Certificate in Business

Course code: COMM 210/610

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts and principles of accounting, integrating financial and managerial practices essential for effective organizational decision-making. Students will explore the essential frameworks for recording, analyzing, and interpreting financial information, as well as the tools necessary for effective and ethical decision‐making within organizations. Key topics include financial statement preparation and analysis, the accounting cycle, budgeting, cost behavior, and performance measurement. By combining theoretical insights with practical applications, students will learn how to utilize accounting information to support planning and operational efficiency. This course is ideal for those pursuing careers in accounting, finance, or management, as well as for individuals seeking to enhance their financial literacy in a business context.

Course code: COMM 221/621

This course provides an in‐depth introduction to the principles of finance, focusing on the fundamental concepts and tools used in financial decision‐making from a corporate perspective. Students will explore the capital allocation process and funding decisions that shape the financial health and growth of an organization. Key topics include the time value of money, bond valuation, interest rates, investment decision rules, and shareholder value creation. The course delves into capital budgeting techniques, risk‐return analysis, portfolio theory, and the concept of market efficiency, cost of capital, debt and equity financing, and capital structure decisions. Discussions on dividend and capital distribution policy and business valuation will also be integrated into the curriculum.

Course code: COMM 231/631

This introductory marketing course covers essential frameworks, processes, and systems that help students understand how marketing operates within organizations. Students will develop analytical capabilities, decision‐making skills and customer centric plans that drive sustainable impact for customers. This course will help students to understand how marketing is evolving in a digital and increasingly AI driven world. Students will be required to reflect on how marketing plans are adapted to meet the diverse needs of business and consumers markets.

Course code: COMM 251/651

This course introduces students to key concepts in managing people within organizational settings, blending insights from human resource management and organizational behaviour. Students will explore foundational topics such as motivation, team dynamics, leadership, and organizational culture. They will examine how effective human resource practices—from hiring and training to performance management and employee engagement—contribute to individual and organizational success. Through analyzing and reflecting on real‐life examples, case studies, and personal experiences, students will develop practical skills and knowledge for managing people, resolving conflict, and fostering collaboration in diverse, inclusive environments. By the end of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the human aspects of organizations and will be better equipped to navigate workplace challenges and lead effectively in their careers.

Course code: COMM 203/603

How do businesses remain financially and socially viable in the face of competition? How can businesses not only be profitable, but also manage the nonmarket social and political environments? These are some of the fundamental questions of strategy that we will seek to answer in class. Business strategy is a multi‐faceted concept by which management teams shape the structure and direction of the firm as well as coordinate various functions to effectively compete in specific marketplaces. Throughout this course, we will emphasize that at the heart of effective strategy is uniqueness, fit, and trade-offs to realize competitive advantage.

Course code: COMM 204/604

This course is meant to teach non‐commerce students key concepts in entrepreneurship. Throughout the semester, students will be exposed to the key tenants of an entrepreneurial mindset and the skills associated with it, the key elements to identifying opportunities, starting a new venture, as well as the critical role that entrepreneurship plays in today’s global economy. Topics include: opportunity identification and evaluation, articulation and testing of a unique value proposition, customer discovery, market analysis, financing the venture, minimum viable product development, as well as a broader discussion on the different forms of entrepreneurship (e.g., family business, social ventures, corporate innovation).

The course is designed for modular, asynchronous course delivery with provision for several live Q&A workshops. By the end of the semester, students will have gained an understanding of what it means to think and act as entrepreneurs, and how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied to a wide array of business scenarios.

Course code: COMM 273/673

This course explores the key issues that firms, governments, and managers face in today’s globally integrated environment. The course will first traverse the world to gain a bird’s‐eye view of the global economy and to explore the forces that shape it. We will examine the transformation of some of the world’s most influential economies, the interdependence among them, and the impact they will have on the future of the global economy. We will also learn about the global institutions that facilitate international trade and capital flows, and attempt to understand the recent developments in the world that may threaten these institutions. We will consider why firms internationalize, how firms select which international markets to enter, and the issues firms need to consider when deciding how to enter different international markets. We will also explore some of the main challenges that firms face when operating in different cultural, institutional, and economic environments. Throughout the course, we will consider the social impact firms have as they internationalize and the role of business initiatives around the world in driving sustainable development.

Course code: COMM 290/690

This course introduces students to the essential concepts of digital strategy, data analytics, and emerging technologies. Students will explore foundational topics such as aligning technology with business goals, interpreting data‐driven insights, and understanding platforms and ecosystems. Through practical applications and case studies, students will develop skills in analyzing data, leveraging technologies, and developing digital strategies that enhance organizational performance. The course also emphasizes critical thinking, ethical considerations, and the importance of staying future‐ready in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.