Business Fundamentals
Ontario College Certificate
2 Semesters / 1 Year
Douglas A. Smith Family School of Business
Key Details
Program Start Dates
January 2025
May 2025
September 2025
January 2026
May 2026
Please visit Ontario College Application Service to learn more about start dates.
Credential
Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Program Duration
3 Semesters / 1 YearProgram Contacts
Farima Miri
Program Coordinator / Professor
farima.miri@cambriancollege.ca
International Admissions
mailboxadmissions@cambriancollege.ca
Program Overview
Use data to make the best business decisions
You’ll learn to pull meaningful insights from large, complex data sets that businesses need to make informed decisions, predict trends, and better understand their customers. Build on your creative problem-solving abilities with this program that combines computer science and technology courses with databases, research methods, marketing, and communications studies.
As a data storyteller, you’ll learn to simplify complex data, ensuring that decision-makers can grasp the insights without getting lost in technical details. Your ability to present data in a clear and concise manner will add tremendous value to the decision-making process.
Program Highlights
Program highlights
- Seven-week capstone project or placement in the final semester to make you connected with industry partners
- Co-curricular activities, field trips, and guest speakers offer networking opportunities
- Build skills in a wide array of tools including advanced ArcGIS, Power BI, Tableau and Python programming, R statistics, SQL database, and Microsoft Office and Excel
Admissions
Admission requirements
Applicants must be graduates of a diploma, advanced diploma, or degree program from an Ontario College or equivalent.
OR
Applicant must possess five years of work experience in a related field (or combination of education and work experience) as judged by the College to be equivalent. Applicants must submit a resume detailing their related experience and a cover letter outlining their competencies and preparedness for the program (any and all postsecondary transcripts must still be submitted).
International Student Admissions
Are you an international student? Learn more about additional requirements.
Learn moreAdditional admissions requirement
Recommendations
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
- Any grade 12 mathematics (C) or (U) (MCT4C is highly recommended)
- Students who do not possess the foundational math will need to take the bridging course(s) prior to registration. Please contact the program coordinator to discuss upgrading options.
Academic Upgrading
Are you missing admission requirements? Strengthen your academic skills for free at your own pace through Academic Upgrading!
Program delivery
Program delivery
2024-2025
Winter term start
- Semester 1: Winter 2025
- Semester 2: Spring 2025
- Semester 3: Fall 2025
Spring term start
- Semester 1: Spring 2025
- Semester 2: Fall 2025
- Semester 3: Winter 2026
2025-2026
Fall term start
- Semester 1: Fall 2025
- Semester 2: Winter 2026
- Semester 3: Spring 2026
Winter term start
- Semester 1: Winter 2026
- Semester 2: Spring 2026
- Semester 3: Fall 2026
Spring term start
- Semester 1: Spring 2026
- Semester 2: Fall 2026
- Semester 3: Winter 2027
Program of Study
Program of study for 2025-26 Academic Year
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| DBA 7300 | Structured Data Management | 4 |
| ANA 7301 | Programming for Analytics | 4 |
| ANA 7302 | Foundations of Data Analytics | 3 |
| ANA 7303 | Data Collection and Ethics | 3 |
| EXL 7300 | Dashboards and Data Analysis | 3 |
| QMM 7300 | Statistics for Data Analytics | 4 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BTA 7300 | Connected Data | 3 |
| MKT 7300 | Mkt and Social Media Analytics | 3 |
| GIS 7300 | GIS Mapping | 2 |
| QMM 7301 | Advanced Stats for Analytics | 4 |
| ANA 7311 | Storytelling with Data | 3 |
| ANA 7304 | Dashboards and Data Modelling | 3 |
| AIE 1009 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| Credits | 21 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| ANA 7305
or ANA 7306
| Analytics Capstone
or Placement
| 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Note:
Part-time students will be provided with a pathway to complete this program on a part-time basis.
Fees
Tuition Cost
Important Notice
Fees presented are estimates based on projections for future academic year(s) of study. Actual fees charged may differ from what is published here. A full detailed listing of all fees is available in myCambrian and updated annually no later than May 1 for the following academic year. Students in Academic Upgrading are responsible for any fees listed on their invoice each term.
