Go Global Office of Global Engagement

Certificates of specialty for Tec students

Overview 

Certificates of Specialty are available in many areas, such as the UBC Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Sauder School of Business (Commerce) and Faculty of Applied Science (Engineering). 

To receive a certificate, you must complete the required courses and a number of elective courses. Certificates require five UBC courses (15 credits). Some certificates take a term to complete and some take a year. Students staying for two terms can take the courses required for the certificate as well as additional courses. It is also possible to take more than one certificate in a year. Most students take five courses (15 credits) per term at UBC or 10 courses (30 credits) over two terms. 

Certificate requirements 

Academic Excellence Certificate: UBC considers all Tec de Monterrey students participating in the Tec-UBC Joint Academic Program for the Certificate of Academic Excellence (Mención Honorífica). To be awarded this certificate, students must take five courses in a semester at UBC, achieve 75% minimum average over four of those courses and have not failed any courses. 

Arts Certificates (4 options)
Financial Economics

Requirements for the Certificate in Financial Economics

Course Description Pre-requisites
ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis I  Credit granted for only one of ECON 302 and ECON 305 All of ECON 101, 102 and MATH 104, 105
ECON 345 Money and Banking ECON 101 and 102

ECON 355

Introduction to International Trade  Credit granted for only one of ECON 355 and ECON 455 ECON 101 and 102
ECON 356 Introduction to International Finance ECON 101 and 102 
ECON 370 Benefit-Cost Analysis and the Economics of Project Evaluation ECON 101 and 102
ECON 421 Introduction to Game Theory and Applications One of ECON 301, 304
ECON 425 Introduction to Econometrics ECON 325, 326
ECON 447 Monetary Theory One of ECON 301, 304 and one of ECON 302, 305
ECON 455 International Trade Credit granted for only one of ECON 355 and ECON 455 One of ECON 301, 304
ECON 456 International Macroeconomics and Finance One of ECON 302, 305
COMM 370 Corporate Finance COMM 298
COMM 371 Investment Theory COMM 298
COMM 374 Applied Financial Markets COMM 370 and 371
COMM 377 International Financial Markets and Institutions COMM 370 and 371
COMM 471 Mergers and Acquisitions COMM 370
International Relations

Requirements for the Certificate in International Relations

15 credits from any of the third and fourth year courses listed as part of the IR major, with the exception of IR seminars. 6 credit courses are full-year courses.

A complete course list is available on the Faculty of Arts International Relations Program website. 

It is highly recommended that students already have the equivalent of ECON 101 (Principles of Microeconomics) and 102 (Principles of Macroeconomics), HIST 102 (World History from 1500 to the 20th Century) or 103 (World History Since 1900), and POLI 260 (Introduction to Global Politics).

International Politics

Requirements for the Certificate in International Politics

Course Description Prerequisites
ECON 355 Introduction to International Trade ECON 101 and 102
ECON 356 Introduction to International Finance ECON 101 and 102
ECON 441 The Process of Economic Development One of ECON 301, 304
POLI 220 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLI 260 Introduction to Global Politics
POLI 320 Government and Politics of the U.S.A.
POLI 347 Law and Political Theory
POLI 360 Security Studies
POLI 364 International Organizations
POLI 366 International Political Economy ECON 100 or 309 are recommended
POLI 367 International Relations Theory and the International System
POLI 369 Issues in International Security
POLI 370 Issues in International Conflict Management
POLI 374 International Peacekeeping
POLI 375 Global Environmental Politics
General Arts Studies

15 Credits from any 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year courses offered in Arts - with the exception of seminars - for which all prerequisites are met.

