Business Fundamentals
Overview
Start online, discover your direction, and ladder into your business career.
Discover your pathway into the world of business with Lambton College’s Business Fundamentals program—an online, two-term Ontario College Certificate designed for maximum flexibility. Perfect for new learners, mature students, or anyone exploring a future in business, this program lets you study anytime, anywhere while building a strong foundation in key areas such as Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, and Business Communications.
Through dynamic online learning and exposure to responsible management principles, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to identify your strengths, explore your interests, and choose the business direction that’s right for you.
Your Pathway Forward
This program is built for laddering. After completing your certificate, you can seamlessly continue into one of Lambton College’s business diploma programs, Business – Accounting, Business – Human Resources Management, or Business – Marketing. Whether you plan to enter the workforce, start your own business, or advance into a specialized diploma, the Business Fundamentals program is your flexible first step toward a rewarding career in business.
Admission Requirements
O.S.S.D. or equivalent with:
- Grade 12 English C or U
Mature Student Assessment for this program is available in the subject of English for the purpose of demonstrating proficiency in this required admission subject. 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.
Costs
- Year 1 $5,206.02
Please Note: These fees apply to the 2026-2027 academic year and are subject to change. Fees do not include books (unless specifically noted), supplies or living costs.
OSAP Eligible
This program is OSAP eligible. OSAP is a needs-based Federal and Provincial student loan and grant program that is calculated based on your personal financial situation and the cost of your education expenses. If you are registered as a full-time student (minimum 60% course load), you may qualify for assistance. OSAP does not always provide assistance to cover all of your educational and 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
Selecting Business Option Courses
Students are required to choose three electives in Term 2. For a list of these courses, visit the More Information tab.
Contact
Continuing Education
Program Information
After Graduation
Employment Opportunities
With the skills you gain and the business path you choose, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of career opportunities—from entry-level management roles to positions with significant responsibility. Our graduates work in areas such as marketing management, strategic planning, market research, media and promotion, retail, sales, supply chain management, recruitment, training and development, and labour relations. Many also channel their entrepreneurial spirit into launching and growing their own businesses.
More Information
Elective Courses
If students are planning to transition to one of the other Business programs, it is recommended that they choose the corresponding stream of courses.
Accounting Theory & Practice II
This course builds upon the foundational topics of ACC 1003. Students will begin to look at specific accounting topics with a more detailed view of the relevant standards. Topics include inventory, property, plant and equipment, and short-term liabilities. Students will also be introduced to accounting for partnerships and corporations as well as preparation of cash flow statements.
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.
Critical & Ethical Decision Making
Students are introduced to business ethics, applied ethics, and social psychology. They will assess today's most important ethical dilemmas and the human behaviours that drive them. Students will recommend how to best navigate corporate landscapes, political influencers, and social contexts to ensure ethical decision-making.
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.
Recruitment & Selection
A basic study is undertaken of the principles, issues, trends, and legislative requirements affecting recruitment and selection. Human Resources professionals need an understanding of how recruitment and selection fits into the broader organizational structure, processes, and goals of an organization and how this function is related to the other functions of Human Resources management. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to successfully identify human resource requirements and attract and retain an effective workforce for an organization. The changing legal environment and the impact of laws on recruitment and selection are an important component of this course.
HR Research & Information Systems
This subject involves the study of research techniques as they pertain to the measurement and conditioning of workforce behaviour. The subject provides knowledge related to the introduction of electronic human resources information systems (HRIS) into an organization by discovering project management, planning and implementation models. The value of HRIS to effective human resources (HR) research activities will be explored by looking at actual practices of HR professionals.
Digital Marketing
This course focuses on the latest in digital based marketing tools and strategies including: search engine optimization, website analytics, social media platforms, and mobile communications. The main focus will be to enable students to develop and implement integrated marketing campaigns and strategies by leveraging multiple digital marketing platforms in a simulated Business-to-Consumer (B2C) environment.
Consumer Behaviour in Strategic Marketing
This subject continues from an introductory marketing course and relates marketing theory and concepts to the creation of effective marketing strategies and strategic marketing management. This subject advances the study of marketing planning, buyer behaviour and market research distribution. Using metrics, students will evaluate the attractiveness of marketing opportunities and the impact of marketing decision-making. The successful student will be able to demonstrate the ability to solve marketing problems employing creative thinking and a disciplined application of marketing theory and principles. The student will be able to develop marketing strategies and make marketing decisions which achieve corporate objectives within the consumer, organizational and nonprofit sectors of the Canadian business environment.
Entrepreneurship I
This course will cover a wide variety of topics for those interested in starting, or seeking employment in, a small business. The course will capture the entrepreneurial spirit, and students will get first-hand exposure to the benefits and drawbacks of starting a new business and being your own boss. Issues pervasive in small businesses such as spotting trends or taking advantage of niche business opportunities will be discussed and factored into class exercises. Students will have the opportunity to practice start-up skills through feasibility analysis, the idea pitch, defining markets, targeting customers, operations, and deciding on which type of business to start. The ability to maintain and sustain operations of a small business will be experienced with particular attention to budgeting, forecasting, and cash management. In this course, students will have an authentic opportunity to test their entrepreneurial skills through a real business venture.
Human Behaviour in the Workplace
Understanding human relations is essential for career and personal success. This course draws on sociological, psychological, ethical, and legal perspectives to enhance understanding of effective interactions in today's workplace. The course includes an experiential component where students learn and practice effective teamwork skills.
Prepare for Success
Variations due to Section
Remember to review the important dates associated with this program - some deadlines may be different depending on how your program is delivered and what section you're enrolled in.
Please note: This program is offered 100% asynchronously online. This means that although you may have deadlines to adhere to during the term, there is no class schedule and you will not meet with your facilitator on a regular basis. Courses are offered through a conglomerate of colleges. You may be asked to log into different learning management systems such as D2L or Blackboard.
Technology Requirements
It is recommended that you use a Windows laptop for your coursework. While other devices like MacBooks or Chromebooks might work for some tasks, they may not support all the software required for your program. If you're unsure, check with your professors before buying.
Internet Speed Requirements
To get the best experience while learning online, we recommend having an internet connection with at least 40 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. This will help you use video calls, attend online lectures, and access other learning tools smoothly.
Because students live in many different areas, we can't suggest a specific internet provider. You'll need to check with local companies to find one that works best for you.
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
- 8GB of RAM
- 100 GB HDD or more
- Webcam with a microphone
- Wi-Fi capable (802.11n/ac 5GHz)
- Windows 11 operating system
Mobile Device
Students will require a mobile device (smartphone) for:
- Accessing your digital student ID
- Using campus applications and services
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.