Business

Post-Secondary Programs
Credential Earned: Ontario College Diploma (2 Year)
Campus: Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, Distance
Program Length: 4 Semesters
CIP Code: 52.0101

Program Codes
B005-PC (Timmins Campus)
B205-CK (Distance)
B026-HL (Haileybury Campus)
B028-KL (Kirkland Lake Campus)

Gain traction in the career you’ve always dreamed of with Northern’s two-year Business diploma.

Year one focuses on Business Fundamentals. Then you’ll expand your skill set in year two thanks to a comprehensive range of courses to explore everything from statistics and business law, to operations, macroeconomics and project management.

You’ll learn the importance of building relationships, the art of closing the deal, and even get a crash course in entrepreneurship to maximize your chances for success.

Advanced business simulations and work integrated learning opportunities put your new skills to the test.

It all adds up to a well-rounded big-picture graduate who’s ready to take on the world.

Contact Information

For questions about being admitted into the program, please contact Northern College Admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca or by phone at 705-235-3211 ext. 7222.

For questions about the content of the program, contact the Program Coordinator.

Amanda Scammell
Program Coordinator
Tel: 705-235-3211 ext. 2207
Email: scammella@northern.on.ca

Student Success & The Northern Experience

After completing Business Fundamentals, you’ll expand your general business knowledge by taking a comprehensive range of courses from a mixture of accounting, marketing, business and human resource management courses.

Does this program sound like a good fit for you?

Connect with us to learn more.

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Course Information

Course descriptions can be found below.

Please note, course information is based on our current offering and is subject to change. Current students can find more information on courses in their student account.

If you have questions or require program information for previous academic years, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Courses in Semester 1 and Semester 2 are taken as part of the Business Fundamentals one-year certificate program.

More information can be found in the Program Outline [PDF, 200 KB]. Program Outlines can also be found in the archives.

Program Outline [PDF, 200 KB]

2024-2025 Academic Year

Semester 1

In this course, students will be introduced to the accounting cycle and the preparation of financial statements. Topics include recording entries, preparing financial statements and accounting for merchandising activities. This course will be essential for further study in financial accounting.

56 Hours

In this course, students will learn how proper recruitment/selection strategies, and training and development methods, maintain an organization’s competitive advantage. The integral role of job design and analysis in affecting compensation management and performance appraisal decisions will be examined. Students will investigate a variety of employment and health and safety laws as they relate to managing a diverse workforce. In addition, the fundamental principles of the union-management framework will be explored.

42 Hours

In this course, students will be introduced to business in Canada, focusing on introductory topics for those interested in employment in a business management role. Topics of study will include the relationships between the areas of finance, human resources, marketing, and operations within an organization, business ethics and social responsibility, management concepts and practices, and an exploration of the entrepreneurial spirit.

42 Hours

In this course, students will learn essential skills for success in college and the workplace. This course focuses on developing and strengthening oral and written communication skills, and critical thinking ability. During this course, students will engage in a variety of forms of communication with a focus on upholding the principles of academic integrity. Students will develop the skills necessary to create discipline-specific documents, practice business etiquette and professionalism, and apply critical thinking strategies to practical scenarios. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to plan and draft concise, coherent and well-organized writing assignments that are tailored to specific audiences and purposes. 

42 Hours

In this course, students will gain practical experience with Microsoft Excel for Windows. Excel will be used to prepare various reports, presentations and applications which directly correlate to the critical-thinking requirements of the workplace. Students will gain practical experience working with formulas and functions, developing, and enhancing financial reports, organizing data with charts, data lists, and tables, managing multiple work sheets, workbooks, and external data sources, developing macros, using conditional functions, working with financial tools and functions, and performing what-if analysis.

42 Hours

In this course, students will begin with a review of basic arithmetic and algebraic manipulations, continuing topics that include ratios, proportions and percentages, math of merchandising that include mark-ups and mark-downs, various payroll scenarios, and the evaluation and calculations using simple interest.

56 Hours

This course is an informative introduction into marketing. Students will become acquainted with current Canadian marketing concepts, terminology and practices, examine strategies to apply them to contemporary marketing situations, and gain an understanding of how they affect an organization’s profitability. Students will also explore consumer and business marketing, product planning, building customer relationships and creating customer value. This course provides a basic understanding of Canadian marketing structures and techniques including defining and segmenting target markets and interpreting market research data.

