A Global Perspective is offered by International Business Courses

Today, business transactions, acquisitions and simple sales happen with the click of a mouse. The Internet has taken the business world and removed the miles between customers and companies, business people and co-workers. If you’re interested in obtaining an education in an International Business program look no further than Centennial College’s Business – International Business courses. The two-year program will benefit you if you are highly organized with an ability to plan and prioritize; can deal comfortably with numbers and computers; possess analytical with strong numeracy skills; thrive under pressure and can meet deadlines; have strong interpersonal skills; are an innovative problems solver and decision maker; have the ability to work successfully in a team environment. All you need to be eligible for application is at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older). In addition, you must have completed the English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment; and the Math Grade 11 C, M or U, or Grade 12 C or U or equivalent or skills assessment.

The International Business program is known for offering its students a mixture of solid general business foundation as well as specialized international business knowledge. As such, you will spend the first two semesters of this program, taking general business courses such as Strategies for Business Success, Fundamentals of Business, Microcomputer Applications Software, Mathematics of Finance, Business Operations and more.

When you have a solid base, you will move onto International Business courses. These intensive courses prepare you for the global workplace by teaching you key concepts such as: processing customs compliance documents, assisting in the transportation of goods to and from locations throughout the world and taking on a support role in the marketing and sale of Canadian goods in the global marketplace. Specific courses during these semesters include: Global Logistics (covers all aspects of moving goods internationally including cost controls, distribution alternatives and other transportation issues); International Marketing (first half of the course analyzes trends in the global environment and the impact of these trends on international marketing; the second half focuses on the development of international marketing strategies that effectively respond to globalization); International Business Concepts (gives students a broad overview of international trade, the macro-environment within which international business takes place, and the major strategic decisions facing international business managers); and more.

Once you have completed you International Business program, you have two options. First, you may continue your education by seamlessly transferring into the three-year International Business program. In just one year, you’ll undertake more international business courses, and have the option to work towards a university degree, pursue professional designations (CITP) and gain work experience before graduation. You may also attend International Business programs at other schools that have partnered with Centennial College. These schools are Algoma University and University of New Brunswick.

Secondly, International Business program grads may pursue jobs as customs compliance analysts, import/export documentation specialists, global logistics assistant in sectors such as manufacturing and production, retail and distribution, transportation or as part of a consulting firm.

Business Accounting Programs require Credit Management Professionals to Get Started

Are you highly organized and have the ability to plan and prioritize? Are you comfortable dealing with numbers and computers and have strong numeracy skills? In addition, do you consider yourself a strong communicator, problem solver and decision maker? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions and have an interest in working as a credit management professional, you may want to consider taking the finance management courses offered in Centennial College’s Business Accounting – Financial and Credit Management program. 

Applicants to this program must have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older). In addition they should possess English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment and Math Grade 11 C, M or U, or Grade 12 C or U or equivalent or skills assessment.

The Credit Institute of Canada, the country’s most respected credit organization, and the only body that grants official designations to Canadian credit professionals, has partnered with Centennial College to deliver the Business Accounting program. This collaboration signals to employers that Centennial graduates have attained the knowledge and competencies the business community is seeking. In addition, eligible graduates have the opportunity to enhance their overall career success by obtaining the CCP designation granted through the CIC.

Not only are the finance management courses in Business Accounting developed but the CIC, but the offering also shares a common first semester with Centennial’s Accounting program. This allows students to grasp key accounting fundamentals before specializing in credit management. As such, the first semester features courses such as: Financial Accounting, Microcomputer Applications Software, Mathematics of Finance, Strategies for Business Success and more.

