Overview
Built on a strong foundation of marketing, human resources, and accounting the two-year Business diploma appeal to those interested in a broad, well-integrated education.
Business students at St. Lawrence College become effective leaders and communicators, able to represent themselves and their work through interviews and resumes, networking opportunities, and presentations. Students apply problem solving, teamwork, and intercultural skills to projects at the college, in the community, and internationally, establishing themselves as global business citizens.
The two-year Business diploma provides opportunities for rewarding careers in business and for further education, such as the Bachelor of Business Administration and international studies through St. Lawrence College.
St. Lawrence College is a member of the AACSB Business Education Alliance. Membership in AACSB, and participation in the Business Education Alliance, does not imply Accreditation.
Program Details
Program Highlights
On our Kingston campus, the first year of Business programs is common for the Business Diploma, as well as Accounting, Marketing, and Human Resources. The common first year allows students to experience elements of each program before deciding the path that is right for them.
Students in the Business Diploma program are empowered with the human skills employers are demanding. They will become effective communicators across cultures, problem solvers, leaders, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Graduates will also develop in-demand technical skills such as data analysis and business intelligence, global business techniques, sustainable business practices, MS Office Suite, project management, and an entrepreneurial mindset. The combination of human and technical skills Business Diploma graduates are empowered with will enhance their employability, as they are adaptable and flexible practitioners who the labour market demands.
St. Lawrence College and McDonald's Restaurants of Canada have partnered to offer educational opportunities to McDonald's employees.
Program Outline
Important:
- Semester 4: Electives
Choose one of the following: WORK 40 or ADMN 2005
- Restricted Elective: Students require one HUMA and one MARK course to graduate
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | |
January start | Winter (January - April) | Spring/Summer (April - August) | Fall (September - December) | Winter (January - April) |
May start | Spring/Summer (April - August) | Fall (September - December) | Winter (January - April) | Spring/Summer (April - August) |
September start | Fall (September - December) | Winter (January - April) | Fall (September - December) | Winter (January - April) |
If a student wants to pursue the 3-year diploma, they can seamlessly transfer into Y3 of studies after completing the first 4 semesters of this program.
2024-2025
Through the perspective of both the Canadian and global business environments, this course will provide students with a foundational knowledge of the current state of business and an opportunity to consider what the future may hold. Learners will develop their business vocabulary, understanding of business concepts, and engage with current and relevant issues in both a Canadian and global context. Students will learn the foundations of teamwork as a component of successful business operations. The functional areas of business and their relationship to management, leadership, and the future of work are discussed.
This course is designed to help students develop and practice the communication skills needed to succeed in college and workforce environments. Emphasis is placed on improving foundational communication strategies-reading, writing, listening, and speaking—and on developing research and critical thinking skills.
This course is designed to familiarize the student with basic computer operations and applications through instructor-led exercises, activities, and case studies. It explores various concepts of effective computer usage with a hands-on introduction to the Windows operating system, file management, and working effectively and collaboratively in an online environment. It also provides in-depth exploration and application of various features of the current version of Microsoft Office software including Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Excel is covered briefly in this course in relation to integration with the other Microsoft Office Suite products.
Introductory Business Math prepares students for success in business and financial mathematics. This course emphasizes the development of business-related numeracy and the fundamentals of the time value of money. Topics covered include basic numeracy, percent applications, payroll, tax, and time value of money.
In this course, students benchmark their norms and behaviours for professional and personal development. Students develop self-awareness utilizing formalized assessments to give language to the application of emotional intelligence and personal behaviours that could otherwise mistakenly be described as strengths or weaknesses. Students describe the impact of the their behaviours and further strategies to develop skills and compensate for barriers. Students practice using related terminology to better express their development progress. Students learn about high-functioning teams and practice those skills through teamwork activities. Students develop strategies for setting and implement goals.
