Welcome to the Business Department!
Businesses play a huge role in culture and society in general. They not only take up the most amount of time in most people's lives, but they also help create innovations and make important technological advancements. In actuality, society itself would hardly exist as you know it if it weren't for businesses.
Your passion may be making videos, designing buildings, or playing basketball. Whatever your skillset and interests, there’s a business side to the equation! Think about it! Business is part of the language we use when we talk about the entertainment industry, project financing, and sports marketing. Everything has a “business” side to it — every industry needs accountants, marketers, managers, financial analysts, and technology support staff... in other words, business students! Parents, students, and even educators have the assumption that business studies are only for those interested in pursuing a career in the field of business. But this way of thinking is wrong, and the knowledge and skills that you will gain from studying business can be used in any field, any industry, and in any job!
Business as a field of study is very practical. It is the study of applying ideas to create or add value to a product or service in order to generate a profit. Business students learn how to research information using quantitative skills, and then develop ideas based on that information to solve problems. Our courses teach you the skills that you'll need to be successful in post-secondary and beyond!
So what are you waiting for? Start your journey and learn more about business studies!
Courses
Please note: Not all Business Studies Courses may be offered at Tommy Douglas. It may vary based on student interest, staffing, and funding. You can click on the following link to take you to the school's myblueprint page where you can find all the courses that are offered.
Grade 9 Courses
Information and Communication Technology in Business (BTT1O)
What’s this course about?
Learn the digital literacy skills necessary to be successful in the 21st-century business environment
Develop word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, web design, and publishing skills
Cool things we do…
Create a PSA campaign
Dissect and rebuild a computer
Make Advertisements
Send professional communications with a local business
Create a sales pitch in a Dragons Den competition
Field trip to Young Peoples Theatre
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Grade 10 Courses
Introduction to Business (BBI2O)
What’s this course about?
A buffet of business topics covered!
Learn about Marketing, Accounting, Human Resources, Production, and many more business topics
Provides a foundation for success in future business courses
Cool things we do…
Run a marketing carnival for the school
International cultural day - teaching the class about diverse cultures through food
Design and create your own cookie business
Egg drop challenge to develop leadership and teamwork skills
Candy kabob business- manufacture and sell your own products to TDSS students
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Grade 11 Courses
The Individual and the Economy (CIE3M)
What’s this course about?
Ever wondered... How does the economy work? Want to better understand why a Supreme T-shirt costs $600? What the benefits and costs are of providing free healthcare?
We will explore the issues and challenges facing the Canadian economy as well as the implications of government responses
Cool things we do…
Build our own economies, play simulations, debate, and run a country for a day
Learn how to use economic data to invest!
Learn about how to buy a home, invest in stocks, and how you can use your money to grow and make you even more money!
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Financial Accounting Fundamental (BAF3M)
What’s this course about?
Learn the basics of accounting, including the fundamental principles and procedures
Develop financial analysis skills
Cool things we do…
Stock Market Investment Challenge (Cash Prizes!)
Hear from local businesses on how important accounting is
Play mega games of Monopoly!
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Entrepreneurship: The Venture (BDI3C)
What’s this course about?
Ever wanted to run your own business? Want to be your own boss? Have a great idea but not sure how to put it into action? Join BDI3C to learn the process of starting your own business. From idea generation, planning and execution, you will learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur.
Cool things we do…
Create a venture plan to begin your entrepreneurial journey!
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Marketing: Goods, Services, Events (BMI3C)
What’s this course about?
Learn the fundamentals of product marketing, for goods services and events
Understand the ways in which marketers influence the behavior of consumers
Engage in market research and produce a marketing plan
Cool things we do…
Market research, run your own taste test
Trips to local shops to understand product placement
Talk with local businesses to better understand marketing in your own neighborhood
Create a marketing plan for a real business
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Grade 12 Courses
Financial Accounting Principles (BAT4M)
What’s this course about?
Interested in a career in accounting? Planning on taking a Degree or Diploma in Business studies? Then this course is for you.
Learn advanced accounting principles and practices
Analyze financial statements to understand business decisions
Cool things we do…
Guest Speakers
Use industry-leading accounting software
CPA Competitions
What do you need to get in?
Financial Accounting Fundamentals (BAF3M)
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age (BDV4C)
What’s this course about?
This course provides you with an understanding of the hows and whys of E-Commerce and online businesses.
Create a venture plan for your online business.
Cool things we do…
We create our own business and sell our products in a week-long event
We also plan and run promotional events for the school store (Titans Locker)
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
International Business Fundamentals (BBB4M)
What’s this course about?
This course provides an overview of international business and trade in the global economy.
You will learn about the techniques and strategies associated with marketing, distribution, and managing international businesses
Cool things we do…
We check out the Auto Show and learn about how auto manufacturers work to sell their cars in different markets and some of the changes that they make for each market.
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals (BOH4M)
What’s this course about?
Learn to manage, influence, and motivate others for a successful business
Analyze the role of leadership, with a focus on group dynamics, motivation, managing conflict, and decision making
Cool things we do…
Overnight leadership summit (field trip)
Escape room team-building experience
Raptors / MLSE Career fair
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Sports and Entertainment Marketing (IDC4U)
What’s this course about?
Learn about one of the most exciting and competitive business fields in the world. The field of sports and entertainment marketing.
Learn about how fans interact with their favorite sport teams or celebrities
Explore different marketing tools and strategies used by agencies that allow brands to sell their products or to expand their market shares
Analyze ads, commercials, and promotional campaigns of different organizations and break down what they have done well and where they missed the mark.
Develop your own clothing brands and examine the challenges that brands go through when trying to get exposed to their customers.
Cool things we do…
Raptors / MLSE Career fair
VR content and marketing experience
Apparel marketing, using embroidery and vinyl apparel printing
Crowdfunding Project with McMaster University
What do you need to get in?
This course is open to all, no prerequisites required
Resources
Check out our new Instagram account for updates and a showcase of all that we do, and don't forget to give us a Follow and Like!
External Links
Youtube Channels and Websites for Business:
Future Careers
The careers in Business are endless. One advantage of studying business, is that you can work in any industry you like, for any company you desire, in any part of the world you choose. Below are a few career options.
College Business Programs in Ontario
University Business Programs in Ontario
Canada’s Best Jobs 2014: The Top 10 Jobs in Business & Finance