Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for BA 296 archive revision 202604

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Effective Term:
Fall 2026

Course Number:
BA 296
Course Title:
Small Business Strategy & Pitch
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Provides an opportunity to determine if your business model for a startup, existing business, or social enterprise concept aligns with a real market opportunity and validate its feasibility with a budget and funding plan. Develops a market launch strategy for your concept and then pitch it to a team of industry mentors. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Assess the competitive landscape for a business or social enterprise concept. 

  2. Develop a market launch strategy for a business or social enterprise concept.

  3. Validate the feasibility of launching a business model for a business or social enterprise concept.

  4. Pitch a business model and forecasted budget for a business or social enterprise.

Aspirational Goals

Test out your vision for a business or social enterprise idea and see if it's financially feasible and can survive in a competitive market. 

Gain first-hand feedback from industry mentors to guide you to the next stage and share free opportunities and resources.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts described in the required competencies by any combination of the following:

  • Participation

  • Research and analysis

  • Individual assignments

  • Group discussions

  • Prepare and present a pitch of a business or social enterprise business model and its budget and funding plan

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

THEMES, CONCEPTS, ISSUES:

  • Planning

  • Business Development

  • Critical and Design Thinking

  • Ethical Conduct and Social Entrepreneurship

  • Effective Business Communication and Presentation

  • Market and Financial Validation

  • Research and Analysis

  • Responsibility and Accountability

  • Risk management

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:  

  • Evaluate and validate market research and segmentation.

  • Evaluate and validate market positioning and market differentiation opportunities.

  • Determine and analyze the business strategy for a new or existing business or social enterprise concept.

  • Determine the feasibility of a budget and funding plan for a new or existing business or social enterprise concept.

  • Pitch a business or social enterprise concept and integrate feedback from industry mentors.