Tuition and ancillary fees
Please see our fees page for the breakdown of tuition and mandatory ancillary fees by program and semester for both domestic and international students.
Books and supplies
Books and supplies may be required at the course level over and above what is estimated above. Please consult your professor/instructor for further information.
College may be more affordable than you think!
Have you said, “school can wait another year”? Don’t sacrifice your future any longer – you can do it!
Whether it’s fear, financial reasons, or something else that is impacting your decision to start school, we’re here to listen to you and help in any way we can!
Work-integrated learning (WIL)
Take your education beyond the classroom!
Cambrian programs blend academic learning, hands-on training, and community involvement opportunities to help you achieve your ultimate goal – your dream career. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios within and outside of the classroom through work-integrated learning. Whether it be a capstone project, co-op, practicum, preceptorship component, or placement, you’ll benefit from a practical, job-related experience before you graduate.
Learn more about previous opportunities in this program!
Cambrian College – This Business Analytics placement offered students practical, relevant work experience with the Planning Institutional and Research department at Cambrian College. The students developed a web-based tool to conduct program cost analysis. The students also worked with Cambrian deans to identify the key requirements and features required to build a program costing tool.
Profundus Enterprises Inc. – Students gained practical, and relevant work experience during this placement as data analysts. They created dashboards and embedded them in Profundus’ core application to easily provide analytics to players (end-users + B2B API consumers) and iterate the data faster. They worked on a gamification feature set by leveraging the Funifier API and Metabase (BI Server). The dashboard capability the students worked on building was a proof of concept and pilot to guide their product roadmap for future releases.
Field of Study
School of Information Technology
Play a pivotal role in shaping the digital future. By pursuing a field of study in information technology (IT), you’ll open doors to a vast variety of revolutionary careers and make your mark on society as a tech pioneer. From software development and network administration to cybersecurity and data analysis, Cambrian offers exciting programs that place you at the forefront of innovation.
Specific program pathways
College or university degree opportunities
If you are a graduate from this program, you may continue your studies at a college or university and you may receive credit(s) for your prior college education. Refer to Cambrian’s college and university agreement details for further information.
Career Outcomes
Need a career coach?
Explore how this program can lead to a great career! Cambrian’s Career Coach platform is a user-friendly, online tool that provides up-to-date and comprehensive labour market data to help you explore career options, salary expectations for the Greater Sudbury region, and more!
See where you'll be learning!
Minimum technology requirements
Success in this program requires that you come equipped with some program-specific technology requirements.
Minimum technology requirements
- Regular access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection
- Webcam and headset
- Personal computer
- Windows 10 Educational or Professional
- Processor: 64-bit current generation Intel i5 (i7 preferred) or AMD equivalent
- RAM: 8 GB (16 GB preferred)
- Storage space: 100 GB free with a minimum of 10 GB available for software installs
- Software: Microsoft Office (provided by the College), PowerBI Desktop, MySQL workbench, R Studio, additional software will be provided
Required software will be provided by Cambrian College. Instruction on how to obtain software will be provided to you. Some software that you may access as part of your program may not be compatible with every device. If you have any questions about these technology requirements, please email info@cambriancollege.ca or call (705) 566-8101, ext. 7303.
System requirements for assistive technology
To access the widest range of assistive technology (AT), a Windows-based computer is recommended.
- Recommended OS: Windows 10 or newer
- Recommended CPU: Intel or AMD multicore processor
- Recommended RAM: 8 GB
- Recommended storage for assistive technology: 8 GB of available hard drive of solid state drive space (please note this is not the total drive size and refers specifically to available space needed for assistive technology)
- Recommended audio: Speakers or headphones for text-to-speech and microphone for speech input.
While Apple computers can provide many AT options, some specialized software may not be available/compatible with this platform. Please consult with the Glenn Crombie Centre for further details.
Bring your own device (BYOD)
Cambrian College has implemented a BYOD principle to both enrich the student learning experience in and out of the classroom and to ensure flexibility!
Ready to take the first step?
Start gaining the highest level of skills at Cambrian now – and you’ll be ready to take advantage of the many career opportunities waiting for you just around the corner. The future is yours!
Have Questions? We are here to help.
If you have any questions about programs, funding, OSAP, deadlines, student services, or anything else, reach out to our support team and we are happy to help!
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