Certificate in Faith Based Small Business, Entrepreneurship

Total program length

18 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Six to nine months

General education

Not required

Professional application courses

3 credit hours

Academic unit

HBIU Training Institute

Total credits

18

Duration

1 years

• Analyze the fundamental legal, financial, and ethical structures required to establish a sustainable small business.
• Apply principles of servant leadership to the management of human resources and organizational culture.
• Develop a comprehensive business plan that integrates fiscal sustainability with organizational mission.
• Evaluate market trends and economic environments to inform strategic decision-making in diverse community settings.
• Communicate professional business strategies effectively through written and oral presentations.
• Integrate biblical principles of stewardship and ethical responsibility into daily operational practices.
• Course Outline
• Semester 1 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• BUS101
• Foundations of Entrepreneurship
• 2
• None
• BUS110
• Principles of Financial Stewardship
• 2
• None
• MGT120
• Servant Leadership and Management
• 2
• None
• COM150
• Professional Business Communication
• 3
• None
• BUS101 — Foundations of Entrepreneurship: This course introduces the essential components of launching a new venture, including ideation, market research, and feasibility analysis. Students examine the legal and organizational structures necessary for business success. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS110 — Principles of Financial Stewardship: Students learn the basics of financial accounting and budgeting with an emphasis on responsible resource management and fiscal transparency. The course explores how to maintain long-term sustainability while operating with integrity. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT120 — Servant Leadership and Management: This course analyzes the theory and practice of servant leadership within the context of small business management. Students explore strategies for team building, conflict resolution, and fostering an ethical work environment. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM150 — Professional Business Communication: Students develop skills in written and oral communication, including business writing, persuasive presentation, and interpersonal professional interaction. The curriculum focuses on maintaining clear, effective, and honest communication standards. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• Semester 2 — Year 1
• Code
• Title
• Credits
• Prerequisites
• BUS205
• Ethical Business Strategy
• 3
• BUS101
• MGT210
• Operations and Community Engagement
• 3
• MGT120
• BUS250
• Marketing and Outreach Dynamics
• 1
• BUS101
• CAP299
• Entrepreneurial Capstone Project
• 2
• All Core Courses
• BUS205 — Ethical Business Strategy: This course examines the role of ethics in organizational decision-making and strategic planning. Students explore how to align mission-driven goals with market realities in a way that serves the community effectively. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT210 — Operations and Community Engagement: Students investigate how to manage daily operational workflows while maintaining an active focus on community needs and stakeholder relationships. The course emphasizes efficiency coupled with service-oriented outreach. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS250 — Marketing and Outreach Dynamics: This course explores the principles of marketing, brand development, and audience outreach strategies that align with organizational values. Students study how to promote their enterprise in a way that is both effective and transparent. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP299 — Entrepreneurial Capstone Project: This final course requires students to synthesize all program learning into a comprehensive business plan that reflects ethical stewardship and mission-centered objectives. Students present their final venture proposal for faculty review. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) to be considered for enrollment. Prospective students are required to submit an application, official academic transcripts, and a brief personal statement outlining their interest in faith-informed entrepreneurship. Prior academic standing must demonstrate a capacity for success in postsecondary coursework, with an emphasis on readiness for professional-level writing and critical analysis. Culminating Project The Capstone Project serves as the culminating academic experience for the Certificate in Faith-Based Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Students are required to design, develop, and present a comprehensive business model that addresses a specific community need while embodying the values of stewardship, integrity, and social responsibility. This project requires the synthesis of theoretical knowledge gained throughout the program into a viable, ethical business proposal that reflects a coherent Christian worldview. The project demonstrates academic competence by requiring rigorous market analysis, financial forecasting, and operational planning. Simultaneously, it measures faith-informed character development through the integration of ethical reasoning and a commitment to servant leadership. Deliverables include a written business plan, a formal presentation of the venture’s operational strategy, and a reflective analysis on how the venture serves the common good. This capstone is worth 3 credit hours and serves as evidence of the student’s readiness to apply professional skills within a faith-aligned vocational context.

• Graduation from the Certificate in Faith-Based Small Business and Entrepreneurship requires the successful completion of 18 credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Students must earn a passing grade in all core and capstone courses, demonstrating not only technical proficiency in business concepts but also an understanding of ethical frameworks in the marketplace. Academic progress is monitored to ensure students meet these foundational standards.
• In addition to academic achievement, students are expected to engage in spiritual formation and community service activities throughout the program, reflecting a commitment to service-oriented leadership. The graduation process verifies that the student has paired professional competency with a well-developed sense of moral integrity and a readiness for faith-informed service. Completion of the program signals an individual’s professional readiness to lead with honor and serve as a steward of resources within their chosen entrepreneurial field.
• Career Opportunities
• Small Business Owner
• Nonprofit Program Coordinator
• Social Entrepreneur
• Community Development Consultant
• Operations Manager
• Small Business Development Specialist
• Important Notices
• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Credential abbreviation | Certificate in Faith Based Small Business, Entrepreneurship
• Total program length | 18 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Six to nine months
• General education | Not required
• Foundational faith based small business, entrepreneurship courses | 12 credit hours
• Professional application courses | 3 credit hours
• Final applied project | 3 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BUS101 | Foundations of Entrepreneurship | 2 | None
• BUS110 | Principles of Financial Stewardship | 2 | None
• MGT120 | Servant Leadership and Management | 2 | None
• COM150 | Professional Business Communication | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BUS205 | Ethical Business Strategy | 3 | BUS101
• MGT210 | Operations and Community Engagement | 3 | MGT120
• BUS250 | Marketing and Outreach Dynamics | 1 | BUS101
• CAP299 | Entrepreneurial Capstone Project | 2 | All Core Courses