Commerce (Sauder School of Business) Certificates (5 options)
General Business (for Engineering students)

Certificate for engineering and non-business students

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed the equivalent of the following before their studies at UBC:

  • A university level writing class in English
  • Principles of Microeconomics (equivalent of ECON 101 or ECON 310)
  • Principles of Macroeconomics (equivalent of ECON 102 or ECON 311)
  • Differential Calculus (equivalent of MATH 100, 102, 104, 110, 120, 180, or 184)

Required courses

Course Description
COMM 329 Principles of Organizational Behaviour
COMM 398 Introduction to Business Processes and Operations
COMM 457 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
COMM 465 Marketing Management 
COMM 473 Business Finance

Students who have previously completed the equivalent of COMM 457 may take COMM 458 Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting. Students who have previously completed one of the other four courses may instead take COMM 493 Strategic Management in Business.

Advanced General Business (with a concentration subject area)

Requirements for the Certificate in Advanced General Business

This is an advanced certificate for business students. Students attempting this certificate and/or 400-level Commerce courses at UBC must be starting the sixth semester of their Tec program while attending UBC.

Requirements:

One course from:

Course Description Pre-requisites
COMM 491 Strategic Management COMM 390 & 395
COMM 497 New Enterprise Development COMM 390 & 395
COMM 498 International Business Management COMM 390 & 395

Two courses from:

COMM 386A Topics in Business III - Business Ethics
COMM 386D Topics in Business III - Innovation Leadership
COMM 386I Topics in Business III - Innovation and Sustainability
COMM 386J Topics in Business III - Responsible Business Strategy
COMM 389 Creativity in Business 
COMM 464 Digital Marketing

AND any 6-credit combination from one of the following 10 subject areas:

Students choosing to complete upper level finance or accounting courses at UBC must have their course selections approved by a Commerce advisor.

Accounting: Financial (full-year option only)

COMM 353 and Intermediate Financial Accounting I
COMM 450 Intermediate Financial Accounting II

Accounting: Managerial

COMM 354 and Cost Accounting
COMM 454 Accounting for Management Control and Incentives

Business Technology Management (full year option only)

COMM 335 and Information Systems Technology and Development
COMM 436 Information Systems Analysis and Design

Entrepreneurship

Any 6 credits of Entrepreneurship option courses

Finance

COMM 370 and Corporate Finance

One of:

COMM 471 Mergers and Acquisitions
COMM 486Q Special Topics in Business - Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance

Marketing: Customer Relations (full year option only)

COMM 362 and Consumer Behaviour

One of:

COMM 461 Business Development
COMM 462 Integrated Marketing Communications

Marketing and Strategy

One of

COMM 363 Marketing Analysis
COMM 365 Market Research

and one of

COMM 464 Digital Marketing
COMM 467 Brand Management
COMM 469 International Marketing
COMM 484 Sustainability Marketing
COMM 486I Pricing (NOT OFFERED 2018W)

Operations and Logistics (Full year or Term 2 option only)

COMM 443 and COMM 449

Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources

Any 6 credits of COHR Courses. Note that some courses are 1.5 credits.

Real Estate (Full year or Term 2 option only)

COMM 307 and Real Estate Investment

One of:

COMM 405 Real Estate Finance
COMM 407 Real Estate Economics
COMM 408 Real Estate Development
International Business and Strategic Management

Requirements for the Certificate in International Business and Stategic Management

Required courses

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 491    Strategic Management COMM 390, COMM 395

COMM 498   

 International Business Management COMM 390, COMM 395
COMM 445 Maritime and International Transportation

Elective Courses (Choose 2 courses)

Course availability is subject to change. Please check UBC’s Academic Calendar for up-to-date information on course scheduling and pre-requisite requirements.

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 377 International Financial Markets and Institutions COMM 370, COMM 371
POLI 366     International Political Economy

ECON 345 Money and Banking

ECON 101 and ECON 102

ECON 355 International Trade ECON 101 and ECON 102
ECON 356 International Finance ECON 101 and ECON 102
Marketing

Requirements for a Certificate in Marketing

Required courses

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 362  Consumer Behaviour  COMM 296 - Introduction to Marketing 
COMM 363  Marketing Analysis COMM 296 - Introduction to Marketing 
COMM 365 Market Research

COMM 290 - Introduction to Quantitative Decision Making

COMM 291 - Application to Statistics in Business

COMM 295 - Managerial Economics

COMM 296 - Introduction to Marketing 

Elective Courses (Choose 2 courses)

Course availability is subject to change. Please check UBC’s Academic Calendar for up-to-date information on course scheduling and pre-requisite requirements.

