Overview
In our fast-paced and technologically complex business world, the need for effective business professionals with active decision making and leadership skills is critical. Business Administration graduates bring a broad base of knowledge to the workplace in a variety of specialized areas including marketing, management, operations and accounting. While successfully handling specific business functions, they have the background to cultivate key skills needed for a variety of management positions to the benefit of corporate and organizational success.
Program Details
Program Highlights
Business Administration graduates are generalists with specialized skills in marketing, accounting, and human resources management. Graduates are effective communicators and team players who are trained in problem-solving and in the use of computer software to assess and manage data and information.
Note: The first two semesters of all Business programs are common.
Qualified graduates from the two-year Business diploma program in Cornwall and Brockville have the opportunity to continue their education by entering directly into the third year of this Business Administration advanced diploma program.
Program Outline
2023-2024
Through the perspective of both the Canadian and global business environments, this course will provide students with a foundational knowledge of the current state of business and an opportunity to consider what the future may hold. Learners will develop their business vocabulary, understanding of business concepts, and engage with current and relevant issues in both a Canadian and global context. Students will learn the foundations of teamwork as a component of successful business operations. The functional areas of business and their relationship to management, leadership, and the future of work are discussed.
This course is designed to help students develop and practice the communication skills needed to succeed in college and workforce environments. Emphasis is placed on improving foundational communication strategies-reading, writing, listening, and speaking—and on developing research and critical thinking skills.
This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic computer operations and applications through instructor-led exercises, activities, and case studies. It explores various concepts of effective computer usage with a hands-on introduction to the Windows operating system, file management, and working effectively and collaboratively in an online environment. It also provides in-depth exploration and application of various features of the current version of Microsoft Office software including Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Excel is covered briefly in this course in relation to integration with the other Microsoft Office Suite products.
Introductory Business Math prepares students for success in business and financial mathematics. This course emphasizes the development of business-related numeracy and the fundamentals of the time value of money. Topics covered include basic numeracy, percent applications, payroll, tax, and time value of money.
In this course, students benchmark their norms and behaviours for professional and personal development. Students develop self-awareness utilizing formalized assessments to give language to the application of emotional intelligence and personal behaviours that could otherwise mistakenly be described as strengths or weaknesses. Students describe the impact of the their behaviours and further strategies to develop skills and compensate for barriers. Students practice using related terminology to better express their development progress. Students learn about high-functioning teams and practice those skills through teamwork activities. Students develop strategies for setting and implement goals.
In Accounting Fundamentals students create, use, and discuss foundational financial information. Students discuss the fundamental elements of accounting and their impact on business operations. By using accounting software to perform accounting operations students learn the elements of accounting software and routine accounting statements.
The economic environment is the theater in which contemporary managers plan, organize, lead, and control. This course introduces the language and navigational skills that condition students for success in this environment. Students learn microeconomic principals including supply and demand, the themes of scarcity, productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, the concept of opportunity cost, and the relationship between these fundamentals and the Canadian economy. Employing a practical approach to the Canadian macroeconomic environment, the course examines choices by individuals, businesses and governments and their effects on Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, the money supply, and exchange rates. The course addresses factors influencing both the supply side and the demand side of the economy including productivity, consumption, savings, and investment.
In this course, the emphasis is on the development of professional communication. Students develop communication and teamwork skills through the preparation and delivery of a range of professional documents and presentations utilizing current workplace technologies.
Principles of Human Resources Management is intended to provide students with an understanding of human resources management functions within organizations. The course introduces the purpose and the application of Human Resources activities which will assist organizations in achieving their goals and objectives. As such, this course is designed to lay the groundwork for more advanced studies in Human Resources and related subjects.
Marketing Essentials introduces students to the basic principles and practices of marketing management in the modern business setting. This course examines the consumer market for goods and services and the major decision areas of marketing: identifying and selecting target markets, product, price, distribution, integrated marketing communications and customer relationship management. Key concepts including value creation, marketing mix, marketing strategy, and marketing best practices are introduced and explored. Data and the application of metrics and analytics in decision making are discussed and applied.
