Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management (Co-op Optional)

at George Brown College - St. James Campus Canada

Explosive growth in the hospitality industry has led to larger and more complex hospitality enterprises and increased demand for well-educated professionals with analytical skills capable of leading them. That’s where George Brown’s Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality) comes in.

The program is designed to teach you how to plan and manage complex integrated hospitality operations so that you can become one of the skilled, knowledgeable leaders in the hospitality sector. The employment prospects in this sector are outstanding. In Canada, the hospitality industry employs more than 1.2 million people, representing over 7 per cent of all employment[i]. In the Greater Toronto Area alone, the hospitality sector accounts for almost 329,000 jobs[ii].

A Comprehensive Curriculum:-
The curriculum has been developed to prepare students for management, supervisory and administrative careers through training in analysis and problem-solving, critical thinking, integrated operations, customer management and international applications. Students will become technically proficient in the major components of a hospitality business, including operational processes, finance, human resources, marketing, facilities, risk management, corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

In addition, the curriculum is designed to:-

• Provide flexible student learning- Courses are offered in online and in-class hybrid format throughout the program to accommodate the paid work placements. Semester 7 is delivered completely online.
• Integrate knowledge and practical applications developed through projects and experiential learning in two paid work placements.
• Build strong management and leadership abilities, with every student working on projects individually and with team members.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Assess the impact and implications of external environmental factors on the hospitality industry, its sectors, organizations and stakeholders.
• Explain the results of original research that has been conducted using social science research principles and methods.
• Apply management knowledge and technical ability for effective operation and organization of a variety of hospitality enterprises.
• Justify ideas generated, decisions made and actions taken to address business opportunities, challenges, risks and crises.
• Interpret quantitative and qualitative data to support business decisions, operations, and strategic initiatives.
• Present information clearly, concisely, persuasively, professionally and respectfully using appropriate and alternative modes/means of communication in a variety of hospitality contexts and situations.
• Display ethical behaviour and social responsibility in personal and professional pursuits.
• Design creative marketing, sales and customer service strategies for chosen market segments.
• Apply strategies to keep current in the field, respond effectively to change, and support personal and professional development.

The Strategic Relationship Marketing program responds to the growing need within the marketing industry for a new skill set – one that places the customer at the centre of business decisions. This skill set is critical since modern marketing success depends on targeting and attracting new customers while retaining and strengthening relationships with current customers at all points during their journey.

This one-year graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation in marketing, with a focus on the examination and application of Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) and Customer Experience (CX) best practices, strategies, tactics, tools, and techniques. Students will have an opportunity to apply industry-standard marketing analytics and CRM platforms and technologies to marketing processes and create a comprehensive marketing plan.

Key areas covered in the program include database marketing strategy, loyalty marketing, marketing research, omnichannel marketing, marketing automation of email, social media and online content for personalized customer journeys, and marketing analytics and measurement. In the final semester, students work on a capstone project based on a real business situation.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Create a professional marketing plan using standard marketing planning processes and tools.
  • Develop a comprehensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) marketing plan that uses a client’s current database strategy that is personalized and scalable.
  • Apply strategic communication planning processes and tools to generate leads and improve customer retention, satisfaction and profitability.
  • Evaluate data extracted from a variety of marketing technology platforms to support problem-solving and decision-making processes in marketing.
  • Apply Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Customer Experience (CX) best practices, strategies, tactics, and techniques to strengthen customer relationships for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) markets.
  • Design customer experience journey mapping to identify areas to improve customer experiences and automate personalized digital marketing.
  • Apply industry standard marketing analytics and CRM platforms to sales and marketing processes.
  • Gather and analyze primary and secondary marketing research in order to support sound marketing decisions that improve customer experiences.
  • Communicate complex marketing material verbally, in writing, and digitally for a variety of audiences and purposes.
  • Model professional standards to provide reliable and actionable analysis while respecting Canadian regulation and practice related to data privacy and security.

Your Field Education Options

• WORK EXPERIENCE (CO-OP OR INTERNSHIP WORK TERM)
  • This program requires the successful completion of a one-semester work experience to graduate. This work experience is either co-op (paid) or internship (unpaid). Either one will give you the practical experience employers value. The work term occurs after the end of the second academic semester.
  • George Brown works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students then apply for these opportunities and go through a competitive interview process. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed industry work experience opportunities they believe would provide the learning experiences they value and meet the learning outcomes of the program. This valuable work experience can in turn be added to your resume.

The food sector is always changing, particularly when it comes to hospitality and culinary arts. This constant change has reinforced the need for a more holistic approach to culinary education – one that allows students to examine the food system while mastering a variety of culinary techniques.

The Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program provides the food leaders of tomorrow with the skills, insights and knowledge to succeed in this rapidly changing field. It offers extensive career pathways for foodservice professionals, while providing the food sector with leaders who can thrive in both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Graduates will be positioned to succeed in a wide range of food-related occupations including roles in culinary, education, tourism, recreation, health, food security, sustainability, economic development, agriculture, public policy and research. There are growing opportunities for careers informed by both culinary experience and versatile critical thinking.

Toronto provides a unique setting for this program because of its wealth of multicultural and Indigenous food traditions. In the classroom and beyond, students will be introduced to the vibrant world of food in a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Students will participate in a paid co-op placement focused on the application of culinary and food animation skills. In addition, throughout the program, selected courses will include community-engaged learning opportunities. 

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Articulate the interconnected structures and functions of food systems at the local, national and international levels.
• Analyze social, cultural, political and environmental influences on current and emerging food-related theory, policy and practice.
• Recommend informed responses to both practical and scholarly issues and challenges using insights from food systems theory and the study of global cuisine.
• Acquire foundational culinary skill proficiency and operational knowledge appropriate to entry into the culinary industry.
• Integrate a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems perspective into culinary theory and practice.
• Construct coherent arguments to address debates within the broad field of food studies.
• Appraise research methodologies used across disciplines related to food studies.
• Communicate effectively in a variety of formats appropriate to academic, government, non-profit, business and media environments.
• Articulate how uncertainty, ambiguity and limits to knowledge influence perception and interpretation of debates in food studies and consider issues from multiple perspectives.
• Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, integrity, collaboration, and social responsibility in personal and professional settings related to food.

The Media Foundation program offers students the chance to explore a variety of media career options while developing the skills necessary to succeed in diploma and advanced diploma media programs. It includes courses in game design and development, photography and image manipulation, storytelling, audio production, interactive media and visual storytelling techniques.

The Portfolio class offered in semester two will help students create a portfolio, which can be used to submit for further studies in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Game - Art and Video Design & Production and other college and university programs requiring a portfolio for admission.

Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop creative concepts and ideas through a variety of techniques and in a range of formats.
• Choose appropriate tools, techniques and applications to create media assets and presentations.
• Incorporate researched opinions expressed in mainstream and social media technologies into presentations and reports.
• Utilize current and relevant search strategies and techniques for information fact-finding.
• Apply industry practices to written proposals and print documents, visual storyboards, and interactive presentations.
• Choose visual strategies, historical concepts and precedents in the analysis of past and present trends.
• Create original photographs and videos through a variety of techniques and processes.
• Choose appropriate narrative structures and vocabularies to analyze media and evaluate meaning, coherence, connections and effectiveness.
• Utilize a variety of industry standard audio/video software applications and techniques in the creation of media for a wide range of platforms.
• Use a variety of current industry-standard media tools and techniques to develop self-promotional materials.

Advanced Wine and Beverage Business Management is a one-year, three-semester postgraduate program developed for hospitality diploma and degree graduates, and industry professionals seeking an advanced level of learning focused on all aspects of the wine, spirit and beer business.

In our state-of-the-art tasting labs, students will explore and experience global beverages and their relationship to business, cuisine, culture and lifestyle.

This program will provide you with an advanced level of knowledge in beer, wine, spirits and mixology, and also teach you essential business skills such as financial management, organizational behaviour and strategic marketing – all vital to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

Your Field Education Options
This program provides a mandatory 14-week externship placement. George Brown works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed work experience opportunities, which they believe will provide the learning experiences they value and meet the learning outcomes of the program. This valuable work experience can be added to your resumé.

Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Manage different departments within food & beverage centred or sales environment using product knowledge, menu development and business acumen skills.
• Position products appropriately in the market using established techniques in wine merchandising, product pricing, labelling, branding, advertising, promotions, marketing, public relations, media relations consumer behaviour in the wine industry.
• Interpret import and export regulations and recognize opportunities and challenges within the business structures of the wine industry.
• Manage and control different aspects of wine-related enterprises to make effective decisions regarding finance, accounting, budget planning, costing, taxation systems, pricing structures in the wine industry, using analytical and synthesis skills.
• Implement and develop leadership and human resources skills required in the beverage business that include recruitment, motivational strategies, resolution of labour relations issues and the management of related challenges and responsibilities including culturally sensitive material.
• Use current and relevant business strategies to facilitate a sustainable hospitality entity.

This advanced diploma Business Administration – Marketing program will open doors to opportunities in the exciting and fast-moving field of marketing. Marketing at George Brown in Toronto is more than textbooks and lectures. Our learning is hands-on and project-based, and this program provides opportunities for case studies as well as real-world projects that can involve industry partners.

What differentiates the three-year advanced diploma from the two-year diploma is the additional opportunities for hands-on learning as well as digital marketing courses, international marketing courses, marketing research courses, and marketing strategy courses. You can also expand your horizons with additional business electives.