42 Hours

Semester 2

In this course, students will examine, in more depth, selected assets and liabilities found on the balance sheet as well as learn to account for equity transactions involving partnerships and corporations. Assets examined include cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, investments, plant, property, and equipment and intangibles. Liabilities studied will include short and long term bonds, notes payable, warranty liabilities and income tax liabilities.

56 Hours

In this course, students will be introduced to managing and navigating organizational behaviour in a professional Canadian business environment, at the same time keeping in mind the increasingly interdependent nature of globalization. This course examines management and group dynamics from the manager as well as employee point of view, both in an professional setting. There is significant emphasis on how OB research into the area of workplace experience of managers and employees contributes to the productivity of the organization. The course brings in numerous examples of practical applications with the involvement of the learners from real-life situations and personal experiences to analyze the concepts discussed. There is also key emphasis on developing awareness towards corporate social responsibility and the relation between ethical practices and organizational behaviour.

42 Hours

This course is designed to introduce the student to the study of economics, beginning with the field of microeconomics. The course will use scientific theory to better understand the relationship and consequence of economic and business decisions. Additionally, this course will use mathematical procedures to predict and practically use economic models in real world settings. As opposed to Macroeconomics, Microeconomics will focus on the effects of business decisions on an industry or a single business specifically. Topics include supply and demand, elasticity, consumer choice, and production costs in the short and long run.

42 Hours

In this course, students will develop professional communication skills required for success in the workplace. Students will continue to develop and strengthen their oral and written communication skills and critical thinking abilities. During this course, students will use various modes of communication to complete assignments designed to meet program and professional expectations. Students will utilize a variety of technologies for the purpose of creating a professional presence in a digital environment. Students will develop the necessary skills to create polished workplace documents such as letters, resumes, cover letters and reports tailored to specific audiences. Students will learn to conduct themselves with professionalism in both workplace interviews and job searches.  Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to create clear, concise and coherent workplace and employment documents that are error-free and designed for specific audiences and purposes.  

42 Hours

Improving your knowledge and understanding of the history of the Indigenous peoples of what we now call Canada is an important step to enable Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, organizations, and communities to work together more respectfully. Throughout this course you will have the opportunity to learn, discuss and reflect about many topics that are relevant in the learning journey towards reconciliation.

42 Hours

In this course, students will develop their business mathematics skills expanding them to compound interest scenarios that include single cash flows of future value and present value, ordinary simple annuities, ordinary general annuities, simple and general annuities due, deferred annuities, perpetuities and perpetuities due. Throughout the course, students will not only evaluate the requirements but also use their critical thinking skills to evaluate appropriate investments to make and aspects of a variety of loans to consider all in a business environment whether that be in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors of industries.

56 Hours

In this course, students will follow the accepted concepts of marketing, current marketing principles/practices, and their applications as functional decision-making management tools. Topics will include all aspects of product/service marketing and management, price determination and pricing strategies, distribution-related strategies, marketing communications strategies (including advertising, personal selling, sales promotions, event marketing and sponsorship, public relations and direct marketing) and non-profit marketing and global marketing. This course builds on the foundation of MR1073 Introduction to Marketing I. Students will continue to examine current Canadian material on marketing and determine strategies for developing new products and services that are consistent with evolving marketing needs and principles of sustainability. Students will apply their knowledge in producing a marketing plan where they will set marketing objectives, develop a marketing mix, along with developing marketing strategies. Budgetary considerations will be taken into account, and evaluation criteria identified. Students will also contribute to the development of pricing strategies and participate in conducting market research to provide information needed to make marketing decisions.

42 Hours

Semester 3

In this course, students are introduced to a computerized accounting application as utilized by employees and managers in daily operations and decision-making processes. Using SAGE 50 Accounting Software Students will gain practical experience recording business transactions in the General Ledger, Receivables, Payables, Payroll, Inventory and Banking Modules using “real-world” companies and industries. Practical Experience is further obtained by the design, set-up, and implementation of an accounting system for a Small Business.