This course provides an overview of the mathematics of business financial management. Annuities are studied and applied to various business applications and financial decision-making such as bonds, sinking funds, investments, loans, mortgages and net present value.
This course expands on the student’s introductory level knowledge of spreadsheets and databases. Using Microsoft Excel, students learn advanced Excel features such as charts, logical functions, pivot tables, goal seek, data tables, macros, multiple worksheets, lists, look-up tables, and financial functions. The focus is on using advanced spreadsheet functions accurately and effectively to analyze problems that arise in business.
Graduates are entering the world of work just as it is being radically transformed. While technical skills remain crucial, organizations are now looking to hire a workforce with the human skills to thrive in the modern workplace. In this course, students will cultivate and apply knowledge for the contemporary workplace. Driven by case studies and real-world context, students will develop an understanding of the impacts of equity, diversity, and inclusion, social responsibility, ethics and sustainability, and client service. Students will work in diverse teams throughout this course, ultimately applying the course learning in a culminating capstone project where they will propose recommendations to an organization.
In Introduction to Managerial Accounting non-accounting majors learn about the uses and limitations of financial and managerial accounting in the decision-making processes of an organization. Students learn the principles and practice of management accounting as a professional discipline. Management accounting is both a process and a function of supplying managers and employees in an organization with relevant information, both financial and nonfinancial, for making decisions, allocating scarce resources, monitoring, and evaluating performance.
This course covers Excel from basics to advanced topics. It is designed to introduce students to electronic spreadsheets and then introduces more advanced features of Microsoft Excel. During the course students will create simple spreadsheets using the four building blocks of cell content: labels, values, formulas and functions. Students will also gain skills in visually formatting the spreadsheet and creating simple charts. Students will create spreadsheets using more complex functions including arithmetic on date values; managing multi-sheet workbooks; incorporating protection within the workbooks and use filtering of data in tables. Advanced topics in Excel includes: creating automated worksheet tasks, What-If analysis, Pivot Tables, exchanging data with other programs and programming in VBA.
Prerequisite(s): COMP222
This course introduces students to the workings of our market system, within which business organizations must function. In particular, the course studies consumer and business behaviour within a mixed government-market framework. Emphasis is placed on understanding how microeconomic analysis is employed in such functional areas as accounting and finance, marketing, and human resources management, as well as in interpreting government actions in the marketplace and other events of a microeconomic nature.
The study of organizational behaviour is the study of three separate, but interrelated, processes. The course begins with the study of individual behaviour in organizations, including such topics as perception, attitudes and work motivation. The study of group dynamics is also addressed, including such topics as team building, leadership, and decision-making. Finally the course explores the study of organizational structure, culture and change.
This introductory course is designed to help students develop persuasive communication skills, build self-confidence in making presentations and provide a sound grounding in the field of professional selling. Students learn about the principles of professional selling which are essential to most career-oriented or entrepreneurial opportunities. Students develop skills in building rapport in a sales context, navigating buyer-seller relationships throughout the decision-making process, and executing an effective sales presentation.
With the pace of change in businesses today comes the increasing need for projects and the need for people to understand how projects work. This course is designed for those wanting to understand the basics of project management according to a logic model or plan. Students learn the major concepts, processes and tools of project management in business projects and apply these processes and techniques to significantly improve the efficiency with which business goals can be achieved. Each step in the process is examined including goal setting, project scope, charter, risk management and evaluation. Students also experience first-hand the communication challenges that can make or break a project. Learning occurs primarily through class/small group discussion, individual/group activities and case studies.
This course provides students with an opportunity to explore the Logistics and Supply Chain industry. Course content focuses on SCM theory, Just-in-Time delivery, the Lean Supply Chain, and the analysis of business practices using a variety of tools and methodologies including supply chain risk management, ethics in supply chain development, working with suppliers, inventory analysis and planning, and site selection variables.
This course explores the range of skills, knowledge and competencies required to become a successful entrepreneur or to work in a small - medium sized enterprise that expects these skills to develop the venture. Fundamentals of business planning, feasibility analysis, debt / equity financing, financial management, business growth and productivity concepts are explored. Students utilize entrepreneurial techniques, opportunity identification, resource allocation and profit planning and embed these skills through written business plans, oral presentations, discussions and decision-making scenarios. Business planning activities, guest speakers, and articles help to develop an integrated understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship, business building and venture development.
