Business
Associate of Applied Science in Business
The Associates of Applied Science in Business program provides business by offering concentration choices of Business Management or Marketing. The program prepares students as entry-level employees in a variety of positions such as assistant managers, advertising sales agents and various other entry level positions in the business community. Students are exposed to the fundamentals of how businesses function, key elements in marketing businesses or services, customer service, and the economics of business.
The core courses in general education combined with computer applications provide the necessary skills for success in today’s changing business world. Students will become proficient in basic accounting principles, Microsoft office products, including Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Word. Some but not all, of the required courses will transfer to a BBA program at UNM Albuquerque Campus. The Associates of Applied Science in Business is a 60-credit hour program designed as a stand-alone academic credential for entry into the workforce. Students planning to seek a four-year degree in business should pursue an Associate of Arts in Pre-Business Administration.
Experiential Learning Outcomes
The classes offered in the AAS program often require real-life experiential content. In Marketing and Entrepreneur classes students are required to create a plan that focuses on the “5 Ps” that are basic to businesses: Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People. In the Personal Finance class, they are required to find and report on 2 articles of current information on topics such as inflation, investments, housing, retirement, etc., and they are encouraged to create an actual personal, confidential financial plan that follows either the guidelines in the book or some other template.
Faculty Expertise
Dr. Sharon Hurley
Dr. Sharon K Hurley earned a doctorate in Accounting with an Economics minor from Texas A&M University. She earned a Masters of Accountancy from the University of North Florida, and Bachelors of Science from Brigham Young University. Dr. Hurley is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in three states. Additionally, Dr. Hurley has many years of accounting experience including owning her own CPA practice/small business in Los Alamos for twenty-four years. Dr. Hurley has more than 27 years of teaching experience in higher education, and has been with UNM-LA since 2003. During those years, she has been a department chair, budget advisor to the Dean, Associate Dean, Dean of Instruction, and is currently the Program Coordinator for Business and Social Sciences. Dr. Hurley is tenured faculty at UNM-LA.
Cheryl Bernier
Cheryl Bernier earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. She has more than 20 years teaching experience in both face to face and online classrooms. Her areas of expertise are primarily in the business, management, and marketing fields. Recently, she added teaching financial literacy to dual credit high school students in New Mexico.
Montana Walsh
Montana Walsh earned a Global Leadership MBA from the University of Texas, Dallas. She has many years teaching experience and has taught in New Mexico for more than a decade. She has created textbooks, recorded cassettes, CDs and DVDs for learning and teaching. She is bilingual, with an expertise in Spanish.
Career Opportunities & Outcomes
Career opportunities for individuals with an Associates of Applied Science in Business include working in offices and financial institutions as assistant managers, program managers, project managers, marketing communications and various other entry level positions. The entry level median pay in some of the professions ranges from $45,000 to $55,000* annually, depending upon position and experience.
*employment and salary data taken from: 8,000+ Jobs, Employment in Albuquerque, NM, October 6, 2024 | Indeed.Com, Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
Program Highlights & Special Features
Complete the training for a new career in only four semesters. Build workforce skills to be successful in a variety of program management, operations management, and office management positions. Most graduates work in offices or from home. Students completing the Business certificate at UNM-LA may transfer all credit hours to the AAS Business degree.
Program Details
More information on the Associates of Applied Science program may be found at:
Program Cost
Information on tuition and fees can be found here:
Textbooks are an additional cost.
Contact Information
Coordinator, Department of Business & Social Science
Dr. Sharon Hurley
Associate Professor of Business
shurley1@unm.edu
"My name is Sara Lujan, and I returned to school after years of contemplating my degree. As a single mother, I prioritized raising my daughter, who is now a senior graduating in Spring 2025 from LAHS. After 13 years, I finally had the opportunity to enroll in the Associate of Applied Science in Business program at UNM-LA in Summer 2020, leveraging the time during the Covid lockdown to focus on my studies."
"I plan to use my degree to further my career in a management position and to support my business plans in the near future. Additionally, I aim to continue my education by pursuing a bachelor’s in business."
"The support and direction I’ve received from my advisor, Coco Rae, Jenny Duran, and my professors have been crucial to my success. Despite undergoing seven surgeries that impacted my studies and delayed my graduation timeline, their encouragement has kept me motivated. I truly appreciate the welcoming community at UNM-LA, which has made my educational journey rewarding and inspiring."
Sara Lujan, UNM-LA Student