Business
Overview
This two-year option gives students maximum flexibility. Gain general business knowledge and choose to head to work or seamlessly transfer to other specialized business programs.
The two-year Business program is the optimal way for students to begin their business education and set themselves up for several career paths. Students looking to work in an existing organization, take over a family-run business, or start their own businesses, will find that this program offers all the important foundational courses.
In the first year, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of business management with courses including, marketing, human resources, accounting, computer applications, global business principles, and ethics.
During the second year, students will expand on these foundational themes with advanced business courses. Students will study current trends and issue in social media marketing, organizational behaviour, business intelligence, business law, operations management, and economics.
Admission Requirements
O.S.S.D. or equivalent with:
- Grade 12 English C or U
- Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics C or U
Mature Student Assessment for this program is available in the subjects of English and Mathematics for the purpose of demonstrating proficiency in these required admission subjects. For all other admission requirements, applicants must complete the required course(s) as listed above. For more information, please contact counselling@lambtoncollege.ca. Review the Mature Student Admission process.
Academic admission requirements can be obtained through Academic Upgrading and the Pre-Programs at Lambton College.
Develop your Business Skills
Students in this program can develop their business skills by participating in our world champion social entrepreneurship team - Enactus Lambton.
Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP)
This program has achieved ACBSP Candidacy status which means that this program aligns with global business standards and prepares you for success in your career.
ACBSP Candidacy signifies our commitment to high quality, industry relevant education, ensuring you gain not just knowledge but a competitive edge in the business world.
Costs
- Year 1 $4,100.94
- Year 2 $3,965.54
Please Note: These fees apply to the 2023-2024 academic year and are subject to change. Fees do not include books (unless specifically noted), supplies or living costs.
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, Lambton College requires that each student have access to a laptop while studying at our college.
Courses
Business Mathematics I
This is a course in the mathematical concepts needed for success in the modern business world. We will study percentages, ratios and proportions, exponents; algebraic manipulation and solution of equations and equation systems; plotting, graphing and reading descriptive charts; deriving and presenting descriptive statistics.
Critical Thinking & Writing
In this writing course, students respond to current issues and news articles via various styles of paragraphs and essays. Students practice thinking critically and organize and hone their writing to ensure clarity and correctness in their messages. Students explore different perspectives, and through synthesis, analysis, and response, strive for clarity of message and diplomatic expression of opinion based on fact. One of the pillars of Lambton College is a commitment to sustainability and equity, diversity, and inclusion, including Indigenization of the curriculum; where appropriate, readings in this course will reflect this commitment. Critical Thinking and Writing lays the foundation for a subsequent research-writing course.
Workplace Communication Applications & Analysis
In today's management and administration workplace, having strong computer skills is essential. This course provides students with resources and guidance to develop skills in Microsoft Office applications, focusing on three key areas: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. While learning about these programs, students develop skills in time management, accountability, and their ability to follow direction.
Human Resources Management
Effective Human Resources Management (HRM) is critical to the success of organizations today. This course will provide an overview of the key concepts of HR management and will include some history and theory of the HR function and important terminology. It will introduce students to the core competencies of effective HR practitioners and allow for self-assessment against these competencies. We will be discussing core HR practice areas such as Strategic Planning, HR Planning, HR Administration, Talent Management, Training Learning and Development, Performance Assessment, Total Rewards (including Compensation and Benefits) Employee and Labour Relations and Health and Safety in the workplace. In addition, the course looks at the legal environment for effective HR management, and the role of HRM in mergers and acquisitions and organizational change management.
Marketing Fundamentals
This introductory marketing course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the principles, concepts, and practices of marketing. Marketing plays a critical role in today's business landscape, helping organizations effectively connect with their target audiences, create value, and drive business success. This course explores the fundamental theories and techniques of marketing while also emphasizing the role of sustainability in creating long-term value for businesses, society, and the environment. Students are introduced to various marketing components, including consumer and business buying behaviour, customer segmentation, marketing research, product development, pricing, distribution, and integrated marketing communications.
Accounting Theory & Practice I
This course is an introduction to the theory of accounting and the standard methods of record-keeping. Accounting principles and concepts are emphasized in the preparation of financial statements for both service and merchandising organizations. Topics covered, take the student through the entire accounting cycle and include preparing and posting journal entries for business transactions, adjusting and closing entries, inventory costing and valuation, merchandising transactions, payroll, and bank reconciliations. This course is designed to provide the accounting skills required in business and for those students who intend to pursue a professional accounting designation.