Computer Applications in Accounting is designed to provide the student with experience in maintaining computerized accounting records, primarily using current accounting software. This course will reinforce all of the principles and concepts that were introduced in Introductory Accounting. Students set up a computerized accounting system for a company, process transactions in all modules and are expected to print and interpret generated reports.
Prerequisite(s): ACCT1
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to applied statistical analysis and analytical decision making. During this course, students build a “statistical tool kit” that allows them to organize, present, and analyze data that arises in accounting, marketing, human resources and in business in general. Major topics covered include sampling, graphing, measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability distributions, normality, hypothesis testing, and regression. The course emphasizes the role of statistics in business applications such as quality control, forecasting, and quantitative decision making. Statistical software and technology will be used.
This course introduces the concepts and theories of leadership to help students develop the skills essential to becoming leaders in the workplace, the community and in society. Course content focuses on self-managed leadership and explores related innovation, communication, problem-solving, group dynamics, empowerment, and conflict management concepts. By way of practical exercises, students are encouraged to examine systematically their own leadership potential.
Prerequisite(s): HUMA 53
This course provides an introduction to the field of business financial management. FINA 1 includes a review of the preparation of the primary financial statements and emphasizes their application in financial forecasting. Other major topics addressed include financial statement analysis, working capital management, and sources of short-term financing. The course also provides a brief review of time value of money concepts and their application in capital budgeting decisions which are examined in detail in FINA 2.
Prerequisite(s): ACCT5
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with the majority of Grade 11 and 12 courses at the C, U or M Level including the following prerequisites:
- Grade 12 English at the C or U level
- Grade 11 Math at the C, U or M level
For OSSD equivalency options, see Admission Requirements.
If you are missing prerequisite courses, enroll in the Career/College Prep program - free for Ontario residents who are 19 years or older.
Placement
Business Program placements are a minimum of 140 working hours, and are one of the highlights of Year 3. Students have the opportunity to experience real-world learning by applying their skills within local businesses and organizations. Placement is a resume-worthy opportunity to network with other business professionals.
Previous students have secured placements with a wide variety of industries including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, government, hotel services, logistics and finance.
Questions:
placements@sl.on.ca
website: http://www.placementatslc.ca/
Fees
2023-2024
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Cornwall
Our Cornwall campus has a brand new library, new health simulation labs, renovated student common areas and more to make your transition to college life an easy one.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities in Business Administration are numerous and graduates may find themselves working in:
- management
- finance
- marketing
- human resources or operational leadership roles
- entrepreneurs also develop the skills and acumen needed to leverage their business ideas forward.
Other Information
Programs at St. Lawrence College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with online learning activities. Program delivery can be run weekdays, weekends or evenings. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided a St. Lawrence College email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Students starting in February must take the second semester during the spring/summer in order to be on track for the third semester in the fall.
Advanced Standing
High school students with a minimum grade of 75% in Grade 12 M level accounting (BAT4M) are eligible to receive advanced standing in St. Lawrence College Introductory Accounting, ACCT 1. Once you have been accepted into your college program, contact your program coordinator for details.
Graduates from the three-year Business Administration program have the opportunity to continue to the Laurentian University Bachelor of Business Administration degree offered on the Kingston campus.
Program Contacts
Program Contact
Michael Jackson
mjackson@sl.on.ca
613-345-0660 ext. 3315
Admissions Information
Click here to message Recruitment.
Credit Transfer Opportunities
SLC graduates have many options to continue their studies with post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the world. In addition, there are many credit transfer pathway agreements between colleges and universities within the province of Ontario. Please also visit www.ontransfer.ca to search for options relevant to your program area of study.
Agreements between SLC and other institutions that are specific to this program are listed below.
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Human Resources & Labour Relations (Post Diploma)
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Management (3 yr) (Post Diploma)
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma) with Major
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma)