Business Administration - Human Resources

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 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.

In this course, students develop foundational knowledge and skills related to training and development. Students explore how training and development impacts human resources management. Further, students determine training needs and design, deliver and evaluate the effectiveness of training and development programs.

This introductory online course highlights the complex and dynamic components of cultural groups and their interactions. Students reflect on their own cultures and learn about others through various theoretical perspectives including Social Science, Interpretive Approach, and Critical Approach. Based on concepts of history, power, and identity, students learn how intercultural communication is affected by language, non-verbal communication, culture shock, popular culture, relationships, and conflict. Students discuss how these theories can be used to examine differences between cultures.

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.

This course develops students' fundamental knowledge and skills in the health and safety functions of Human Resource Management. It is also intended to demonstrate the integration of all Human Resource functions. Students explore key topics such as workers' compensation systems as well as occupational health and safety laws and regulations both provincially and federally. Students are introduced to topics in disability management and wellness.

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.

This course is intended to prepare each student with knowledge and skills in the compensation and benefits functions of Human Resource Management. Students develop a detailed understanding of the processes, issues, and techniques used in compensation administration. Students also learn how compensation and benefits integrate into other HR functions and serve to attract, retain, and motivate employees.

Recruitment and Selection prepares students to design, implement and evaluate all aspects of the Recruitment and Selection of employees. A combination of theory and practical, hands-on experience is used to assist the student in learning the strategic importance of Recruitment and Selection in the achievement of organizational objectives. Students explore the evolving nature of Recruitment and Selection and the impact of new technologies on those processes.

This course is designed to help students develop effective communication skills for Human Resources contexts. Students learn how to create and revise a variety of written HR documents. Students employ persuasive communication techniques to convey the value of HR functions to a variety of stakeholders. Further, students refine their interpersonal communication and policy writing skills. Other topics include crucial conversations and coaching in workplace situations.

This course focuses on developing students' knowledge of all aspects of labor relations. Students learn about the impact of a unionized workplace on the Human Resources department. Students explore trade unions, collective agreements, negotiations, union/management relations, strikes, the collective bargaining process, and conflict resolution. Student learning is reinforced through practical involvement in case study analysis.

Employment Law provides a theoretical and practical background to enable students to understand the legal environment as it relates to employers and employees in Ontario and Canada. Students investigate the impact of legislation - including Human Right Act/Code, Canada Labour Code, Employment Standards Act, and common law - on the entire employee life cycle.

Students examine the issues that are currently facing Human Resources practitioners. Students study business challenges such as demographics, cultural issues, technology, economic, and legal issues. Students apply critical thinking models and strategies to address on-going challenges in the Human Resources field.

In this course, students study theorical and practical aspects of wellness and disability in the workplace, informed by relevant legislation. Students explore how wellness and disability management programs and policies affect employee well-being and performance and impact larger strategic objectives, cost, and organization culture. Student evaluate wellness plans and initiatives. Additional topics could include: return to work, job design, union/management relations, prevention, accommodation, and insurance programs.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the essential elements of the human resource planning (HRP) process in organizations. Students are introduced to the concepts of strategy formulation and implementation within an HR context. Students learn how to plan and make decisions about the allocation of resources for the effective management of people in organizations, within a given strategy and business plan. Both quantitative and qualitative concepts, approaches, and techniques are emphasized.

This course is designed to provide students with a detailed study of and involvement with the management of Human Resources within a unionized environment. Students explore the legislative framework for collective bargaining; third party intervention in the conflict resolution process; contract administration and actively participate in negotiating a collective agreement and preparing for and presenting an arbitration case. An emphasis is placed on application of the theoretical knowledge through the simulated negotiations and arbitrations.

This course gives students an opportunity to apply and develop the hard and human skills that have been learned in previous courses. By requiring students to perform the type of work normally done by Human Resources staff, this course enables students to bring together and apply all the necessary skills. The course also provides students with a better understanding of, and preparation for, the working environment that they will enter upon graduation.