Overview
The business studies program will build a strong foundation for those who wish to move on to further study and training in specialized areas such as management, international business, marketing, accounting, information and communication technology, or entrepreneurship. It will also provide practical skills for those who wish to move directly into the workplace.
Q: Do business courses include any trips?
A: Absolutely. We are fortunate to be an 11 minute walk to Communitech. Our classes have toured this high profile site numerous times. One popular activity is having new start-up companies pitch their concept to our students. We also regularly tour the Toyota manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Salus Marine (maker of world famous life jackets), Vincenzo’s, the RIM manufacturing facility, Provincial Court and more.
Q: Do you ever bring in guest speakers?
A: It’s critical to bring in outside speakers to help students really get a feel for business. Guest speakers in KCI Business classes have included:
- Author: The Wealthy Barber
- President: Economical Insurance
- Vice President of Marketing and Informations System: Sun Life
- Chief Financial Officer: Morval Foam
- President: Desire to Learn
- Marketing Manager: Research in Motion
- Owner: 13 Tim Horton’s restaurants
- Owner: City Café Bakery
- Owner: Whole Lot-a Gelata
- Owner: J Gerth, Custom Tooling Inc.
We also like to call businesses live from our class and have speaker phone conferences with entrepreneurs!
Course Descriptions
Grade 9
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)
In this course, students will learn what makes an entrepreneur thrive and the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment. Students will begin to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and learn why it’s important to take initiative, adapt to change, find creative solutions, and understand the financial considerations of entrepreneurship. This hands-on course will use business software and applications to help students plan and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and learn how to present them to a target audience. Throughout the course, students will enhance their communications skills as well as develop and refine their project management skills, including goal setting, time management, and networking.
Grade 10
Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
This course introduces students to the world of business and what is required to be successful, ethical, and responsible in today’s economy. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to be an entrepreneur who knows how to respond to local and global market opportunities. Throughout the course, students will explore and understand the responsibility of managing different functions of a business. This includes accounting, marketing, information and communication technology, financial management, human resources, and production. Prerequisite: None
Grade 11
Accounting – BAF 3MI
You don’t have to be great at math to be great at accounting. If you’re someone who wants to understand how a business manages its money then this is the course for you! This course is a pre-requisite for BAF4MI, grade 12 accounting. It’s also a great foundation for those planning on studying business at university or college.
Marketing – BMI 3CI
Marketing is more than advertising! Take this course and find out how much more! How does the world of a advertising work? What about marketing products on the web? Study marketing campaigns being executed right now. Design new products and marketing plans to make them a success.
Law – CLU 3MI
Learn about the law and your rights! This is a foundation course which examines the evolution of law, human rights, criminal & civil law. Students taking this course will walk into a live Ontario Court and observe the law in action!
Grade 12
International Business – BBB 4MI
Learn about doing business on an international scale. How does a Canadian business operate in a foreign country? How does the international nature of business change the way we market? Let’s explore business around the world!
Business Leadership – BOH 4MI
Are you destined to lead or to manage? Is working within a large organization or managing your own business something that interests you? This senior course will teach management and leadership skills transferable to any setting. Trips to Communitech and the Toyota manufacturing operation in Cambridge are usually highlights of this course. In addition, many local business leaders visit this course to share their perspectives.
Economics – CIA 4UI
Economics is the study of scarcity and the difficult choices that must be made. Supply and demand are key concepts as we lead towards an understanding of how the business system works. This course is a great foundation for a business degree as all first year programs include an economics course.
Canadian and International Law – CLN 4UI
Study Canadian Law at a senior level. Some students enrolled in this course will have taken the grade 11 course, but it is not necessary. All key aspects of law will be covered with an emphasis on current cases active in the media. Students taking part in this course will walk into a live Ontario court room to observe the proceedings.
