Entrepreneurship and Small Business – Business

Overview

Overview
Program Details
Admission Requirements
Courses
Costs
Career Options
Experiential Learning
Transfer
Tech Requirements
Industry Partners
Book a tour
Ask a Current Student
Connect with us

Apply Now
- Domestic application
- International application
Overview
Program Details
Admission Requirements
Courses
Costs
Career Options
Industry Partners
Experiential Learning
Pathways
Tech Requirements
Your Next Steps
Book a tour
Ask a Current Student
Connect with us
Apply Now

Program Overview

Transform your business idea into reality and join the ranks of 1.2 million successful Canadian businesses. Small businesses constitute over 97% of all employer businesses nationally. Our expert faculty team will equip you with the necessary skills to research, plan, and manage your venture effectively. Seize the opportunity to join the sector that employs more than half of the private workforce and lay the groundwork for success in the world of entrepreneurship.

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2025	Open	Open	Apply now
January 2026	Open		Apply now

ProgramHighlights

DC Experience
Success Stories
Resources

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Lead the way
2025 Program Guide Read Now

Other Resources

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
AND
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that 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:

Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $14,884 (CAD)

View full costs

Semester 1 Courses

View all courses

Career Options

As a graduate you will be prepared to pursue self-employment as an entrepreneur/small business owner or employment in a small business.

View all career options

Connect with us

I AM A CANADIAN APPLICANT

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905.721.3126

Fill out the form to get more information on your program of interest, upcoming events, and how to become a Durham College student. By submitting your information below, you consent to Durham College contacting you via email and/or SMS with a minimum of 4 messages per month. You may withdraw consent at any time.

Durham College Programs

I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

Email admissions

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905.721.3000

I AM AN INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT

Contact

Live Chat

905.721.2000 ext. 7697

I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

Please contact the international office.

Program Details

Entrepreneurship and small business development are vital components to a successful economy. This program will provide you with the skills required to start, grow and manage a small business including developing the personal skills needed for success as an entrepreneur.

Upon successful completion of the program you will be able to produce a business plan that includes concept identification and development, planning, start-up, maintenance, management, and the expansion of a small business enterprise.

Program Learning Outcomes

Identify and discuss the impact of global issues on an organization's business opportunities by using an environmental scan.
Apply principles of corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility and ethics to support an organization’s business initiatives.
Use current concepts/systems and technologies to support an organization's business initiatives.
Apply basic research skills to support business decision making.
Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects.
Perform work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations and business practices.
Explain the role of the human resource function and its impact on an organization.
Use accounting and financial principles to support the operations of an organization.
Describe and apply marketing and sales concepts used to support the operations of an organization.
Outline principles of supply chain management and operations management.
Outline and assess the components of a business plan.
Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the business field.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
AND
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.

Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.

Industry Partners

Certifications

Students can earn the following globally recognized certificates by taking Microsoft Office Specialist exams as part of their computer courses:

Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (COMP1209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (COMP1209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (COMP2209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (if applicable currently will be offered in Accounting and Supply Chain programs)

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.

ACCREDITATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Students entering their first year of studies in a Faculty of Business 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:

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade
Brock Board of Trade
Clarington Board of Trade
Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce
Newcastle and District Chamber of Commerce
North Durham Chamber of Commerce
Whitby Chamber of Commerce

Membership benefits:

Opportunities to connect with over 2,500 local businesses and jumpstart your career by networking with potential future employers;
Access to professional development events across Durham Region to gain unique business insights and learn from industry leaders; and
Learning opportunities to develop the in-demand skills to launch a successful career.

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Courses

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.

Semester 4

Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Course delivery

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.

In person:: Course is delivered in person, on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Hybrid:: Part of the course is delivered online, remotely, and part is in-person on campus within a classroom, lab, shop or studio.
Online:: Fully remote course delivery.

Costs

Career Options

As a graduate you will be prepared to pursue self-employment as an entrepreneur/small business owner or employment in a small business.

Experiential Learning

Your learning experience will be complemented by an entrepreneur mentorship, which will give you the opportunity to consult with, observe and network with an entrepreneur/business owner or a small business manager.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

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.

Tech Requirements

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

Laptop: Personal computer (PC). A Mac is not recommended – see notes below*
Operating System: Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only) and later
Processor: Intel Core i5 or better
Memory: 4 GB of RAM (8 GB preferred)
Hard Drive: 250 GB or larger (Solid State Drive (SSD) preferred)
Warranty: 3 years parts and labour (On-site preferred)
2 USB ports
Webcam
Microphone (headset preferred)

*Mac Computers

Some required software applications are not available for Mac.
Students who choose a Mac may need to purchase additional software to complete assessments and class exercises at their own cost.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only)
Microsoft Office 2019 or 365 (Students will be provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the College’s Microsoft Office account)
Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Acrobat Reader
Windows Media Player
Adobe Flash Player and Browser Plug-in

Optional

AVG
Avira

Entrepreneurship and Small Business – Business

Program Overview

Intakes and Availability

Admission Requirements

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

Connect with us

I AM A CANADIAN APPLICANT

Durham College Programs

I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

I AM AN INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT

I HAVE ALREADY APPLIED

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

Industry Partners

Certifications

ACCREDITATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Course delivery

Costs

Career Options

Experiential Learning

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Tech Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Optional