The BEST Certificate
The BEST Certificate
The BEST Certificate is a transcripted certificate that integrates multidisciplinary courses from different faculties at York University (Business courses at Schulich School of Business; Law course at Osgoode Law School, and Design, Tech and Innovation courses at Lassonde School of Engineering). The certificate is designed to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. In general, outcomes of the seven mandatory themes can be broadly achieved through existing courses already defined in each degree with the addition of business and law themes.
Lassonde students can complete the BEST Certificate in parallel with their degree program. The BEST Certificate equips students playing a greater role in the management of technological innovation in larger organizations or start their own ventures.
Certificate Requirements
To fulfil the certificate requirements, students must take one 3-credit course from the Innovation, Communication, Design, Professionalism and Tech Project themes AND must take all the courses in the Business and Law themes. Note that the Business courses would be counted as complementary studies.
Theme | Skill Outcome |
1. Innovation | Appreciation for innovation and problem-solving |
2. Communication | Effective communication strategies to convey often complex problems and solutions |
3. Design | Awareness and implementation of design thinking principles |
4. Professionalism | Integrity, professionalism and ethics in business |
5. Tech Project | Utilizing technology to solve problems |
6. Law | Understanding and applying law tools like intellectual property and contracts |
7. Business | Fundamental business principles for success and sustainability |
8. Experiential(optional) | Opportunities for experiential entrepreneurship |
B. Eng
Disciplinary / Covered in B.Eng Program
Innovation
Choose 1
LE/ENG 1101 4.0
Design
Choose 1
LE/ENG 1102 4.0
LE/CIVL 2000 3.0
LE/EECS 2311 3.0
LE/MECH 2412 3.0
LE/MECH 3401 2.0
LE/ESSE 4360 3.0
LE/ESSE 4361 3.0
Communication
Choose 1
LE/ENG 2003 3.0
Professionalism
Choose 1
LE/ENG 3000 3.0
Tech Project
Choose 1
LE/ENG 4000 6.0
LE/CIVL 4000 6.0
Cross-Disciplinary
Business
Only 3 Required
SB/ENTR 3400 3.0*
(F TERM ONLY)
SB/ENTR 3600 3.0*
(W TERM ONLY)
SB/ENTR 4500 3.0*
(W TERM ONLY)
LE/TECL 3033 3.0* (currently not offered)
Law
Choose 1
LW/LAW 3591 3.0*
(F & W TERMS)
LE/TECL 3091 3.0
*ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or LAW Course can count toward the B.Eng Complementary Studies requirement (not as a humanities/social science course though).
BSc & BA
Disciplinary / Covered in BSc/BA Program
Innovation
Choose 1
LE/EECS 1012 3.0
LE/TECL 2500 3.0
LE/EECS 1015 3.0
Design
Choose 1
LE/EECS 3311 3.0
FA/DATT 2310 3.0
LE/EECS 2030 3.0
LE/ESSE 4140 3.0
Professionalism
Choose 1
LE/EECS 3000 3.0
LE/ESSE 4051 3.0
Tech Project
Choose 1
LE/EECS 4080 3.0
LE/EECS 4088 6.0
LE/EECS 4480 3.0
LE/EECS 4090 6.0
LE/EECS 4700 6.0
LE/ESSE 4000 6.0
LE/EECS 2311 3.0
LE/ENG 3400 3.0
LE/ENG 4402 6.0
LE/COOP 2100 2.0
LE/COOP 3100 2.0
Cross-Disciplinary
Communications
Choose 1
LE/ENG 2003 3.0
AP/CMDS 2100 3.0
AP/CMDS 3100 3.0
AP/CMDS 1000 6.0
AP/MODR 1770 6.0
GL/COMS 1910 6.0
Business
Only 3 Required
SB/ENTR 3400 3.0*
(F TERM ONLY)
SB/ENTR 3600 3.0*
(W TERM ONLY)
SB/ENTR 4500 3.0*
(W TERM ONLY)
LE/TECL 3033 3.0*
(currently not offered)
Law
Choose 1
LW/LAW 3591 3.0*
(F & W TERMS)
LE/TECL 3091 3.0
*ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or LAW Course can count toward the BSc Non-Science Requirement and Communications Course can count towards Outside Major Requirement.
Enrolment Details
If you would like to enrol in the BEST Certificate at no cost, please fill out this form using the application for entry to the BEST Certificate. It will ensure you receive the latest information about course options, and experiential learning opportunities.
Note: Upon submitting the BEST Certificate Entry application, you are accepted to the BEST Certificate program and can pursue taking the courses.
Graduation Details
If you have taken all the required courses for the BEST Certificate and you are graduating, you will need to complete the Graduation Form for BEST Certificate in Technology Entrepreneurship once the grades for all your courses including your program degree are reflected on your transcript. You are required to upload a copy of your unofficial but complete transcript on the graduation form.
Have Questions?
Drop by the BEST Lab (Bergeron Centre, Room 215) or email Maedeh Sedaghat (Program Manager, BEST) at maedeh@yorku.ca
Enrolment in the Law 3591M and TECL3099 Course:
If you would like to enrol in this course, please fill out the Law 3591M Enrolment Request Form for the Fall/Winter 2024/25.
Students can enrol in TECL 3099 offered in the Fall terms at Lassonde, and they aren’t required to submit a request.
Please note that the enrolment for this course is managed internally, so make sure to submit the form and we will be in touch with you to grant you permission to enrol.
About Certificate Courses
ENTR 3400
Business Essentials for Technology Entrepreneurs I
ENTR 3600
Business Essentials for Technology Entrepreneurs II
ENTR 4500
Entrepreneurship & Technology Ventures
LAW 3591M
Legal Values: Commercializing IP
TECL 1500
Innovation & Creativity
TECL 3033
International Entrepreneurship Immersion