Seneca Polytechnic will be closed from the end of business day on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, to the reopening on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Part-time classes for the Winter 2025 Term will begin on Friday, Jan. 10. During the holiday closure, you will still be able to access The Service Hub virtually through the online portal and chatbot.
Learn more about the academic programs we are delivering in Winter 2025. If you have any questions about part-time studies, please contact us.
The General Business Seneca College Certificate program builds on the topics covered in the Business Studies six-course certificate and includes six additional courses (12 courses total) to further develop the foundational skill-sets required for a career in any industry or business, domestic or international. Introductory courses will provide students with an overview of the Canadian business environment, including generally accepted accounting principles, fundamentals of math for business and finance, marketing approaches and concepts used by and appropriate for profit and non-profit organizations, and new technologies and strategies to further develop proficiency in computer applications for business.
Students will have opportunities to further refine their professional business skills, focusing on appropriate business communication and channels. Students will also be introduced to specialized areas of business including a focus on organizational behavior, business law, leadership processes, economic principles and Canada's mixed market economy, the diverse components of human resource functions in current business environments, and financial and management accounting skills needed to effect plans and decisions.
This certificate prepares students with job-ready essential employability skills required to work in a wide range of positions within financial, marketing, sales and service industries, and it provides a pathway for students interested in building upon these skills through pursuing the Business Ontario College Diploma Program and/or related Degree Programs.
Students are invited to attend an information session.
Part-time Studies courses are being offered in either of the following four formats: Online, Flexible, In-person, Hybrid. Click Availability below to see current offerings.
Students with a completed high school diploma or prior English Proficiency scores can find more details on next steps here.
Students without any of the above can be placed via successful completion of ESL934 OR English Assessment.
COM101 replaces EAC 150. Students who have successfully completed EAC 150 are not required to complete COM101.
This course introduces students to the core concepts of communication. Students will cultivate an awareness of these concepts by analyzing how they are used in a variety of texts and contexts, and they will apply these concepts strategically in their own writing. Through a variety of writing tasks centered on these core concepts of communication, students will develop the transferable reading and writing skills essential for success in their post-secondary studies, workplaces, and communities.
Students with a completed high school diploma or prior English Proficiency scores can find more details on next steps here.
Students without any of the above can be placed via English Assessment.
This course introduces students to the core concepts of communication. Students will cultivate an awareness of these concepts by analyzing how they are used in a variety of texts and contexts, and they will apply these concepts strategically in their own writing. Through a variety of writing tasks centered on these core concepts of communication, students will develop the transferable reading and writing skills essential for success in their post-secondary studies, workplaces, and communities.
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the Canadian business environment, business issues and functions, and the major forces at work in the global economy. It provides students with a perspective of business firms as integrated organizations composed of a number of specialized functions.
Marketing is an approach to business that puts the customer at the centre of its activities and focuses on satisfying customer needs and wants. While marketing is used by both profit and not-for-profit organizations to meet the demands of the market place, this course introduces students to the fundamental marketing concepts used by profit oriented business organizations.
No required prerequisite, but students should have Grade 12 English and Mathematics or equivalent
This course introduces the student to how accounting information is used by, and meets the needs of both internal and external users through effective and efficient communication as well as what accounting information is required by a business concern to reflect clearly the operating results of the enterprise over its operating life. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to generally accepted accounting principles, the interpretation and preparation of financial statements and how this information is recorded in the various business records.
A fundamental working knowledge of Windows Operating Systems and Excel Software.
Building on the skills they have previously acquired in Excel and Windows operating systems, students will further develop their proficiency in these areas and add Access to their skill set. Throughout the course, they will apply these software skills to solve business problems.
No required prerequisite but students should have Grade 12 English and Mathematics.
This course provides students with the fundamentals of mathematics of business and finance. Following the introduction of concepts of per cent and per cent change, simple and compound interest rates will be discussed. Compound interest rates will be applied to the study of annuities. Students will also learn important models of business mathematics, such as currency conversion, trade discounts, markups and markdowns, break-even and cost-volume-profit analysis.
Please note: For students taking the self-directed OntarioLearn sections, the eTextbook is included in the price of the course.
This one semester course introduces economic principles relating to Canada's mixed market economy and uses these principles to examine current economic issues including the nature of markets, employment, the level of economic activity, the structure of industry, international trade, and the appropriate role of government in the Canadian economy.
With businesses thriving on good customer relationships, effective business communication is the cornerstone of company success. This course will help you learn the principles, practices, and tools for communicating effectively in the workplace using cases and/or projects.
From learning about audience, context, formats, tone, and media to applying your skills in writing correspondence, reports, and presentations, this course will guide you in developing professional interpersonal, collaborative, and web-based knowledge and practices.
This course is a comprehensive overview of modern day personnel and human resource management. This course will introduce the diverse components of human resource functions and its role in the current business environment. Case study analysis will be used to link the theory to the practical situations that occur in Human Resources. Topics to be covered are: the business environment, recruitment and selection, employee development and evaluation, compensation and benefits, employee rights, safety and representations and strategic issues and challenges in Human Resources Management, in both domestic and global environments.
None.
However, it is recommended that students begin their studies with HRM701, Introduction to Human Resources Management, if they plan to pursue the Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate.