Business Mathematics II
This course applies mathematical principles to problems of finance and probability. We will study simple and compound interest, annuities, bonds, project evaluation, laws of probability, and probability distributions.
Communications for Business
This course provides students with the skills required for professional, written, and oral communications essential to business success and subsequent courses. Students will develop database and internet research skills; prepare professional written business communication; and create, practice and deliver professional oral presentations. Students will research and document borrowed information in a business report and will demonstrate critical reading and thinking skills.
Entrepreneurial Mindset
This course introduces students, through a Canadian lens, to the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. The ability to think like an entrepreneur and act like an innovator are critical skills for success across industries and are proven tools to help distinguish individuals in the workplace. Whether applied in a start-up company, or as an employee within an existing organization (intrapreneurship), learners develop knowledge on how to navigate barriers to creating, developing, and sustaining innovative new initiatives. Topics related to the development of resilience, focus, productivity, creativity, and success are introduced to support learners in building their own entrepreneurial capacity.
Job Search & Success
This course provides student with skills and knowledge to help support their career search and succeed in the workplace. Students align their personal skill set and goals to guide them on their career paths. They will learn how to effectively conduct a job search, build a professional and well-tailored resume and cover letter, and develop and practice interview techniques. Students will also develop their personal brand to help support effective career networking and aid in their job search. Teamwork and collaboration in the workplace are also discussed. Self-reflection is used to inspire insight and support their professional career journey.
General Education Elective (Select 2)
Accounting Theory & Practice II
This course is a continuation of ACC-1004, and it introduces additional and more advanced concepts. Topics covered include accounting for property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets as well as short- and long-term liabilities and the different forms of equity. Students will also learn how to report cash flows. This course is designed to provide accounting skills required in Business Administration and for those students who intend to proceed towards a professional accounting designation.
Introduction to Managerial Accounting
The managerial accounting course provides students with skills to become highly effective in environments where quick decisions are required. Students learn to use financial information to make quick strategic decisions including how to use data to evaluate the effectiveness of current operations. Learning to maximize the profitability of operations, students interpret financial statements and supporting financial data that drive decision making. Topics covered in this course include cost management, analysis of financial performance, application of pricing strategies, and budgetary planning and control for a business enterprise.
Business Statistics
This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of statistics. It includes regression analysis, probabilities and distributions, sampling, statistical estimation, and hypotheses testing.
Microeconomics
This course provides an understanding of how society chooses what goods and services to produce through an examination of the laws of supply and demand as well as how and for whom they are produced by examining the behaviour of firms, market structures and the distribution of income.
Social Media Marketing
This course explores online marketing tools and tactics, such as social media, email, digital advertising and content marketing, that businesses can use to build a profitable relationship with their customers. Students engage in simulated social media, email and digital advertising campaigns to gain a better understanding of how to use these tools in their marketing efforts. Along with learning about digital and social media marketing, students learn general principles of marketing that are key for every business, regardless of industry or size: identifying who your customers are; understanding what needs they have that you are uniquely able to serve; creating a brand voice that speaks to them; identifying who your competitors are; deciding how to differentiate your offering from theirs; and creating a plan for engaging customers across social media and digital advertising platforms.
Organizational Behaviour
This subject is an examination of the contemporary Canadian business environment including the organization, leadership and management decision process which influences the behaviour of individuals and groups. Increased global competition, technological change and the rising expectations of both employees and employers have underlined the need for improved and more effective leadership. This subject provides a better understanding of this process.
Secondary Market Research
This course introduces students to the constantly expanding world of secondary data research. This is the first of two research courses designed to develop research techniques and skills that meet the needs of today's business. Students develop their research technology skills by learning how to locate, evaluate, and qualify high-quality data. Students strengthen their ability critically interpret and evaluate the data collected and suggest potential trends and implications. An important focus of the course is learning to create appropriate tables, graphs, and infographics that aid in understanding and visualizing the data. Through a series of research assignments, students learn to craft high-quality written reports, presentations and infographics with accurate references and citations. Throughout the course, students are exposed to a wide variety of government, business, and economic information expanding their knowledge of the dynamic business environment.
Retailing
This course provides students with a solid understanding of the complexity of operating a retail business in Canada and serves as a good foundation for a career in retailing or other industries that support the retail supply chain. The course provides an overview of the retail industry in Canada and its importance in the Canadian economy. Trends impacting the dynamic retail environment and the changing retail customer are investigated with an emphasis placed on sustainability issues in retail operations. Students evaluate market opportunities, location considerations, store design and layout decisions to consider when planning a store. Students are introduced to retail financial analysis and the operational decision functions of buying, managing, and pricing merchandise.
