Certificate in Business Fundamentals

at Conestoga College - Doon Campus Canada

The need for business analytics in today’s fast-paced world necessitates that employees possess the skills, technologies, and practices for continuous exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight into what happened and why. A well-trained business analyst will use the insights to help drive change and business planning within organizations. You will learn how to describe, interpret, and inform business decisions in specific areas of data-driven business. You will improve your data literacy skills and develop an analytic mindset that will help you make strategic decisions based on data. The Business Analytics Ontario College Graduate Certificate program focuses on two of the four types of analytics used in business - Descriptive Analytics and Diagnostics Analytics. Using these two types of analytics, you will practice summarizing data findings to communicate what is currently going on in business and help stakeholders see what contributed to the outcome of your findings.

This two-year diploma program will prepare graduates for a number of progressive careers in the diverse field of recreation and leisure services. Throughout the program, students will experience active learning opportunities that connect theory and practice through in-class projects, community connections, and practice placements, making learning engaging and meaningful. As champions of recreation and leisure services, students will provide leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating inclusive programs for diverse populations (children, youth, adults and seniors). Through social entrepreneurship, students will enhance community wellness, research-informed practices, professional leadership, and interprofessional collaboration.

Applied research is designed to answer specific questions aimed at solving practical problems. While fundamental research answers the initial question of how things work, new knowledge acquired from applied research has specific objectives in the form of products, procedures or services. The pace of change in the applied research and information mobilization has never been as fast as today. Whether designing, implementing, and evaluating applied research projects, or targeting and tailoring research evidence for decision-making, people who engage in applied research create meaning and impact across multiple sectors. In this graduate certificate program, you will learn practical research methodologies, data analytics, data visualization, and knowledge mobilization to accelerate the impact of applied research. The second semester allows you to work in interdisciplinary teams to implement your skills in an applied research impact project. In addition to this hands-on experience, you will have the opportunity to expand your real-world practice through an optional co-op term.

Completion of this accelerated two-semester program will allow students to obtain an Ontario College Graduate Certificate in the field of financial planning. The program will provide students with all of the educational requirements to challenge the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) Level 1 and Level 2 Examinations (for CFP Professionals) and optional licensing opportunities with industry regulators such as the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Mutual Fund Dealer Association (MFDA) and the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) for insurance licensing purposes. The progressive course of study combines courses designed at Conestoga with those originating from industry standard setting organizations to prepare students for employment opportunities in banking, insurance, private wealth, brokerage and/or independent practice.

An exciting career in the nutrition and food industry starts here. This program is designed to equip students with a strong management aptitude and the expertise needed to work in a variety of careers in the nutrition and food industries. This innovative program emphasizes the evidenced-based nutritional care of people from all ages and stages of life, providing instruction in community and clinical nutrition management, as well as in the marketing and promotion of nutritious living. Students will further receive instruction in food service and human resource management, highlighting innovation in menu development, customer service and product selection. Financial management of food services, food safety, food sciences, professional practice and quality management will be integrated throughout the program, to best prepare students for the food and nutrition workplace. Instruction will include integrated online, classroom, and simulation opportunities, to provide students with the opportunity to practice their practical skills prior to entering into the workforce. Additionally, students will participate in a hybrid practicum placement in food and nutrition management in the final semester of the program to consolidate their learning.

Conestoga's Protection, Security and Investigation (PSI) and Police Foundations (PF) programs offer a two-year integrated learning experience to help you develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of a preferred candidate in your chosen field. The first year of the Protection, Security and Investigation program is shared with the Police Foundations program. This common first year focuses on justice foundations and has been designed to provide an overall base for a variety of careers in criminal justice and community safety. In this first year, you will be exposed to courses that give you an understanding of how society and its institutions work. In second year, you will be given the opportunity to concentrate your studies in one of the two programs, which focus on policing or security/investigations: Police Foundations or Protection, Security and Investigation. This second year provides both academic study and job-focused practical training to prepare students for careers in the private and public sectors. 

Graduates of the Protection, Security and Investigation program may also qualify for a Provincial Security Guard License and Private Investigator License, which can be valuable points of entry into the world of work. 