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 460 Social and Non-Profit Marketing
COMM 461 Sales Management  COMM 362 - Consumer Behaviour
COMM 462 Integrated Sales Management COMM 362 - Consumer  Behaviour
COMM 464 Digital Marketing COMM 296 - Introduction to Marketing
COMM 467 Brand Management COMM 296 - Introduction to Marketing
COMM 389 Creativity in Business
COMM 386R Public Relations
COMM 414 Data Visualization and Business Analytics
COMM 484 Sustainability Marketing
Operations and Logistics (formerly "Supply Chain Management")

Requirements for a Certificate in Operations and Logistics

Due to pre-requisite requirements this certificate usually requires a full year (two terms) to complete. Students attempting to take this certificate in one term (Term 2 only) must have already completed the equivalents of COMM 204 Logistics and Operations Management, COMM 290 Introduction to Quantitative Decision Making, COMM 291 Application of Statistics in Business, and COMM 295 Managerial Economics at Tec. These students will be permitted to substitute an additional elective course for COMM 204. 

Required courses 

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 204 Logistics and Operations Management

COMM 290 - Introduction to Quantitative Decision Making &

COMM 291 - Application of Statistics in Business 

COMM 443 Service Operations

COMM 204 - Logistics and Operations Management 

COMM 449 Supply-Chain Management 

COMM 204 - Logistics and Operations Management 

Elective courses (choose 3 courses)

Course availability is subject to change. Please check UBC’s Academic Calendar for up-to-date information on course scheduling and pre-requisite requirements.

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 414  Data Visualization and Business Analytics COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 415  Quantitative Policy Analysis COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 444 Air Transportation COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 445 Maritime and International Transportation COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 446 Transportation Economics COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 447 Applied Project Management COMM 295 - Managerial Economics
COMM 448  Business Logistics and Logistics Services Management   COMM 204 - Logistics and Operations Management 
Applied Science Certificate (1 option)
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Requirements for the Certificate in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Pre-requisites: have completed 5th semester at ITESM in ITC, ISC, ITE, ITS, IMD or another related program. Students must make sure to have taken the equivalent prerequisite courses at ITESM for each of the courses they wish to take at UBC. Space in all courses is limited. Access to courses is subject to review by the UBC program advisor and the course instructor. Please review the relevant prerequisites for each course below on the UBC Course Listings website.

Certificate requires 14-16 credits (4 or 5 courses) total in one semester at UBC:

  • 10–12 credits (choose 3 courses) in Computer Engineering (CPEN) or Electrical Engineering (ELEC) at the 300 or 400 level
  • 3–6 credits (choose 1 or 2 courses) in another area at UBC: Computer Science (CPSC), Math (MATH), Commerce (COMM)

Courses offered in Term 1: September - December

CPEN 311 Digital Systems Design
CPEN 321 Software Engineering
CPEN 333 System Software Engineering
CPEN 400A Topics in Computer Engineering - BLDNG MDRN WEBAPP
CPEN 411 Computer Architecture
CPEN 422 Software Testing and Analysis
CPEN 442 Introduction to Computer Security
ELEC 301 Electronic Circuits
ELEC 302 Electronic Circuits for Electromechanical Design
ELEC 311 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
ELEC 315 Electronic Materials and Devices
ELEC 321 Stochastic Signs and Systems
ELEC 331 Computer Communications
ELEC 341 Systems and Control
ELEC 342 Electro-Mechanic Energy Conversion and Transmission
ELEC 344 Applied Electronics and Electromechanics
ELEC 401 Analog CMOS Integrated Circuit Design
ELEC 402 Introduction to VLSI Systems
ELEC 411 Antennas and Propagation
ELEC 412 Optical Waveguides and Photonics
ELEC 421 Digital Signal and Image Processing
ELEC 431 Communication Systems 
ELEC 451 Power Electronics
ELEC 453 Power System Analysis
ELEC 457 Optimization of Power System Operation
ELEC 462 Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems
ELEC 463 Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory
ELEC 464 Nanotechnology and Nature
ELEC 463 Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory
ELEC 465 Microsystems Design
ELEC 471 Medical Imaging
ELEC 473 Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems

Courses offered in Term 2: January-April

CPEN 311 Digital Systems Design
CPEN 312 Digital Systems and Microcomputers
CPEN 331 Operating Systems
CPEN 412 Microcomputer Systems Design
CPEN 421 Software Project Management
CPEN 431 Design of Distributed Software Applications
ELEC 301 Electronic Circuits
ELEC 302 Electronic Circuits for Electromechanical Design
ELEC 311 Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
ELEC 315 Electronic Materials and Devices
ELEC 331 Computer Communications
ELEC 341 Systems and Control
ELEC 342 Electro-Mechanical Energy Conversion and Transmission
ELEC 343 Electromechanics
ELEC 344 Applied Electronics and Electromechanics
ELEC 352 Electric Energy Systems
ELEC 371 Biomedical Engineering Instrumentation
ELEC 403 Advanced Digital VLSI Systems
ELEC 404 RF Integrated Circuits
ELEC 415 Semiconductor Devices: Physics, Design and Analysis
ELEC 422 Biosignals and Systems
ELEC 432 Digital Communications
ELEC 441 Control Systems
ELEC 454 Power System Analysis II
ELEC 455 Power Systems Protection
ELEC 461 Nanotechnology in Electronics
ELEC 474 Biophotonics
Land & Food Systems Certificates (5 options)
Food Market Analysis

Requirements for the Certificate in Food Market Analysis

Courses offered in Term 1: September - December

Course Description Prerequisites
COMM 497 New Enterprise Development COMM 390 and 395
ECON 371 Economics of the Environment ECON 101 and 102
FNH 200 Exploring Our Food
FNH 250 Nutrition Concepts and Controversies Either a) one of BIOL 111, 112, 153, 155 or b) all of KIN 190, 191
FNH 415 Business Concepts in Food, Nutrition and Health
FRE 306 Introduction to Global Food Markets One of ECON 101, 310
FRE 340 International Agricultural Development One of ECON 100, 101
FRE 374 Land and Resource Economics One of ECON 101, 310
FRE 490 Current Issues in Food and Resource Economics One of ECON 101, 310

Courses offered in Term 2: January - April

Course Description Pre-Requisites
COMM 497 New Enterprise Development COMM 390 and 395
ECON 371 Economics of the Environment ECON 101 and 102
FNH 200 Exploring Our Food
FNH 250 Nutrition Concepts and Controversies Either a) one of BIOL 111, 112, 153, 155 or b) all of KIN 190, 191
FRE 302 Small Business Management in Agri-food One of ECON 101, 310
FRE 385 Quantitative Methods for Business and Resource Management One of ECON 101, 310 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, FRST 231, STAT 200
FRE 420 The Economics of International Trade and the Environment One of ECON 101, FRE 295, COMM 295 (or 6-credits of upper-level FRE or ECON)
FRE 460 Economics of Food Consumption One of ECON 101,  310
Food, Nutrition and Health

Requirements for the Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health

Most courses with the “FNH” course code will count towards the certificate. Students may also add up to one Psychology (PSYC) course or one Kinesiology (KIN) course to be counted for the certificate. Examples include: KIN 464, KIN 231, PSYC 311, PSYC 314

Courses offered in Term 1: September - December

Course Description Pre-Requisites
FNH 200 Exploring Our Food At least 2nd year standing
FNH 250 Nutrition Concepts and Controversies Either a) one of BIOL 111, 112, 153, 155 or b) all of KIN 190, 191
FNH 300 Principles of Food Engineering One of PHYS 101 or PHYS 107
FNH 301 Food Chemistry I One of CHEM 201, 205 and one of CHEM 203, 233
FNH 302 Food Analysis One of CHEM 201, 205 and one of CHEM 203, 233
FNH 325 Food Science Laboratory I All of FNH 300, 301, 302 (these courses can be done as co-requisites)
FNH 330 Introduction to Wine Science I Third year standing