The Legal Aspects of HR
This scenario/case-based course will provide students with insight into the legal aspects of human resources management through the entire employment relationship. The focus of this course will be on current federal and provincial employment-related legislation. Students will become familiar with specific areas of law and will apply learned concepts and terminology to address issues related to effective human resource management. Students will be introduced to content specific to workplace complaints and workplace investigations as this is an expanding area of responsibility for human resource professionals.
Business Law
In this course, 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, sale of goods, and marketing law.
Macroeconomics
This course provides an understanding of the role of economics in business decision-making through the study of the methodology of economics, the components of the Canadian economy, cycles in the economy, macroeconomic goals, the measuring of economic performance, and government intervention in the economy as government attempts to manage the economy.
Operations Management
Operations and supply chain management have evolved into one of today's most important business disciplines. In the dynamic world of manufacturing and service delivery, designing systems more effectively and efficiently is a key source of competitive advantage. This course introduces business students to foundational concepts and practical methods used in the design and operations of manufacturing and service firms. Students explore strategic decisions related to how firms compete including operations strategy, supply chain design, process and facility design, and capacity planning. Students also learn tactical and day-to-day strategies for inventory management, forecasting, resource scheduling, quality control, project management, and lean operating systems.
Integrated Marketing Communication
In today's marketing world, there are more advertising contact points and specialized media competing for consumer's attention than ever before. To effectively break through the clutter, companies need to use a well-coordinated approach to selecting different promotional methods to differentiate their communication and present a consistent message to target audiences. This course introduces students to the concept of integrated marketing communications (IMC); a strategic planning process that helps companies identify the most appropriate and effective methods for communicating and building relationships with consumers. Students will learn the essential components of an IMC plan, including how to integrate advertising, sales promotions, public relations, direct marketing and digital media to maximize the impact of communications. Students will utilize this knowledge to build their own comprehensive marketing communications plan for a selected product or service.
Ethical Leadership & Critical Decision Making
This interdisciplinary course combines insights from the field of business with social psychology and applied ethics to challenge students with an introspective look at some of today's most important ethical dilemmas. Students in PHL-1253 learn that the ethical standards employed by businesses and corporations ultimately concern the quality of human behaviours in those organizations. Human behaviour evolves from many influences: our past relationships, the ways we think and feel, how we respond to pressures in various social contexts, and how we deliberate in our daily thoughts and actions. Each of these influences is intimately involved with the quality of our ethical decision making.
General Education Elective
Contact
Business, English & Liberal Studies
Program Information
1-844-LAMBTON
After Graduation
Employment Opportunities
The solid grounding in business foundations and the focus on acquiring practical skills has served our graduates well when it comes time to begin their careers. Previous graduates have found employment at various levels in banking, retail, sales, sports management, supply chain management, and media and promotion. Some graduates have opted to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
Pathways
Transfer to Programs within Ontario
We’ve worked with Ontario colleges to provide the following transfer opportunities:
- Honours Bachelor of Commerce - International Business Management
- Honours Bachelor of Commerce - Business Management
- Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Want to see more Ontario transfers? Visit ONTransfer.ca.
Transfer to Programs outside of Ontario
- Bachelor of Business - enter third year of three-year program
- Bachelor of Business (Honours) - enter third year of four-year program
- Bachelor of Arts in Business & Sustainability - minimum B average in Lambton College program
More Information
Technology Requirements
It is recommended that students purchase a laptop with a Windows operating system.
Internet Speed Requirements
For best performance for students learning remotely, an internet connection with a minimum of 40 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speed is recommended in order to effectively use video conferencing and remote lecture delivery software as well as, other online resources remotely. Due to the large area over which students may be dispersed, we are unable to recommend a specific provider, so you will need to inquire around your area to find one that best suits your needs.
Minimum Laptop Requirements
In order to access the internet and virtually-delivered software and courseware, student laptops should include the following at a minimum. By meeting the following specifications, students will be equipped to access software and courseware on their laptop through the internet:
- Intel i5 8th Gen Processor or equivalent
- 16 GB of RAM (with a minimum of 8 GB)
- 100 GB HDD or more
- HD Graphics
- Webcam with a microphone
- Wireless 802.11n/ac 5ghz capable
- Windows Operating System (Windows 11)
Software
To ensure students are getting the most our of their classroom experience, some software will be required.
Lambton College has made this software easily accessible online. Students can leverage our Microsoft Office 365 software packages and services. In addition, much of the software you require for your courses will be available on demand for use on any device - on or off campus.