This introductory financial accounting course provides learners with an overview of the accounting process. Using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and industry standard accounting software, learners gain the foundational skills and knowledge required to complete the accounting cycle, process adjusting entries and closing processes, and prepare a rudimentary set of financial statements for service and merchandising entities. Learners discuss the fundamental elements of accounting and their impact on business operations, business ethics, and regulatory practices
The economic environment is the theater in which contemporary managers plan, organize, lead, and control. This course introduces the language and navigational skills that condition students for success in this environment. Students learn microeconomic principals including supply and demand, the themes of scarcity, productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, the concept of opportunity cost, and the relationship between these fundamentals and the Canadian economy. Employing a practical approach to the Canadian macroeconomic environment, the course examines choices by individuals, businesses and governments and their effects on Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, the money supply, and exchange rates. The course addresses factors influencing both the supply side and the demand side of the economy including productivity, consumption, savings, and investment.
In this course, the emphasis is on the development of professional communication. Students develop communication and teamwork skills through the preparation and delivery of a range of professional documents and presentations utilizing current workplace technologies.
Principles of Human Resources Management is intended to provide students with an understanding of human resources management functions within organizations. The course introduces the purpose and the application of Human Resources activities which will assist organizations in achieving their goals and objectives. As such, this course is designed to lay the groundwork for more advanced studies in Human Resources and related subjects.
Marketing Essentials introduces students to the basic principles and practices of marketing management in the modern business setting. This course examines the consumer market for goods and services and the major decision areas of marketing: identifying and selecting target markets, product, price, distribution, integrated marketing communications and customer relationship management. Key concepts including value creation, marketing mix, marketing strategy, and marketing best practices are introduced and explored. Data and the application of metrics and analytics in decision making are discussed and applied.
This course provides an overview of the mathematics of business financial management. Annuities are studied and applied to various business applications and financial decision-making such as bonds, sinking funds, investments, loans, mortgages and net present value.
This course expands on the student’s introductory level knowledge of spreadsheets and databases. Using Microsoft Excel, students learn advanced Excel features such as charts, logical functions, pivot tables, goal seek, data tables, macros, multiple worksheets, lists, look-up tables, and financial functions. The focus is on using advanced spreadsheet functions accurately and effectively to analyze problems that arise in business.
Graduates are entering the world of work just as it is being radically transformed. While technical skills remain crucial, organizations are now looking to hire a workforce with the human skills to thrive in the modern workplace. In this course, students will cultivate and apply knowledge for the contemporary workplace. Driven by case studies and real-world context, students will develop an understanding of the impacts of equity, diversity, and inclusion, social responsibility, ethics and sustainability, and client service. Students will work in diverse teams throughout this course, ultimately applying the course learning in a culminating capstone project where they will propose recommendations to an organization.
With the pace of change in businesses today comes the increasing need for projects and the need for people to understand how projects work. This course is designed for those wanting to understand the basics of project management according to a logic model or plan. Students learn the major concepts, processes and tools of project management in business projects and apply these processes and techniques to significantly improve the efficiency with which business goals can be achieved. Each step in the process is examined including goal setting, project scope, charter, risk management and evaluation. Students also experience first-hand the communication challenges that can make or break a project. Learning occurs primarily through class/small group discussion, individual/group activities and case studies.
This introductory course is designed to help students develop persuasive communication skills, build self confidence in making presentations and provide a sound grounding in the field of professional selling. Students learn about the principles of professional selling which are essential to most career-oriented or entrepreneurial opportunities. Students develop skills in building rapport in a sales context, navigating buyer-seller relationships throughout the decision-making process, and executing an effective sales presentation.
In Administrative Law students review the legal environment for businesses and identify its impact on operations. Students analyze legislation, statues, regulations, and company policies to identify compliance requirements, mitigate risk, and determine strategy. Exploring contracts, the law associated with business relationships, and various special legal rights and relationships students learn to consider the complex regulatory context in which businesses operate.
In Introduction to Managerial Accounting non-accounting majors learn about the uses and limitations of financial and managerial accounting in the decision-making processes of an organization. Students learn the principles and practice of management accounting as a professional discipline. Management accounting is both a process and a function of supplying managers and employees in an organization with relevant information, both financial and nonfinancial, for making decisions, allocating scarce resources, monitoring, and evaluating performance.
Students learn the differences between financial and managerial accounting. Emphasis will be placed on how financial information is used in forecasting, budgeting, management and the measurement of business operations. The course includes an introduction to routine reporting to management for planning and controlling current operations, special reporting to management for long range planning and the framework for preparing both capital and operating budgets. Students study a variety of analytical techniques that can be applied to financial and operational data to support management decisions.