This learning experience will enable you to:

• Develop an integrated marketing communication strategy for marketing products, concepts, goods, or services based on an identified target market
• Conduct primary and secondary market research to provide information needed to make marketing decisions
• Develop strategies to establish effective working relationships with clients, customers, consumers, co-workers, supervisors, and others
• Evaluate the viability of marketing products, concepts, goods, or services in an international market or markets
• Formulate and prepare a marketing plan including marketing objectives, marketing mix, marketing strategies, budgetary considerations, and evaluation criteria
• Integrate digital marketing and social media into a marketing plan with an understanding of various platforms and technologies

Embedded in all of the above will be the development of soft skills including communication, presentation and team-building skills, as well as the analytical skills required by marketers today.

George Brown College actively works with industry partners in order to:-

• Align the curriculum to industry needs
• Provide students with hands-on learning through class projects
• Offer students field education opportunities
• Participation in extracurricular activities allows students to build on their knowledge and skills while networking. This is one of many ways that our School of Marketing helps 

Participation in extracurricular activities allows students to build on their knowledge and skills while networking. This is one of many ways that our School of Marketing helps students get a great return on all that they invest in their business education. Activities may include:

• Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition
• Vanier BDC Case Challenge
• Enactus George Brown
• Speed Mentoring event
• Great Canadian Sales Competition
• Ad Week

Your Field Education Options
Students have the option of earning a business elective credit with the Field Education Course (BUS 1067).

This program (B108) is also offered with work experience. Students who wish to apply for Business Administration – Marketing with Work Experience should apply to B158.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Develop a marketing plan that will meet the needs or goals of a business or organization.
  • Develop an integrated marketing communication plan for marketing of a product, concept, good, or service based on an identified market need or target.
  • Determine strategies for the development of new and/or modified marketing concepts, products, goods, and/or services that respond to evolving market needs.
  • Determine strategies for the efficient and effective placement/distribution of a product, good, and/or service that respond to an evolving market.
  • Determine the impact of using different marketing strategies for a product, concept, good and/or service, on the finances, return on investment (ROI), and business goals of an organization.
  • Analyze the viability of a concept, product, good, and/or service in local, national or global markets.
  • Conduct market research to provide information needed to make marketing decisions.
  • Communicate marketing information persuasively and accurately in oral, written, graphic and interactive media formats.
  • Plan, prepare and deliver an effective sales presentation or pitch to address the needs of the client.
  • Develop strategies with clients, customers, consumers, co-workers, supervisors, and others to maintain and grow working relationships
  • Develop learning and development strategies to enhance professional growth in the field.
  • Apply entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new career opportunities that might include contract employment, and self-employment initiatives.
  • Apply and contribute to a framework of organizational policies and practices, when conducting business of the organization.
  • Apply the principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility to business decisions.

Each September, a small group of students begin a nine-month graduate certificate program in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy at the Institute without Boundaries (IwB), where they work as a team to research, design and realize a real-world project. Initiated in 2003, this program delves into the methods and practices of design research, strategy and social innovation. It is a unique educational experience offered by George Brown College in partnership with leading designers and industry.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Apply universal and sustainable design principles to complex global problems in order to create intelligent solutions that address environmental, social and economic challenges.
  • Manage an Integrated Design Process to deliver human-centred design strategy projects for government, corporations and non-profit organizations.
  • Design collaboratively in an interdisciplinary studio environment to complete environmental, communication, product, service and system design projects.
  • Apply primary and secondary research methodologies to the design process using a think/make practice model to achieve project outcomes that meet user needs.
  • Adhere to the professional practices of a design studio in order to facilitate the success of design teams in achieving project results.
  • Participate in a multi-phase design process in order to create a holistic, integrated, and realistic design project.
  • Liaise and manage the design process to provide solutions for clients including design, documentation, tendering, fabrication and delivery.
  • Present research results and design solutions to a diverse audience utilizing effective communication strategies.

Do you love the excitement of travelling and learning about fascinating world cultures? Do you want to be a leader in the tourism and hospitality industry? If your passion is to create memorable experiences and use your creativity to become part of the largest industry worldwide, then join the Tourism and Hospitality Management program at George Brown College!

Through this two-year tourism diploma program, you will learn about the exciting and diverse tourism industry with courses in culinary tourism, heritage tourism, sustainable tourism, hotel operations and event planning. Graduates gain the skills required to be progressive leaders within the industry, enriching the experience of tourists. You will receive industry certifications in food safety, responsible alcohol beverage service, TICO Travel Counsellor Certification and first aid (CPR).

As part of your fourth semester, you will complete a 14-week industry externship with your choice of a nationwide or international placement. This opportunity will enhance your knowledge with real-world experience and help you start building your network of contacts. Completing the Tourism and Hospitality Management program will make you the kind of multi-talented graduate the local and international tourism industry is seeking in today’s competitive environment.

