Certificate in Business Fundamentals

at Conestoga College - Doon Campus Canada

Conestoga's Bachelor of Public Relations degree was the first to be approved in Ontario and the fourth of its kind in Canada. Public relations is the management of communication between an organization and its public. Public relations specialists work in employee communication, media relations, investor relations, marketing communication and other specialized communication functions. This profession demands strong communication skills, diplomacy, strategic thinking and the ability to understand complex issues, and Conestoga's Bachelor of Public Relations degree responds with a case-based approach. The goal is to provide graduates with the critical thinking skills and the practical experience required to manage reputations, responses, and relationships on behalf of their organization.We offer students the opportunity to combine their learning with paid co-op terms to allow students to apply theory to public relations practice. Courses in public relations management, global public relations, business and project management, and the ethics and philosophy of public relations offer unique perspectives.Students will be encouraged to join one of several professional organizations during their degree program. Professional development, networking, and volunteerism are of tremendous benefit to the public relations graduate throughout their career.

Recognition of the need for managers with sustainability expertise continues to grow as local and global organizations are re-positioning sustainability as a central value. The Sustainable Business Management graduate certificate program provides students with the diverse skill set needed to succeed in this dynamic and exciting field. Whether developing a new product or service, enhancing an existing one through a triple bottom-line approach, leading an organization to more sustainable operations or managing change and promoting engagement for sustainability, graduates will be able to apply their skills in a variety of settings. Students are provided with flexible project options, including opportunities to work with local clients and community partners in developing plans to generate greater value, enhanced corporate responsibility and innovative marketing solutions. Students may also take advantage of experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, such as volunteering at a local sustainability-oriented organization, and attending field trips, workshops and networking events. Upon program completion, graduates will be well positioned to write the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) exam and become a Sustainability Associate (SA).

Applying to the Co-op Stream
All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum overall 80% session weighted average in Level 1 with no dropped or failed courses.

Co-op Information
Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

This program provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform effectively in entry-level bookkeeping positions in business and industry. The program focuses on day-to-day operational bookkeeping and managerial accounting in a computerized business environment.

Conestoga's Interior Decorating program offers you a dynamic environment to build the creative and technical skills needed to excel in the diverse field of Interior Decorating.
Learning from industry experts, you'll develop essential and practical skills through studio, lab and lecture experiences, in addition to field trips and guest speakers. You'll take courses on colour, textiles, finishes and fixtures which are enhanced with access to our large sample library. With the benefit of current, industry-standard software, you'll focus on space planning, drafting and visual 2D and 3D presentations that bring your design concepts to life. Multiple courses on business practices and entrepreneurship will further prepare you for success in the industry.
A field placement opportunity in your last semester will allow you to gain hands-on career experience before graduating. Many students have secured full-time employment as a result of their placement with employers such as decorating/design firms, product showrooms, design magazines and home staging companies.
Not only is our two-year diploma program recognized by the Decorators and Designers Association of Canada (DDA), Conestoga is the only college offering Interior Decorating graduates the opportunity to earn a second 2-year diploma in Visual Merchandising Arts with the completion of one additional year. As a graduate of both programs, you can expand your employment potential in the design industry to include both residential and retail spaces.

The Bachelor of Environmental Public Health (BEPH) is an innovative four-year program (including one paid co-op term), delivered at the honours level, that will prepare graduates for a number of progressive public and private sector careers as environmental public health professionals (EPHPs). It has been accredited by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI). EPH focuses on disease prevention and creating healthy supportive environments. EPH encompasses assessment and control of factors in the environment that target disease prevention and positively impact population and community health. The scope of practice in EPH includes but is not limited to, organization, management, education, enforcement, consultation, and health hazard identification for the purpose of prevention and control intervention of EPH hazards and the promotion and protection of the public health and the environment in: food safety, quality assurance and auditing; food security; infection prevention and control including body art safety; air quality including environmental tobacco smoke; housing; institutional health; injury prevention; recreational swimming areas and water; drinking water quality; solid, liquid and hazardous materials management; vector control; healthy built environments; and emergency preparedness and planning.Students will obtain applied and integrated knowledge and skills in EPH sciences, emphasizing environmental epidemiology, toxicology, and risk exposure and assessment. Readiness for practice will be developed in a multidisciplinary curriculum focused around experiential learning activities that will develop knowledge of EPH theory and its application in practice. The program will be innovative in its use of technology to investigate issues, organize and manage inquiry, aid collaboration, and communicate information. Students will be challenged to consider multiple perspectives in understanding EPH practice and policy, determining professional practices that positively impact population and community health and developing leadership perspectives and confidence to contribute to the EPH professions. Conestoga’s BEPH program will offer students opportunities to develop strong critical thinking, risk assessment and professional communication skills that will enable them to work successfully on an inter-professional team in the EPH field.