In this course, students explore theoretical frameworks related to leadership, culture, and management in order support the successful development or organizations. Through self-reflection, students evolve their own leadership practice and identify opportunities for continued growth. Students practice leading coaching conversations and develop strategies for effective mentorship and mentee relationships. Students analyze situations in order to contribute successfully to change initiatives and support the development of an organizational culture that values diversity and equity.
This course explores the range of skills, knowledge and competencies required to become a successful entrepreneur or to work in a small - medium sized enterprise that expects these skills to develop the venture. Fundamentals of business planning, feasibility analysis, debt / equity financing, financial management, business growth and productivity concepts are explored. Students utilize entrepreneurial techniques, opportunity identification, resource allocation and profit planning and embed these skills through written business plans, oral presentations, discussions and decision-making scenarios. Business planning activities, guest speakers, and articles help to develop an integrated understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship, business building and venture development.
This course provides students with an opportunity to explore the Logistics and Supply Chain industry. Course content focuses on SCM theory, Just-in-Time delivery, the Lean Supply Chain, and the analysis of business practices using a variety of tools and methodologies including supply chain risk management, ethics in supply chain development, working with suppliers, inventory analysis and planning, and site selection variables.
This course introduces students to business intelligence tools and emerging technologies. The course focuses on problem based, real world applications. Learners solve novel challenges for businesses or non-for-profit organizations using current industry problem-solving frameworks within interdisciplinary teams.
In this course, students examine foundational international business theory and seminal scholarly works to extend their knowledge of how contemporary global issues impact the operations of a business. Students will demonstrate the impact and influence that core global business concepts such as fiscal and monetary policy, risk management, and trade agreements can have on an organization, an industry, or a country. Finally, students will investigate contemporary global issues from a variety of perspectives, including small to medium size businesses, provincial, and national economies.
In this course, students complete a placement experience at an organization. By contributing to identified projects and tasks identified by the organization, students apply the knowledge, skills, and values developed during the business program.
Working with a community partner or in a simulated experience, this course provides students with the opportunity to integrate their learning throughout the program and propose solutions to a specified complex business challenge. Working in project teams as consultants, students develop and prepare business solutions to authentic problems. Upon conclusion of the project work, students reflect on their experience to identify how the skills developed and experience help prepare them for their next professional opportunity.
Students learn the ways in which marketing communications are utilized by marketers to inform, educate and enable customers. Specifically, students explore the strategies and work through the implementation challenges of direct marketing, public relations, sponsorship/event marketing, and social media marketing across a range of products, concepts, good and services. Students develop an integrated marketing communication strategy for a consumer product or service.
This course covers the basic requirements for the development of visual communication materials for the marketing industry. The course's main goal is to use design thinking and to build foundational skills for crafting and managing visual communications materials. Students use industry standard tools and template-driven online platforms to create simple visual communications. Further, students study design documentation and learn about the collaborative nature of the design process. At the conclusion of this course, students are able to think creatively and objectively to create marketing communication materials in graphic formats that meet client objectives.
This course provides marketing students with an in-depth understanding of consumer behaviour principles. Students explore why consumers make certain purchase decisions, why they pay attention to some marketing stimuli and not others, and how their personal attributes, self-perception, surroundings, social and cultural influences impact their choices.
Organizations continue to face a variety of Human Resources issues. This course will explore topics such as supply of talented workers and management of them, effective leadership development, the globalized business environment, diversity management skills, governance of business in order to build integrity and trust among managers and employees and effective demographic management. These topics and others will be explored through literature, research, presentations and application of critical thinking skills.
Prerequisite(s): HUMA 53
The study of organizational behaviour is the study of three separate, but interrelated, processes. The course begins with the study of individual behaviour in organizations, including such topics as perception, attitudes and work motivation. The study of group dynamics is also addressed, including such topics as team building, leadership, and decision-making. Finally the course explores the study of organizational structure, culture and change.