This graduate certificate program focuses on developing skills for managing in public, and non-profit community and social service organizations. You will gain knowledge of community development methods and learn strategies for relationship building, community outreach and community leadership. Human resources, financial management, project management, principles of management as well as program development and fundraising will also be addressed. You will have the opportunity to enhance your understanding of community-based social policy and public administration and gain perspectives on social, cultural and political issues. The program includes a work placement experience that will allows you to gain practical experience working in a government, community-based, or social service agency or organization.

Consider this unique advanced diploma program delivered at one of the most advanced woodworking training facilities in North America. During the first year of the program, which is common with the Woodworking Technician program, you will spend a significant amount of time learning the set-up and operation of woodworking machinery and equipment, laminating, veneering, machining, sanding, assembly, and finishing. The second year, which is also common with the Woodworking Technician program, involves extensive project work, introduction to production management skills, manufacturing of kitchen cabinets, and architectural millwork. The final year of the program focuses on plant layout/support systems, materials handling, quality control, cost estimating, and computer-aided drafting. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the trade schooling for an Ontario cabinetmaker apprenticeship are embedded in the program and this will provide you with a recognized advantage when starting your career. The co-op delivery mode affords students the opportunity to relate in-school training with real industrial experience. Due to the placement of co-op work terms, the academic semesters are fall/winter in year 1 and fall/spring in year 2 and winter/spring in Year 3. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the trade schooling for an Ontario Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship are embedded in the program. Graduates of this program may be exempt from apprenticeship in-school training should they choose to pursue a Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship.The optional co-op stream includes three co-op work terms.

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. Not every student who meets academic eligibility requirements will 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 70% session weighted average in Level 1 with no dropped or failed courses.
• Students who are not admitted into the Co-op stream or students in the non-co-op stream will have co-op semesters off instead of participating in co-op work terms. These off semesters enable students to gain part-time or full-time work or volunteer experience to build their resume and/or can catch up on academic work if scheduling permits.
• International students will require work permits to utilize the co-op job board for job search and to accept employment. Students are currently experiencing longer than usual wait times for work permits. Please be advised that there will be no co-op program service fee refunds after the program withdrawal for refund date. Students that have not received their work permit and choose to remain in co-op after the program withdrawal for refund date do so at their own risk and will not be refunded. If you are concerned about receiving your work permit in time to achieve co-op employment, please discuss your situation with your co-op advisor as early as possible.

Co-op information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn money while you apply what you've learned in a real workplace environment. Visit Co-operative education for more information.
• 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.

IT infrastructure, including both services and end user computing, continues to move to the data centre. Whether a company is providing that infrastructure for internal use, or to external customers as a service, the analysis, design, implementation and support of that environment is key. This four-semester accelerated program enables students to gain the knowledge and skills required to thrive in this highly dynamic environment. Skills will be developed in the critical IT areas of infrastructure planning, deployment and management. Students will apply new skills and knowledge in operating systems, networks and virtualization to standard industrial use cases and collaborative projects. To facilitate optimal learning and knowledge transfer for the workplace, all practical work is completed in learning labs that meet industry virtual and network environment standards. This program is suitable for individuals looking to add practical experience to their current education, or further develop and enhance their IT skills for advancement in their field.

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. 

Supply Chain Management - Global
The Supply Chain Management - Global program prepares students for careers in the fields of logistics, procurement, supply chain and operations. Through extensive practical learning activities, students enhance their knowledge of supply chain concepts applicable to a variety of sectors. Graduates will be well-prepared to support the management of job functions by examining the connections between strategic objectives, stakeholder expectations, and supply chain design, functions, processes and roles; determining the value-added and financial implications of supply chain decisions and design on business profitability, efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction; using risk mitigation tools and strategies; reviewing supply chain activities and transactions for compliance with relevant policies, standards, legal, regulatory and contractual obligations; collaborating with, and using leadership and communication skills to build strategic relationships with a diversity of stakeholders. This program has been approved for advanced standing towards attaining the Certified SCMP Designation. 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.