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Business


Location(s):  Moose Jaw    Prince Albert    Saskatoon    Distance Learning Option

The Business Certificate program provides a foundation level of knowledge and skills in general business practices. You will receive training in:

  • accounting

  • management

  • communications

  • computers

  • marketing

  • human resources

  • economics

  • financial mathematics

  • statistics


After successfully completing the Business Certificate program, you may decide to enter the workforce or continue your studies and earn a Business diploma. To receive your Business diploma, you must successfully complete one of the following five specialty diploma programs. Exposure to various subjects in the Business Certificate Program will help you decide which diploma program you would like to pursue.

Diploma Programs

  • Accountancy

  • Administration

  • Financial Services

  • Human Resources

  • Marketing


Note

There are eight Business Certificate courses in the Business Information Systems diploma program.


Length: 32 weeks


Career Opportunities

The Business Certificate Program is a generalist program that provides the educational foundation for entry level employment in a variety of occupations in the business, finance and administration sectors.

Career opportunities for graduates from the Business diploma program vary according to the specialty chosen. For more information, contact Student Employment Services at the campus nearest you.

  • administrative clerks
  • financial officers
  • manager trainees in retail and service
  • sales representatives

Program Details

Start Date(s): Varies

  • September and January - Moose Jaw
  • September - Prince Albert
  • September - Saskatoon

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Admission Requirements


Note

  • Computer experience using a Windows application is recommended.



*Revised Mathematics Curriculum Requirement
(Effective July 1, 2013)


  • Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30
    (replacing Math A30 and B30 above)

  • All other admission requirements remain unchanged



Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through a special admission assessment. Interested individuals should still apply. Applicants are automatically considered for special admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met. You must review the details and program specific documentation concerning Special Admission.


The majority of SIAST programs have established ACCUPLACER© cut scores and Post-Secondary Success Requirements. Depending on the program, additional specific admission requirements may still need to be met.


ACCUPLACER ©     

ACCUPLACER© Cut Scores
for this program

80Arithmetic
75Elementary Algebra
70Reading
70Sentence
Post-Secondary Success

Post-Secondary Success Requirements
for this program

One year post-secondary studies


Admission Method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of SIAST programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

Tuition and Fees

  • For complete details on tuition and fees for this program, click here to access the SIAST campus Tuition and Fee Schedules.

Learning Method(s)

SIAST offers a variety of learning methods for course delivery. The following learning methods are available for some of the courses in this program.
      Classroom
    • A combination of lectures and structured tutorials will be used.
      Home Study
      Online
      Sask. Communications Network
      Work-based Training

Please refer to the course descriptions for course specific learning methods.


Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Availability

SIAST recognizes that adults learn in many different ways and through many different means. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

Frequently asked questions regarding PLAR for this program are answered in the Fact Sheet. A detailed Candidate Guide, which includes a self-audit for all PLAR-ready courses, has been developed for this program. This information guides a candidate through all steps in the PLAR process.





Transfer Credit and Future Study Options

  • A new transfer credit agreement with the University of Regina has been completed. It will give graduates of the SIAST Business Certificate ten courses (one year) toward the Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Regina.

  • A reciprocal five-year agreement between this program and the Briercrest College and Seminary recognizes selected courses for assigned transfer credits.

  • Other institutions, including the University of Saskatchewan, also recognize a number of courses toward their programs.


  • ACCT 122  Introductory Financial Accounting 1
  • Your studies will focus on an introduction to financial accounting designed to provide you with accounting skills to handle business transactions. The course will include bookkeeping techniques, accounting for a merchandising concern and an introduction to accounting for current assets. ACCT 122 is a companion to ACCT 125 (Introductory Financial Accounting 2) which continues the study of basic financial accounting.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Work Based Delivery, Prior Learning, Correspondence-Structured Time


  • ACCT 125  Introductory Financial Accounting 2
  • Your studies will focus on an introduction to financial accounting building on the skills you learned in ACCT 122 (Introductory Financial Accounting I). You will study accounting for payroll and accounting for other assets and liabilities. The course covers accounting for capital assets, liabilities, partnerships, and corporations.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Independent Study, Work Based Delivery, Prior Learning

    Prerequisites:
    ACCT 122 Minimum Grade of 60


  • ADMN 126  Introduction to Management
  • You will be provided with an overview of the development of management theory and practices. The course content includes organizing, planning, leading, controlling functions, and focuses on decisions in different types of environments.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Work Based Delivery, Prior Learning


  • BCOM 120  Business Communications 1
  • You will develop fundamental employability skills by studying the principles of communication. The course content includes developing effective writing skills. You will apply the principles and skills by writing letters and memorandums for routine and negative purposes. You will develop teamwork employability skills and examine ways to apply communication skills to team and cross-cultural situations.