To better hone your international tourism and hospitality management skills you have the option of participating in an exclusive Experiential Study Tour.

Your Field Education Options
As part of your fourth semester, you will complete a 14-week industry externship with your choice of a nationwide or international placement. This opportunity will enhance your knowledge with real-world experience and help you start building your network of contacts. This valuable work experience can be added to your resume.

In addition to more formal on-the-job work experience, George Brown College endeavours to provide learning opportunities with real world challenges and clients. Find out more about field education at Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:-

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Provide professional guest services to enhance customer satisfaction by anticipating, meeting and/or exceeding individual and organizational standards and objectives.
  • Create marketing plans informed and supported by market research, social networks, product knowledge and sales strategies.
  • Contribute to effective management in hospitality, tourism and leisure settings by implementing leadership skills and strategies.
  • Evaluate and apply effective financial management and accounting practices to support operations in the tourism industry.
  • Comply with relevant organizational and workplace systems, processes, policies, standards, legal obligations and regulations, and use knowledge of risk management principles, to support and maintain efficient, productive, safe, secure, accessible and healthy tourism operations.
  • Apply principles of teamwork and constructive relationship management to support positive workplace culture.
  • Integrate hospitality skills and knowledge to promote ongoing personal and professional development.
  • Design and deliver inclusive tourism and hospitality programs, products and services that comply with all relevant legislation, conform to relevant ethical guidelines and promote best practices of corporate social responsibility.
  • Analyze and implement sustainability practices in the tourism and hospitality industry by adapting to environmental, social, cultural, political and economic trends and issues.

The Consulting postgraduate program prepares students for a career in consulting that could include working for a consulting firm, independently creating their own employment, or securing a business development role within an organization. Digital Transformation and the theories behind Digital Transformation are core frameworks for the first academic semester of the program. The second semester is a mix of client consulting project work and workshops further exploring consulting in a world continuously undergoing digital transformation. Students develop knowledge and skills by working individually and/or in teams, doing research, analyzing client problems and providing recommendations to real clients through our Consulting Hub.

Your Field Education Options

• Students will engage in various consulting projects in their second semester to gain experience and demonstrate:
  • Development of parameters of a consulting project and building a client/consultant relationship
  • Creation and implementation of a project plan for the term of a consulting engagement
  • Preparation and implementation of the terms of reference and contracts for the term of the consulting engagement, including billing and payment schedules
  • Performing an environmental audit (external and internal) and conducting market research to diagnose the client problem(s)
  • Use of a range of consulting tools and techniques including: interviewing, research, and collaborative problem solving during the consulting process
  • Development and modelling of soft skills such as teamwork, customer service, communications and problem solving during the consulting process
  • Assessing the change readiness of the client’s organization through the use of change management skills and processes
  • Completing a client consulting project including contracting, data collection and analysis, recommendations and, as appropriate, implementation to the satisfaction of the client

George Brown College endeavours to provide field education opportunities with real-world challenges and clients. Find out more about field education at the Centre for Business.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Establish the parameters of a consulting project and build a client/consultant relationship.
  • Create and implement a project plan for the term of a consulting engagement.
  • Prepare and implement terms of reference and contracts for the term of the consulting engagement, including billing and payment schedules.
  • Perform an environmental audit (internal and external) and conduct market research to diagnose the client problem(s)
  • Use a range of consulting tools and techniques including: interviewing, research, collaborative problem solving during the consulting process.
  • Develop and model soft skills such as teamwork, customer service, communications and problem solving during the consulting process.
  • Assess the change readiness of the client’s organization through the use of change management skills and processes.
  • Complete a client consulting project including contracting, data collection and analysis and recommendations and as appropriate implementation to the satisfaction of the client.

The Business – Accounting two-year diploma provides you with a solid background in basic accounting concepts and practices, as well as broad-based business skills related to accounting application software, spreadsheets and databases, economics, communications, law and taxation. This rigorous learning experience will enable you to build and demonstrate the skills you need to work in the field of accounting.

These industry-ready skills include:-

• Processing common business transactions
• Preparing reports on an organization's financial performance
• Preparing financial budgets and plans to support management decisions
• Analyzing operating performance

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Record financial transactions in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships, private enterprises, publicly accountable enterprises and non-profit organizations.
• Prepare and present financial statements, reports and other documents in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships and private enterprises.
• Contribute to recurring decision-making by applying fundamental management accounting concepts.
• Prepare individuals’ income tax returns and basic tax planning in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
• Analyze organizational structures, the interdependence of functional areas, and the impact those relationships can have on financial performance.
• Analyze, within a Canadian context, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technological advances and the environment on an organization’s operations.
• Outline the elements of an organization’s internal control system and risk management.
• Contribute to recurring decision-making by applying fundamental financial management concepts.