tools are integrated into communications within a professional setting and students will be able to identify appropriate and inappropriate professional communications.

ACC2100 Financial Accounting

Financial Accounting focuses on the foundations of financial accounting concepts and methods used to generate, analyze, and interpret financial statements. Learners perform journal entries and record-keeping of transactions with an understanding of how these accounts are measured and reported in major financial statements.

PRO3200 Project Management

Project Management highlights a key tool for any organization, which is the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to positive results. This course examines from an organizational perspective the tasks associated with project management. The focus is on the four components of the project life-cycle in an international business setting: organizing, planning, monitoring and controlling. Learners identify and apply relevant project management tools and methods designed to execute projects in an effective manner that maximizes efficiency and minimizes cost

What You'll Learn

Learners will gain knowledge and skills across core business functions, including:

• Accounting & Finance: Understand financial principles critical to business success.
• Technology & Operations: Explore digitization and automation of legacy processes.
• Marketing: Learn the basics of both traditional and digital marketing.
• Global Business: Operate effectively across languages, cultures, and time zones.
• Communication: Develop strategies for influence, impact, and clear messaging.
• Business Strategy: Build foundational knowledge to navigate and succeed in modern businesses.

Graduates of the Business Essentials Pathway Program will be prepared for roles such as:

• Business Development Associate
• Marketing Coordinator
• Operations Support Specialist
• Junior Analyst
• Customer Success Representative