Process Quality Engineering
This advanced-level graduate certificate program provides individuals with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of products and services. The material that is taught in this program can be applied within any area of an organization. The focus of this program is on the achievement of performance excellence through the use of modern quality improvement methods. The program develops the skills required to perform process quality roles in a broad range of organizations and sectors.The program content aligns favourably with selected American Society of Quality's (ASQ) Bodies of Knowledge. This program is non-industry specific as it provides the proficiencies demanded by organizations in today’s market place.

Project Management
Learn how to manage simple to complex projects from start to finish, and become a critical part of an organization’s most exciting achievements. Develop the skills you need to oversee project management activities such as planning, managing scope, costs, time while balancing client expectations. Learn organizational Agility with practices such as Scrum. Establish goals for your project team and lead them to overcome obstacles to achieve success, meeting stakeholders needs. Earn project management education hours towards a variety of certifications: Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum Master (ASM), Risk Management Professional (RMP), or Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) designations. Interested in taking this program on a part-time basis? It's possible to complete this program while still working full-time and fulfilling your other commitments. 

To be successful in business today, you need to be proactive, forward thinking, and able to anticipate outcomes and behaviours based upon the data you collect. Predictive analytics is an area of statistics that deals with extracting information from data and using it to predict trends and behaviour patterns. If you have a background in computer science, computer programming, mathematics, or statistics and enjoy working with statistical data, then this could be the program for you. In this Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Predictive Analytics, you will learn about statistical applications for data analysis, data modeling practices, and big data analytical techniques. Through individual and group activities and case studies, you will use predictive modeling and analytical techniques to bring together the management, information technology, and business modeling processes in order to make predictions about future trends. Businesses and industries can use the patterns found in the data to identify risks and opportunities for future decisions and effectively interpret data for their benefit.

Imagine pursuing your passion in the highly creative profession of visual merchandising. Visual merchandising is 'marketing' and 'branding' - designing and creating visuals to sell a product or service. It is the process of creating an inviting and interactive environment for the consumer utilizing a variety of mediums.

You will study fashion trend forecasting, costume design, colour theory, prop-making, drawing and painting, event planning, mannequin detailing, photography, graphic design, scale modeling, planograms, window display and commercial merchandising. This two-year diploma program focuses on project-based, hands-on learning for the creative problem solver! You will use cutting edge industry software to design three dimensional spaces and planograms.

If you are passionate about design and decorating spaces, you will enjoy learning the latest skills in our state-of-the-art studio complete with a 'retail store' within the space. Use your natural creative talent and experience the many opportunities to design and display your work within the community.

A field placement opportunity is provided to gain industry career experience before graduating, most often leading to full-time positions in the field of visual display and merchandising.
Conestoga is the only college offering Visual Merchandising Arts graduates the opportunity to earn a second two-year diploma in Interior Decorating in just one year! Successful students become even more marketable, capable of designing for both commercial interiors and home interiors!

In just 30 weeks, graduates of the Building Superintendence and Repair program are prepared to assume roles in building maintenance, either live-in or out. You will develop the skills and strategies required to interact with customers in a professional and appropriate manner in a diverse business environment. This Ontario College Certificate program prepares you to conduct inspections and maintenance of buildings, while gaining hands-on experience in interior repairs, painting and cleaning, plumbing and building system maintenance, grounds maintenance, record keeping, working with contractors, and landlord-tenant relations. Through a variety of projects, case studies and interactive learning opportunities you will develop the workplace interpersonal skills needed to support all phases of your career. A field placement is included; allowing you to translate theoretical knowledge from the classroom into applied practice in a workplace setting.

The field of financial technology is evolving as it responds to the challenges facing the 21st century financial sector. This means that professionals employed in the field must be equipped to support diverse client groups such as individuals and company-based financial institutions. If you have a background in the computer industry, finance or other related fields, and are ready to attain in-depth competencies to help consumers and businesses track, manage, and facilitate their finances, this Ontario College Graduate Certificate program will be of interest to you. Through a variety of projects, case studies and interactive learning opportunities, and using current and relevant resources to support the latest trends in financial technology, you will develop the skills needed to help individuals and businesses secure their finances. You will study topics such as applications, emerging market trends, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and management. In just eight months, graduates will be job-ready to take the lead in the financial technology industry in various roles such as Business Analyst, Blockchain Business Analyst, Financial Technologist and other roles related to financial technology.