42 Hours

This course will cover the following concepts related to Managerial Accounting: Compare and contrast financial and management accounting. Apply costing concepts from a business point of view. Analyze cost behaviour as an aid to managers in making important decisions about future courses of action. Apply cost behaviour concepts as an important management accounting decision-making tool: cost-volume-profit analysis. Analyze the job-order costing model. Analyze activity-based costing. Compare and contrast variable versus absorption costing. Complete all components of a master budget. Calculate material, labor and overhead variances. Prepare an analysis for a variety of situations that will aid decision-making.

56 Hours

This course will cover the following concepts related to Operations Management: Illustrate the importance of operations management in the context of an organization’s strategic plan. Assess the role of supply chain management, logistics, and inventory strategies to support operational requirements. Determine the layout for goods and service producers to maximize efficiency and support organizational goals. Assess the impact of product/service design processes and benchmarking on productivity to support the organization’s goals. Assess strategies for the scheduling of production and staff which support the most productive operations of a facility. Assess the impact of quality control and quality assurance systems and programs to support the organization’s goals. Apply qualitative considerations and quantitative methods to the management decision making involved in the day to day operations of a business. Appreciate the scope of subjects and knowledge necessary for effective and efficient management of business operations, and to optimize the customer value created. Understand the connection between the different types of decisions made by operations managers, and the different types of mathematical models available to support management decision making. Communicate clearly the results of analysis and the application of quantitative methods to operational decisions to the managers involved.

56 Hours

In this course, students will discuss large-scale, economic phenomena to gain an understanding of the role and relevance of economics in business studies. Students will examine the behaviours of individual nations in a global economics context. This course will present the Economic Problem and discuss such concepts as scarcity, choice, opportunity cost as well as efficiency & unemployment. You will examine demand & supply and understand how and why economists measure the economy, while learning about GDP, national income and inflation. Further, students will explore business cycles and the aggregate expenditures model. They will review explanations for such things as prices and output in aggregate demand and supply from a macroeconomics perspective. And finally, students will consider federal government’s fiscal policy, examine technological change, global trade and the effect of tariffs.

42 Hours

This course will explore the world of building relationships in the sales field. Students will examine the steps in the preparation, presentation and the follow up of a professional sale. This course deals with a hands-on approach to developing the tools to be successful in most selling situations. Emphasis is placed on building a relationship based on rapport and trust. Students learn and practice the fundamentals of the sales process including, needs analysis, preparing sales presentations, handling objectives, confirming and closing the sale and the strategic importance of follow-up and providing exceptional customer service. Throughout the course role playing and case studies will be utilized to allow students to apply sound reasoning skills to solve sales challenges.

42 Hours

General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives. 

42 Hours

Semester 4

This course presents a practical study of Canadian business law, including the legal and administrative systems, torts, contracts, employment laws, and general legal considerations that arise for a business. In addition, students will assess intellectual property, patent, trademark, copyright, and franchising laws and apply them to business cases. Students will outline the structure of the Canadian legal system, describe torts and professional liability issues, determine the requirements that form contracts, explain the circumstances that enforce contractual obligations, describe legislation and its function in the marketplace, outline the concepts of real and personal property, and relate Ideas and information laws as they apply to business.

42 Hours

In this course, students will study the impact which corporations have on the environment, employees, communities, and stakeholders and will examine related ethical issues and concerns in these areas. Students will define “good corporate citizenship” and will look at government and private legislation/regulations which aim to make corporations socially accountable. Various approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and CSR policies will be reviewed and assessed.

42 Hours

This course introduces students to the nature of business and entrepreneurship.  Students will obtain an overview of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process then expand into key concepts including business types, customers, marketing, financials and human resources.  The options of franchising and purchasing existing businesses are also covered in this course.  Students will outline and assess the components of a Business Plan.

42 Hours

Students will utilize the knowledge relating to business activities gained through the curriculum in the previous three semesters to develop a winning strategy for their respective companies ( in a computerized business simulation) Students will co-manage the operations of a Simulated Business competing in a national , regional or global market.

56 Hours

In this course, students will develop managerial skills to propose, plan, secure resources, budget, and lead project teams to successful completions of projects. Students will also learn why organizations have developed a formal project management process supported by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) to gain a competitive advantage. The case study approach will be used along with an investigation of software and collaboration tools that aid in carrying out activities of project planning and project execution.