The focus of this course is to provide students with an understanding of accounting information for the use of business managers and a working knowledge of financial accounting for human resources managers. The fundamental principles of finance and accounting will be combined with practical applications relating to various forms of organization. Using accounting information to help effect plans, controls, and decisions will be emphasized.
None.
However, it is recommended that students begin their studies with HRM701, Introduction to Human Resources Management, if they plan to pursue the Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate.
This course is an examination of the contemporary Canadian business environment, organization, leadership and management decision process which influences the behavior of individuals and groups.
Increased global competition, technological change and the rising expectations of both employees and employers have underlined the need for better and more effective leadership. This course provides a better understanding of this process.
Students are prepared for a business environment increasingly affected by laws. They learn how laws must be understood and applied by management in the conduct of business. They also learn how to analyze a business situation from a general legal perspective. Emphasis is placed on methods of dispute resolution, contracts, torts, employment law, methods of carrying on business, creditors' rights, sale of goods and marketing law.
Present or beginning line or staff supervisor, first-line managers and junior administrators will be interested in current management concepts as they are applied to the day-to-day supervisory function. A variety of practical exercises, case studies, simulations and presentations are utilized. Students learn how to assess and develop their capabilities as supervisors, as team members interacting with others, and as communicators.
This course is designed to give 4th semester students a broad understanding of current Canadian retail business trends. The operational aspects as well as the nature of various retail formats will be examined and discussed including buying, selling, customer service, advertising, store layout and design, technology and results measurement and evaluation.
This course begins with an overview of financial management roles and covers financial statement analysis techniques. The Valuation Principle and The Law of One Price are introduced as a basis for evaluating costs and benefits in decision making. A review of time value of money concepts is provided for application in capital budgeting. The basics and valuation of both bonds and shares are illustrated. The course concludes with a discussion about interest rates, the relationship between risk and return, and the sensitivity to changes in interest rates for investment decisions.
Around the world, company managers are creating a new business order by internationalizing corporate activity. This course focuses on concepts that should be known by students intending to be involved in global commerce.
Notes:
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:
Earn college credits for what you already know.
Prior Learning Assessment is a method of assessing and recognizing learning that is equal to
college level learning, but has been gained outside a traditional classroom (through work
experience, volunteering, outside study, etc.). If you can prove that the knowledge you have gained
meets the outcomes of a Seneca course, then credit will be awarded.
How does the PLA process work?
Prior Learning is demonstrated through a "challenge" process. The process measures learning
through a variety of methods which may include tests, portfolio assessment, interviews,
demonstrations, essays, and work samples. The method used will be determined in consultation with a
Program Coordinator.
For more information and to determine if you are eligible for PLA, please call the Program
Coordinator.
The process may take from 6 to 8 weeks.
Note: Not all courses can be challenged. For more information go to PLA website or contact your Program Coordinator.
Many students who enter Seneca Polytechnic will have earned academic credits in postsecondary educational institutions which they may be able to apply toward completion of a Seneca Polytechnic program.
Requests for Transfer Credit must be for a specific course and must be accompanied by an official transcript and course outline. A minimum grade of "C" (60 percent) is generally required for a course to be considered for Transfer Credit.
Download a Transfer Credit Request form. An official copy of your transcript and applicable detailed course outlines should be attached and submitted. Please note it may take 4 to 6 weeks for a Transfer Credit decision.
Please visit the Office of the Registrar.
When you meet all program requirements and become eligible for a certificate, diploma, or degree, you must inform the Registrar by completing a Graduation Application form and paying the graduation and alumni fee. Certificates, diplomas, and applied degrees are issued twice a year in the Fall (October), Spring (June) and Winter (February).
For further information including deadlines and fees, please visit the Convocation website or contact the Convocation Office at theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca.
A student will be eligible to graduate from a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or graduate certificate program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.0.
A student will be eligible to graduate from a degree program if they have achieved a minimum graduating GPA of 2.5, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the courses in their main field of study and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in breadth courses.
Sharron Hyman
As an instructor at Seneca Part-time Studies and life skills coach/trainer, Sharron Hyman is a multi-faceted entrepreneur who delivers a wide-array of informative workshops and courses.
Through her life skills coaching experience, Sharron's practical, genuine approach to teaching encourages her students to be actively involved in their lives rather than passive observers of their own thoughts and actions.
For over 20 years, Sharron has owned and operated four retail stores, a fine-dining restaurant, as well as managed and redeveloped shopping centres.
Rick Andrew
With extensive experience in the marketing, human resources, and sales industries, Rick Andrew has held various positions throughout his career, including national sales manager, group brand manager, and managing director.
For the past 18 years, he has owned & operated Andrew & Co -- a marketing and sales services company -- with past and present clients that include Lazzaroni Biscuits, Walkers Shortbread, Guylian Chocolates, Tartine Tarts, and Advertising Standards Canada.
As a part-time academic for over 30 years, Rick teaches marketing, psychology, consumer behaviour, presentation techniques, career development, and selling skills at Ryerson University, Toronto Film School, and Seneca Polytechnic.
Belinda Becker
Program Assistant
belinda.becker@senecapolytechnic.ca
Lisa Ballantyne
Academic Program Manager
lisa.ballantyne@senecapolytechnic.ca
437-312-0065
For more information about this program, fill out the following form.
Students are invited to attend an information session.