In the final three semesters, students gain comprehensive knowledge in credit management concepts including: financial statement analysis, securities, risk evaluation, collections, bankruptcy and credit department reporting. Specific finance management courses during this portion of the Business Accounting program include: Taxation (offers a basic understanding of the Income Tax Act and regulations to determine the Income Tax Liability as it applies mainly to individuals. Also allows students to learn how to prepare a simple tax return and to use the knowledge gained from this course to solve problems relating to the taxation of individuals resident and non-resident of Canada); Personal Credit (introduces students to the principles of credit extension. Topics include consumer lending, mortgage lending and financial statement analysis affecting particularly consumer loans and mortgage applications); Corporate Finance (covers topics in the financial management of profit-seeking organizations. A major objective is to develop analytical and decision-making skills in domestic and international finance, through the use of theory questions and practical problems); and more.

Upon graduation from the Business Accounting program, students become credit management professionals and are responsible for overseeing the credit policies of an organization from assessing credit limits to determining risk of an applicant. They are essential to all businesses particularly banks, loan firms and credit card companies who rely on them to ensure their operations run smoothly. Titles in this field include: Credit Manager, Collections Manager, Credit Supervisor, Credit Representative, Accounts Receivable Manager and Accounts Receivable Representative. These professionals are employed in areas such as: trust companies, banks, credit unions, consumer loan companies, mortgage investment companies as well as credit/collection departments within companies.

Marketing Programs Prepare You to Face Future Cut-throat Competitions

Centennial College has a variety of business marketing programs, including Business – Marketing, which is completed in two years and combines the business and marketing skills that professionals need to be employable upon graduation. Graduates of Centennial College’s business marketing programs are prepared for careers as: sales representatives, customer service representatives, product consultants, merchandising assistants and merchandising supervisors. They work in the areas of the high-tech sector, government, not-for-profit organizations, financial services, food and beverage, electronics and more — along with almost a third of all North Americans who are employed in marketing related fields.

In order for a company to sell its products effectively, it must know its customer base. Without knowing if consumers are satisfied or if prices are applicable for the consumers the company is targeting, a company will fail. This is where the field of marketing comes in. Conducted at several levels, marketing includes: market research (which starts the marketing process), brand management, advertising, promotions, public relations, customer service and product support reps, merchandising assistance, and even sales. A marketer answers questions like: Who are our customers? What are their needs? How can we best meet these needs? How should we price, package, distribute and promote our product?

At Centennial College, the Marketing program encourages mastery of a marketer’s key competencies — creative, practical decision-making and clear, persuasive communications. Students have an opportunity to learn the basics of business — accounting, operations, organizational behaviour and international business — which serve as an important foundation for the marketing courses that follow. They’ll be introduced to marketing theory and case-based problem-solving, as well as marketing communications (which includes advertising and promotion) and professional selling practices. The College’s interactive teaching approach incorporates learning through case studies, guest lectures, presentations, projects and computer simulations and technologies. Specific marketing courses in this program include: Marketing Communications, Professional Selling, Practical Applications in Marketing, Business Analysis, Principles of Marketing and more.

Please note that all four semesters of this business marketing programs are identical to the first four semesters of Centennial College’s three-year, six-semester Marketing program. This permits graduates of this program to benefit from a seamless transition into the three-year undertaking, should they wish to continue with a more in-depth study of the field.

Applicants interested in applying for the business marketing degree at Centennial College, must present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Compulsory English 12C or U and Math11C, M, or U or 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent are also required. However, possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Centennial College Makes You an Expert in Benefits Management Program

Human resources analysts/researchers, consultants, coordinators; labour relations coordinators, salary/ wage analysts, compensation and benefits researchers/analysts, coordinators, officers and consultants; employee benefits officers, consultants and coordinators — these are some of the titles you can obtain after attending the benefits management program at Centennial College (officially known as Pensions and Benefits Management). But what exactly does this field entail? Those in benefits management and Employee Benefits Programs are employed by organizations with employee benefit and pension plans, especially those that are mid-to-large sized; organizations that function in an advisory capacity to group benefit and retirement plans such as unions; insurance providers and actuarial firms, pension plans and governmental regulatory bodies. Their jobs include informing employees of the benefits that are available to them while at work and after retirement, helping prepare documents for investments, preparing annual government returns, helping in tax reporting and loan processing and helping people to ensure that their investments incurs optimum profits.

