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Ministry-approved title: Business – Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Turn business ideas into reality with the Entrepreneurship and Small Business diploma program. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators, this hands-on program supports the development, testing, and refinement of business ideas through practical, real-world learning experiences. Students explore opportunity identification, business planning, digital marketing, operations, and venture development while building the entrepreneurial mindset needed to adapt and succeed in today’s evolving business landscape.
Through applied projects and guidance from experienced faculty, students gain practical insight into launching and managing a business from concept to execution. The program also provides valuable industry connections through exclusive access to multiple Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce across Durham Region, creating opportunities to network with business professionals, mentors, and potential partners.
With small businesses representing approximately 97 per cent of employer businesses in Canada, graduates will be prepared to pursue entrepreneurship, support growing ventures, or bring innovative thinking and problem-solving skills into organizations across industries.
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Entrepreneurship and small business are major drivers of Canada’s economy, creating opportunities for innovation, employment, and economic growth across every sector. This program prepares students to participate confidently in that environment by combining foundational business knowledge with highly applied entrepreneurial learning.
Students gain practical, real-world experience in starting, managing, and growing a business while developing the adaptability, resilience, leadership, and decision-making skills essential for long-term success. Learning is grounded in real business challenges and opportunities, helping students graduate with both knowledge and practical experience.
Throughout the program, students:
A strong emphasis is placed on experiential and project-based learning. Students work through realistic business scenarios, collaborative projects, and applied assignments that reflect the realities of entrepreneurship and small business management. This approach supports the development of practical skills in planning, strategic thinking, customer engagement, and business operations.
The program also encourages students to build professional networks and connections within the local business community. Through access to multiple Durham Region Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce, students engage with entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and community leaders while gaining exposure to current business trends and opportunities.
Graduates are prepared to pursue a variety of pathways, including launching a new venture, joining a family business, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, or contributing entrepreneurial thinking within larger organizations. The combination of applied business knowledge, practical experience, and industry exposure provides a strong foundation for continued growth and career development in entrepreneurship and business.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
Students can earn the following globally recognized certificates by taking Microsoft Office Specialist exams as part of their computer courses:
Students who successfully pass all three exams can earn an extra certificate that recognizes their accomplishment with the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 365 and Office 2019) certificate. DC students are provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the college’s Microsoft Office account. See more details about this opportunity.
CCI Learning is the exclusive Canadian partner of Certiport and through our partnership with them it enables us to bring Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist certifications to our students.
Students entering their first year of studies in a Faculty of Business and Information Technology program will receive a membership to all of Durham Region’s Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade for the duration of their studies, plus an additional year following graduation. As one of the only colleges in Ontario with this offering, DC is proud to provide students with access to local businesses at a regional level.
The Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade include:
Membership benefits:
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC. Students are responsible to ensure they are not duplicating their GNED or FNMI selections as per their diploma requirements. For a successful program completion, students must have successfully completed three unique elective courses as per their program of study.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Experiential learning is at the core of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business program, giving students the opportunity to develop, launch, and promote business ideas in practical, real-world settings. Through applied projects, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement, students build the confidence, creativity, and professional skills needed to succeed in entrepreneurial environments.
Students participate in initiatives such as a student-led Holiday Market, where seed funding is provided to support the development, launch, and sale of a real product or service. This hands-on experience allows students to apply concepts related to marketing, operations, customer engagement, financial planning, and sales in a live business environment.
Collaboration with students across other creative and business-focused programs further strengthens experiential learning opportunities. Entrepreneurship students work alongside Photography, Cosmetics and Esthetics students to develop professional branding assets, including headshots and image development, while partnerships with Video Production students support the creation of social media content and digital marketing campaigns.
The program also provides access to professional networking experiences that many business students do not encounter until after graduation. Students receive exclusive membership access to multiple Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Durham Region, creating valuable opportunities to engage directly with entrepreneurs, business owners, and industry professionals.
Through these memberships, students can:
To further strengthen career readiness, students also have opportunities to earn industry-recognized certifications, including Google Search Ads, Microsoft Office, and Student Digital Marketing certifications. These additional credentials help graduates stand out in today’s competitive business landscape while reinforcing practical digital and marketing skills.
This experiential, community-connected approach supports the development of entrepreneurial thinking, applied business knowledge, and professional networks, empowering graduates to transform ideas into real business opportunities.
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.
*Mac Computers
App Store
Google Play