This course is designed to examine the theories, concepts, instrumentation, and processes related to making occupational choices and plans. Coverage will include such issues as: the role of work in ones life; personal and vocational development; vocational interests, aptitudes and personality; occupational information; vocational decision-making; career planning; and counselling skills and techniques. The primary objective of the course is to develop the necessary knowledge / skills to perform effectively in a career planning role within a business setting.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with the majority of Grade 11 and 12 courses at the C, U or M level including the following prerequisites:
- Grade 12 English at the C or U level
- Grade 11 Math at the C, U or M level
For OSSD equivalency options, see Admission Requirements.
If you are missing prerequisite courses, enroll in the Career/College Prep program - free for Ontario residents who are 19 years or older.
- Are your transcripts from outside of Canada? Please visit Applying to SLC - With Your Transcripts for more information.
Other Requirements
When computers are required during class hours, students will be working in computer labs. In order to attend virtual or alternate delivery classes, work in teams in virtual workspaces, or complete homework outside of campus and computer lab hours, students will be required to have the following technical equipment at home:
- Windows Personal Computer (laptop or PC) (Mac computers are not compatible with all software applications)
- MS Office (included with St. Lawrence College fees)
- Webcam and microphone
- High-speed internet connection
Furthermore, the following technical requirements are required for the Business Intelligence and Emerging Technologies course:
- Ram: 8 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7 or better
- Hard drive: 500 MB
- Windows version: 10 or later
Placement
Student Placement Facilitator (SPF) Support
Complete SLC placement Requirements
- 6 training modules
- Student Declaration/Oath of Confidentiality
- Student Covid 19 Waiver
Student Placement Facilitator will notify student of Agency specific requirements e.g.:
- Immunizations (hospital/LTC)
- CPIC - VULNERABLE SECTOR if required by site
website: http://www.placementatslc.ca/
Fees
2024-2025
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Fees are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters.
Kingston
Our Kingston campus has seen significant renovation over the past few years, including a brand new Student Life and Innovation Centre that houses a new gymnasium, fitness centre, pub, and more.
![](https://364599a3-cdn.agilitycms.cloud/MediaGroupings/30/Kingston New gym.jpg)
![](https://364599a3-cdn.agilitycms.cloud/MediaGroupings/30/kingston campus.jpg)
Career Opportunities
Graduates from the Business Diploma program are qualified for a variety of entry level positions in both public and private sector organizations. Graduates of the program are also well positioned to start their own business as they will possess a breadth of knowledge of the functional areas of a business.
Graduates from this program are currently employed with organizations such as TD Bank, Queen's University, and Kingston Economic Development.
Testimonials
Other Information
Programs at St. Lawrence College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode that combines classroom sessions with online learning activities. Program delivery can be run weekdays, weekends or evenings. The first year of Business is run following a 7-1-7 model: three courses for seven weeks, one week of professional development and advising, and three courses for seven weeks. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided a St. Lawrence College email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Advanced Standing
High school students with a minimum grade of 75% in Grade 12 M level accounting (BAT4M) are eligible to receive advanced standing in St. Lawrence College Introductory Accounting, ACCT 1. Once you have been accepted into your college program, contact your program coordinator for details.
International Students Post-graduation Work Permit
The eligibility for a post-graduation work permit is based on the number of semesters of full-time study. Four semesters of studies make a student eligible to apply for up to a 3-year work permit.
This is at the discretion of the Visa officer reviewing the file and many aspects of the student’s academics are reviewed when IRCC makes this decision.
Program Contacts
Program Contact
Xu Han
xhan@sl.on.ca
613-544-5400 ext. 1061
Jason Brown
jbrown@sl.on.ca
613-544-5400 ext. 1064
Admissions Information
Click here to message Recruitment.
Credit Transfer Opportunities
St. Lawrence College and McDonald's Restaurants of Canada have partnered to offer educational opportunities to McDonald's employees.
Agreements between SLC and other institutions that are specific to this program are listed below.
SLC graduates have many options to continue their studies with post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the world. In addition, there are many credit transfer pathway agreements between colleges and universities within the province of Ontario. Please also visit www.ontransfer.ca to search for options relevant to your program area of study.
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Management (4 yr) (Post Diploma)
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Management (4 yr) (Post Diploma) with major
- University of Windsor - Bachelor of Arts Honours Economics - Applied Economics and Policy Stream
- Athabasca University - Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma)