How do you manage the finances of a business? Whether you are an entrepreneur, running a family business, or just looking to advance your career and add to your skill set, this Bookkeeping Certificate will provide you with the knowledge needed to measure, and manage, the financial health of your business. This program focuses on cash basis accounting.

No one will care more about the financial health of your business than you! It’s imperative that you understand how the process works and are able to complete the accounting cycle accurately and in a timely fashion. Even if you plan to outsource your bookkeeping needs, you should still understand how the process works. No one should be clueless when it comes to the finances of their business.

The Bookkeeping Certificate courses must be taken in the below order (the classes build off each other): 

• Understanding Debits and Credits
   Winter: Feb. 5 - Mar. 1
   Spring: Apr. 1 - 26

• General Ledger and Month End Procedures
   Winter: Mar. 4 - 29
   Spring: May. 6 - 31

• Closing Procedures and Financial Statements
   Winter: Apr. 1 - 26
   Spring: Jun. 3 - 28 

Nonprofit bookkeeping fundamentally differs from business bookkeeping. Delve into fund accounting. Learn how to record transactions with a focus on how money filters in to a nonprofit organization and how you track the spending of those funds. Become proficient in how to prepare financial statements for nonprofits as well as a cash flow statement. Nonprofits make up America’s third largest workforce. It’s important to understand how to handle bookkeeping procedures for this unique type of organization.

Classes included in this program include:

• Introduction to Nonprofits

• Accounting for Nonprofits

• Financial Statements

Games are increasingly recognized as a tool that can serve many business purposes beyond entertainment. This Certificate provides you with a general introduction to what goes into the design and development of both video and analog games, with a particular focus on the use of games outside of consumer entertainment.  

In the first course, you will discover resources for developing game design, identify the mechanics and verbs used in different games. You will come away with knowing the different activities that are part of game design, being able to flesh out a game idea in order to increase the chances to having a successful game design experience, and have a basic understanding of how to work with game developers. 

In the second course, you will you will learn the basics of video game design process, learn about the main video game genres, and use a game development application to begin your journey of making games.    

By successfully completing this Certificate in Basic Game Design, you will have taken the first steps into understanding game design, and being able to create your own games.

*Introduction must be taken before Intermediate

• Introduction to Game Design

• Intermediate Video Game Design

In today’s business environment, there is a need for good project management. Project management provides visibility of project health to the business and the customer. Through continuous monitoring, early detection of variations to plan, schedule, and budget can be communicated to stakeholders for quick resolution, including project cancelation.  

Project management is one of the fastest paths to promotion by increasing your network through greater exposure. First, gain the skills, tools and templates to confidently develop and maintain a project.  An overview of salaries, certification costs, education and experience requirements are provided.  Then acquire a well-rounded knowledge of the five Project Management Processes relating to the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide. This basic information will assist you in learning the beginnings of Project Management, whether you are interested in project management, in a project management field, or in any line of work. 

Finally, learn the ten Project management Knowledge Areas and their support role and relationships to the five Project Management Processes.

Classes included in this certificate are:

• Introduction to Project Management 

• Project Management Processes

• Project Management Knowledge Areas

Come get a fundamental yet advanced introduction to eMarketing, including improving email promotions, analyzing your web site traffic, doing search engine optimization, and how to successfully employ online advertising. Relevant for any type of organization, including businesses, companies, non-profits, and government agencies.  No eMarketing experience or expertise is necessary. 

If you are already at an advanced level, your instructors are experts and can provide the latest most advanced information and answer your toughest questions. 

Classes included in this program:

• Improving Email Promotions

• Boosting Your Website Traffic

• Online Advertising

Boost your chances of success for your new or small business and reduce your risks. Get the latest on planning your business, brainstorming business ideas and a checklist for going into business.

Then learn how to create a business plan, including assessing business feasibility and prepare the management and financial plans. 

Then take home a step by step approach to attract and keep customers, with an emphasis on customer-driven marketing decisions and building a strong brand.

At the end of this certificate, you will be able to identify the abilities required of successful entrepreneurs and how to acquire them, develop goals to help establish your business, develop an outline for your plan, and take home techniques to successfully manage and market your new business.

The classes offered in this certificate are:

• Entrepreneur Boot Camp

• The Business Plan

• Entrepreneurial Marketing

Throughout history, from the earliest carvings in stone to today’s digital designs, graphic design has been the foundation of effective visual communication. Whether you're designing a logo, building a website, or crafting a magazine layout, the right graphic design can transform your work from ordinary to exceptional.

Build the skills to confidently choose the perfect graphic design for any project, creating work that is not only visually stunning but also functionally effective.

Graphic Design Foundations Certificate classes include:

• Typography Essentials 

• Mastering Layout and Grids

• Mastering Color: Theory, Harmony, and Practical Application

The Adobe software tools are the leading software for graphic design. Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard computer illustration software. Use Illustrator to draw shapes and design logos, flyers, posters, banners, business cards or any other vector graphics for print or web. 

Adobe InDesign is the industry standard page-layout program that works with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop seamlessly. InDesign allows you to create simple to complex multi-page documents such as brochures, flyers, books and magazines. Use Adobe Photoshop to effectively work with selection and editing tools, layers, and masks to edit, retouch and enhance existing images or create your own composite digital art work. Access to the Adobe software tools required.

The classes included in this certificate program are: 

• Adobe Illustrator Essentials

• Adobe Photoshop Essenatials

• Adobe InDesign Essentials

Software Requirements: 

For all online Adobe classes, students are responsible for purchasing their own software for their course. Trial versions of Adobe software are sometimes available on the Adobe company website.  

If you're taking the entire “Graphic Design certificate” you'll need Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. Otherwise you may sign up for a single software. 

*Note: There is no school discount through LERN. More information on Adobe Creative Cloud software can be found at adobe.com