    3.0 Credit Units
    48.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Independent Study, Work Based Delivery, Prior Learning, Correspondence-Structured Time, Correspondence

    Equivalent Course(s):   BCOM 134    COMM 141   


  • BCOM 121  Business Communications 2
  • You will continue to develop effective business writing skills and employability skills. The course focuses on writing business reports in informal and formal styles. Your classroom study and experience will help prepare you for a business career by developing your presentation skills.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Independent Study, Prior Learning, Correspondence

    Equivalent Course(s):   COMM 149   

    Prerequisites:
    BCOM 120 Minimum Grade of 60


  • COAP 137  Introduction to Simply Accounting
  • You will learn how to use a computerized accounting software package. Your studies will focus on self-guided exercises using the general, payables, receivables and inventory ledgers.

    2.0 Credit Units
    32.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Prior Learning, Online/Blackboard

    Equivalent Course(s):   ACCT 135    SYST 147   

    Prerequisites:
    ACCT 122 Minimum Grade of 60 (concurrent)


  • COMP 120  Information Systems 1
  • Your studies will focus on the practical use of Microsoft Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheets), PowerPoint (presentation) and Access (database) software. You will be introduced to computer concepts including hardware, software, network basics, file management and Internet technology.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Independent Study, Prior Learning, Correspondence

    Equivalent Course(s):   COMP 140   


  • ECON 120  Microeconomics
  • Your studies will focus on how production and consumption decisions are made in a market economy. You will learn to analyze supply, demand, cost, price determination, response to price changes, and income distribution.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN

    Equivalent Course(s):   RT 191   


  • ECON 121  Macroeconomics
  • The course is designed to familiarize you with how an economy is analyzed and how economic policy is used to prevent or ameliorate potential economic problems faced by modern economies. Your studies will focus on national income accounting, consumption and saving, government spending and taxation, interest rates and investment, the role of money and the banking system, and foreign trade.




    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN

    Prerequisites:
    ECON 120 Minimum Grade of 60


  • FIN_ 120  Mathematics of Finance
  • You will deal with commercial problems involving simple interest, discounts and markups, partial payments, and commuting a series of obligations. It continues with a wide variety of problems involving compound interest, ordinary annuities, amortization of debt, sinking funds, and valuation of bonds. Practical applications are stressed throughout the course. Use of the Financial calculator is shown throughout the course.


    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Prior Learning

    Equivalent Course(s):   FIN 140   


  • MKTG 120  Marketing
  • You will discover the dynamic field of marketing. You will explore what marketing is, how it works, and the effect it can have on consumers and on society. At the end of the course, you should have a strong sense of how to market yourself, your skills, your ideas, as well as more traditional products and services. Marketing concepts you will learn include: the strategic marketing planning process, segmentation, positioning, forecasting, consumer behaviour, and the marketing mix.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Independent Study, Work Based Delivery, Prior Learning


  • STAT 120  Business Statistics
  • You will be introduced to the elements of statistics used in business. The course content includes frequency distribution, measure of central tendency and dispersion, probability distributions (discrete and continuous), sampling, sampling distributions, estimations, regressions, correlation and elementary hypothesis-testing.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Prior Learning

    Equivalent Course(s):   ACP 374   


    Electives - One of the following:

  • HR__ 120  Introduction to Human Resource Management
  • Your studies will focus on an overview of human resource management and practices. You will learn the impact of job analysis; planning, recruiting, and selection processes; training, developing and compensation considerations, and management performance and labour relations. Employee and organizational ethics are discussed throughout the course with an emphasis on using human resource management to achieve high organizational performance.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Televised/SCN, Prior Learning

    Equivalent Course(s):   ADMN 222   


  • INS_ 100  Principles and Practices of Insurance
  • Your studies will provide an introduction to the principles and practices of the insurance industry. You will examine the multi-faceted nature of the insurance business, develop an understanding of risk and strategies to respond to it, and examine contract law as it relates to the industry. You will be introduced to the terms and practices of the insurance business.

    4.0 Credit Units
    64.0 Lecture hours

    Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory



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