42 Hours

In this course, students will apply the necessary mathematical skills for conducting descriptive and inferential statistical analyses with business applications. Topics will include data description and graphical presentation, calculating and interpreting variables relating to central tendency and dispersion, analyzing both descriptive and inferential probability distributions, sampling distributions and estimation, principles of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing in order to test the validity of statistical statements involving samples.

56 Hours

General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives. 

42 Hours

Career Ready Graduates

Articulation Agreements

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program coordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option.

 

Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List

CIP Code: 52.0101

International students: check the Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List to see if your program is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

  1. Identify and discuss the impact of global issues on an organization’s business opportunities by using an environmental scan.
  2. Apply principles of corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and ethics to support an organization’s business initiatives.
  3. Use current concepts/systems and technologies to support an organization’s business initiatives.
  4. Apply basic research skills to support business decisions making.
  5. Support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects.
  6. Perform work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, and business practices.
  7. Explain the role of the human resource function and its impact on an organization.
  8. Use accounting and financial principles to support the operations of an organization.
  9. Describe and apply marketing and sales concepts used to support the operations of an organization.
  10. Outline principles of supply chain management and operations management.
  11. Outline and assess the components of a business plan.
  12. Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the business field.

 

Career Opportunities

Graduates will find entry-level employment in business and industry, accounting firms, non-profit organizations, government agencies, or entrepreneurial roles, often at rewarding levels of responsibility.

Explore labour market information for related careers and employment trend data from the Government of Canada Job Bank.

 

 

Admissions Information & Requirements

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • Grade 12 English (C, U)
  • Grade 11 Math (C, U)

Or equivalent

 

Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

Applicants who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program must undergo academic testing and may be required to complete Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) process to demonstrate equivalency of admission requirements prior to admission into a program.

For more details, please contact the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 or admissions@northern.on.ca.

Additional Requirements for International Students

In addition to the admission requirements, international students must have proof of English Proficiency and meet the requirements below.

1. Proof of Senior High School Diploma/Certificate

2. English Proficiency (we will require one of the following):

  • IELTS Academic– International English Language Testing System: a minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with no individual band score under 6.0; however, we will accept one band at 5.5.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Internet Based Test (iBT) overall minimum score of 79
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 58+</li

If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency.

All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependent on the country of citizenship.

For more information, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.

Additional Information

When studies commence, you are automatically registered in the first year Business Fundamentals which is a common first year business program for Northern College’s two-year business programs in Accounting, Human Resources Management, Marketing, Global Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology, and Business studies.

Tuition, Fees & Payments

The tuition and fees information is typically updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year in May. The amounts are for the full academic year.

Amounts may be based on last years tuition and fees and are subject to change.

If you are a current student, please refer to your Student Account or see a Student Services Clerk for the most up-to-date information.

Tuition

Domestic: $2,720.56

International: $14,813.46

Ancillary Fees

Ancillary fees vary by campus and support aspects of your experience as a Northern College student, such as Student Associations, Athletic Facilities, and Health Benefits.

Ancillary fees are paid in full for the entire academic year in the first semester.

The Convocation and Official Documentation Fee (GRA) of $100.00 only applies for the first year of each program.

Please see Detailed Ancillary Fees for more information.

Ancillary Fees by Campus Domestic International
Haileybury (HL) $976.50 $1,589.00
Kirkland Lake (KL) $909.50 $1,522.00
Timmins (PC) $945.50 $1,558.00
Distance (CK, CH, OL) $772.50 N/A

Find Your True North.

At Northern College, you’re a part of a community.

From your teachers to support staff and administrators, we are all here to help you get an education and make some lasting connections along the way.

Your success is incredibly important to you, so we provide student supports to help you achieve your goals. From study assistance and accessibility services to mental health supports and financial aid, we’ve got you covered.

Each of Northern’s campuses boasts exercise facilities, a gym, cafeteria, study areas and a library – places that you can go to help keep you focused as you work your way through your studies. The communities we call home are incredible places, filled with amazing people and things to do.

Student Supports & ServicesCampus Facilities

Group of Northern College students with moose mascot in cafeteria
Advising Services in classroom

Does Northern College sound like a good fit for you?

Here’s how to take your first steps on your new exciting and rewarding career path.

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