Small Business Management Certificate of Specialization

Launch and grow your business—right here on the Coast. The 15-unit Small Business Management Certificate of Specialization at College of San Mateo Coastside covers the essentials, management, business planning, and marketing, with electives in sales and social media. Finish close to home in Half Moon Bay and leave with skills you can use immediately.

Certificate at a Glance

• Credential: Certificate of Specialization in Small Business Management (15 units)
• Where: College of San Mateo Coastside, 650 Mill Street, Units 101 & 102, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
• Planned Coastside Small Business Management Certificate of Specialization Sequence:
• Fall 2025: BUS 150
• Spring 2026: MGMT 100
• Fall 2026: BUS 180
• Future Semesters: BUS 232 and BUS 233

(Final scheduling is subject to change; check the live Coastside classes list to confirm.)

What You’ll Learn

• BUS 150 – Small Business Management (3 units): Plan, finance, market, and manage a small business; develop a new-venture business plan.
• MGMT 100 – Introduction to Management (3 units): Core functions—planning, organizing, leading, controlling—and the critical skills managers use.
• BUS 180 – Introduction to Marketing (3 units): Principles, strategies, and techniques of modern marketing.
• BUS 232 – Sales Management (3 units): Forecasting, budgeting, organization, and relationship-building for sales teams.
• BUS 233 – Social Media Marketing (3 units): Strategy and tactics across digital and mobile platforms; build and evaluate a marketing mix.

(BUS 232 and 233 are two of the many selectives for this certificate of specialization; see the CSM Catalog for the complete selectives list. Students may take selectives at any campus or online.)

How the Certificate is Structured

Total of 15 units: 9 units of core (BUS 150, MGMT 100, BUS 180) + 6 units of approved selectives. Courses are degree-applicable and appear in the CSM Catalog.

Skills You’ll Use on Day One

With CSM’s Small Business Management Certificate of Specialization, you’ll be ready to launch and lead: establish your business, manage people and resources, and market your product or service with confidence, preparing you to own, manage, and operate a small business.

Getting Started at College of San Mateo Coastside

1. Apply to CSM and set up your student account.
2. Meet with a CSM academic counselor to map your Student Education Plan (SEP) for the certificate.
3. Check Coastside classes for current and upcoming sections.
4. Have questions? Contact CSM Coastside: csmcoastside@smccd.edu or (650) 378-1112.