At Centennial College, students can complete an education in benefits management and employee benefits in just one year. In order to apply, they must submit an official transcript that demonstrates proof of successful completion of a post secondary advanced diploma or degree program. In some cases, Centennial College will consider applicants presenting a combination of partial post secondary education and relevant work experience, open to all disciplines. Also required are an interview, resume as well as English proficiency. 

Students learn from the industry leading certified employee benefit specialist (CEBS) curriculum, which is supplemented by graduate level instruction in courses such: Strategic Compensation (helps students develop a solid understanding of the strategies, issues, process, and techniques involved in developing and administering a compensation system); Contemporary Organizational Behaviour (follows the social science approach to studying organizational behaviour by beginning with an examination of individual sources of behaviour, progressing through collective and interpersonal interaction, and ending with consideration of organization-wide variables and issues); Group Benefits, Personal Taxation, and more. Students also study emerging trends and issues in the field such as changing legislative requirements. Throughout their benefits management and employee benefits programs, students participate in case studies, simulations, and project-based learning with a focus on developing project management, teamwork, report writing and presentation skills.

In the employee benefits and compensation field, CEBS is widely recognized and respected. Students completing the Benefits Management program will be eligible to earn a designation in two distinct areas of specialization — group benefits (GBA) and group retirement (RPA) — from Dalhousie University and the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP), subject to successfully completing the required professional exams and complying with its professional requirements. Any exam credits from the specialty credentials can be applied towards the CEBS credential requirements.

Acquire all the skills of Office Administration

Office administration is a vast field whose professionals play a role in sectors such as: education, corporate, insurance or financial, government or small business. The titles of  these professionals include: administrative assistants, administrative support officers, senior secretaries and executive secretaries. As is expected, the different positions have different responsibilities. For example, an executive secretary provides clerical and administrative support to a high level individual. Sometimes referred to as an administrative assistant, this person may also supervise and train lower level support staff. An executive secretary is expected to exhibit a highly professional image to contacts both in person and on the phone. Meanwhile, in addition to reading and screening incoming letters, memos and faxes, a senior secretary generally makes a preliminary assessment of how these should be handled. This can mean composing a response, delegating it to an appropriate staff member or compiling the background documents related to the issue and prioritizing these materials for your boss to review. A senior secretary also receives and screens phone calls and office visitors.

In order obtain a position in office administration, one must complete a post-secondary education program. At Centennial College, students can take the Office Administration — Executive undertaking, which is completed in two years and results in an Ontario College Diploma. When applying for this program, one must present an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. One must also have completed compulsory English 12C or U or a skills assessment or equivalent. However, having minimum admission requirements do not guarantee admission to the program.

This Office Administrator Schools teaches students how to handle the multiple functions performed by administrative assistants who work with upper-level management, such as developing document production, note-taking and related computer applications. Students will also concentrate on client service, communication, time management and supervisory skills. Program topics cover the full-range of office and business skills, including extensive software skills, Internet research abilities, presentation preparation, taking minutes of meetings, composing business correspondence and arranging national and international conferences.

These topics are introduced and developed through office administration courses such as: Microcomputers (participants in this course learn basic computer concepts as well as the techniques necessary to create a PowerPoint presentation); Office Procedures and Communications (course introduces learners to the basic techniques and procedures generally used in business organizations); Procedures for Managing Projects (this course provides realistic, practical, and meaningful experiences to strengthen students’ administrative skills and knowledge of executive office procedures); and others such as Introduction to Word Processing, Transcription Techniques and Integrated Software Applications.

To reinforce everything they have learned in the office administration program, students participate in a field placement during their last semester. Students spend two days a week working in a business setting related to their area of specialization (Executive, Legal, or Medical). This real life experience helps students to gain confidence and encounter the challenges and triumphs of the field.