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 |
BEng
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*
SB/ENTR 3600 3.0*
SB/ENTR 4500 3.0*
SB/MGMT 1000 3.0
SB/MKTG 1030 3.0
LE/TECL 3033 3.0
Law
Choose 1
LE/TECL 3091 3.0*
LW/LAW 3591 3.0*
*ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or LE/LAW courses can count toward the B.Eng Complementary Studies requirement (not as a humanities/social science course though).
BSc, iBSc, BA, iBA
Disciplinary / Covered in BSc/iBSc/BA/iBA 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*
SB/ENTR 3600 3.0*
SB/ENTR 4500 3.0*
SB/MGMT 1000 3.0
SB/MKTG 1030 3.0
LE/TECL 3033 3.0
Law
Choose 1
LE/TECL 3091 3.0*
LW/LAW 3591 3.0*
*ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or LE/LAW courses can count toward the BSc Non-Science Requirement. Communications courses can count towards Outside Major Requirements.
Why the BEST Certificate?
- Gain real-world skills in business, innovation, and leadership.
- Stand out to employers with a distinctive, recognized credential.
- Build a strong professional network and gain valuable career insights.
- Enhance your career readiness with a toolkit that goes beyond the classroom.
- Open doors to a wide range of career opportunities, from innovation management to technical leadership roles.
Success Stories from BEST Certificate Graduates
- Theresa Nguyen: Product Engineer at Generac, Clean Energy Division, Portland, USA, Recognized as York University top 30 under 30 Alumni in 2023
- Sarah Kassim: Senior Engineer at Tesla, California, USA
- Nick Di Scipio: Founder & CEO of Pantheon 3DP, a startup in additive manufacturing, Recognized as York University top 30 under 30 Alumni in 2024
- Megan Gran: Systems Engineer at Magellan Aerospace
- Huseyn Akhundov: CEO & Co-founder of NoblKids, a startup focused on connecting kids with activities
- Kushi Upadhyay: Software QA II at Quarterhill Inc., Texas, USA
- Mitchell Palmer: Geomatics Signal Processing – DSP Software Engineer at NovAtel
1. How to Apply
Apply forEntry to the BEST Certificateat no cost to plan your coursework, stay on track for graduation with this valuable credential, and build the confidence, skills, and multidisciplinary expertise to excel in your career.
Note: Once you submit your application, you are officially enrolled and can begin taking courses. If you’ve already started taking BEST Certificate courses but haven’t yet submitted your entry application, you can still apply and officially enroll in the program.
2. Difficulty Enrolling?
ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or TECL 3091 (formerly LAW 3591M) can count toward the BEng Complementary Studies requirement (not as a humanities/social science course though).
ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or TECL 3091 (formerly LAW 3591M) can count toward the BSc Non-Science Requirement.
ENTR 3400, 3600, 4500 and/or TECL 3091 (formerly LAW 3591M) can count as outside-major electives for BSc, iBSc, BA, iBA programs.
3. Apply to Graduate with the BEST Certificate
In your final term of study, submit the application to graduate with the BEST Certificate.
This application is in addition to the application to graduate with your degree.
Have questions?
Explore additional details on the roadmap, email us at BEST@lassonde.yorku.ca, or come see us at our office located at 215 Bergeron Centre. We’re here to help you map out your path and ensure your success.
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
Our BEST Certificate Graduates
What Our Students Say about BEST Certificate
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Gurnek Tak, Mechanical Engineering, 2021
"The BEST Certificate helps you develop one major skill that many students do not have - and that is confidence. Throughout the courses we are taught that it is okay to take risks and fail as long as we learn and reflect on them to better ourselves. These courses allowed me to network with highly intelligent people who share my interests."
-Gurnek Tak, Mechanical Engineering, 2021
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Mitchell Palmer, Geomatics Engineering, 2019
"The business and law courses in the BEST certificate provided me with incredible education and real-world experience I would not have otherwise had. I feel that this is part of the reason which made me a great and well-rounded candidate, and helped me obtain the current job I am working full-time. Even in my personal life, the skills I obtained helped me to make decisions around finances and law and other business-related issues."
-Mitchell Palmer, Geomatics Engineering, 2019
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Hiba Haddad, Civil Engineering & International Development Studies, 2020
"The BEST Certificate courses are a precious opportunity to gain life-long tips and lessons that will prepare you for your future endeavours. Thanks to the BEST Certificate, I have discovered my passion for Social Entrepreneurship."
-Hiba Haddad, Civil Engineering & International Development Studies, 2020
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Akbar Khan, Software Engineering, 2020
"The BEST certificate helped me to gain knowledge and skills in accounting, finance, start-ups, IP law and so much more. Thanks to this experience, I was able to get a job at one of the largest professional service providers as a software developer and run my own business while studying."
-Akbar Khan, Software Engineering, 2020
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Melina Tahami, Mechanical Engineering, 2021
"In the professional world, it is important to be able to communicate your thoughts with other professionals who may not have the same technical background as you and be open to thinking through other perspective. The BEST Certificate allows you to learn these important skills through group projects and interacting with students and professionals from different disciplines. These courses allowed me to gain unique experiences that go beyond engineering."
-Melina Tahami, Mechanical Engineering, 2021
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BEST CERTIFICATE | Emily Secnik, Civil Engineering, 2021
"The BEST Certificate courses have helped me connect to like-minded students from Lassonde, Schulich and Osgoode. Through these connections, I have learned to step outside of my comfort zone to learn new things across different disciplines. These courses have helped me understand and recognize my potential as an entrepreneur in the future. I have learned to pitch an idea, create a marketing plan, pitch to investors, understand how to finetune an idea, protect the IP surrounding it and, especially, work in teams with different types of leaders."
-Emily Secnik, Civil Engineering, 2021