FNH 342

Critical Perspectives on Consumer Food Practices

Third year standing

FNH 350 Fundamentals of Nutrition FNH 250 and one of BIOL 201, BIOC 202
FNH 355 International Nutrition
FNH 370 Nutrition Assessment FNH 250
FNH 371 Human Nutrition over the LifeSpan FNH 250
FNH 398 Research Methods in Human Nutrition FNH 250 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, EPSE 482, FRST 231, STAT 200
FNH 403 Food Laws, Regulations and Quality Assurance LFS 252 (or equivalent background in statistics)
FNH 413 Food Safety MICB 202 and CHEM 233
FNH 415 Business Concepts in Food, Nutrition, and Health
FNH 416 Integrated Functional Genomics BIOL 335
FNH 440 Food Service Systems Management FNH 340
FNH 451 Nutrient Metabolism and Implications for Health All of FNH 350, CAPS 301, BIOC 302.
FNH 472 Maternal and Fetal Nutrition FNH 350
FNH 497 (A,B,E) Directed Studies in Food, Nutrition and Health
FRE 306 Introduction to Global Food Markets One of ECON 101, ECON 310
FRE 340 International Agricultural Development One of ECON 100, ECON 101
LFS 350 Land, Food, and Community II LFS 250

Courses offered in Term 2: January - April

Course Description Pre-Requisites
FNH 200 Exploring Our Food
FNH 250 Nutrition Concepts and Controversies Either a) one of BIOL 111, 112, 153, 155 or b) all of KIN 190, 191
FRE 303 Food Product Development One of LFS 252, BIOL 300, EPSE 482, FRST 231, STAT 200.

FNH 309

Food Process Science

FNH 313 Microorganisms in Food Systems BIOL 112

FNH 326

Food Science Laboratory II

FNH 325

FNH 330

Introduction to Wine Science I

Third year standing

FNH 335

Introduction to Wine Science II

FNH 330 and Third year standing

FNH 351

Vitamins, Minerals and Health

FNH 250 and one of BIOL 201, BIOC 202

FNH 355

International Nutrition

FNH 402

Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

Third Year Standing

FNH 405

Microbiology of Food and Beverage Fermentation

One of MICB 201, BIOL 203, BIOC 203. (Third-year standing. One of MICB 203, MICB 353 recommended.)

FNH 473

Applied Public Health Nutrition

FNH 250. (and fourth-year standing.)

FNH 474

Sport Nutrition

All of FNH 350, FNH 351

FNH 477

Nutrition and Disease Prevention

FNH 398.

FNH 497 (A,B,E)

Directed Studies in Food, Nutrition and Health

FRE 302

Small Business Management in Agri-food Industries

One of ECON 101, ECON 310

FRE 385 Quantitative Methods for Business and Resource Management One of ECON 101, ECON 310 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, FRST 231, STAT 200
FRE 460 Economics of Food Consumption One of ECON 101, ECON 310

LFS 350

Land, Food, and Community II

LFS 250

Sustainable Agriculture

Rerquirements for the Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture

Courses offered in Term 1: September - December

Course Description Pre-Requisites
APBI 222 Introduction to Horticulture 
APBI 260 Agroecology I 6-credit course
APBI 290

Introductory Topics in Applied Biology

APBI 314 Animals and Society Third year standing
APBI 324 Introduction to Seed Plant Taxonomy BIOL 121
APBI 327 Introduction to Entomology BIOL 121
APBI 328 Weed Science
APBI 351 Plant Physiology  4-credit course BIOL 121 either a) CHEM 123 or b) all of CHEM 111 and CHEM 113 (CHEM 233 is recommended)
APBI 401 Soil Processes APBI 200
APBI 417 Production and Post Harvest Physiology of Vegetable Crops  4-credit course
FRE 374 Land and Resource Economics One of ECON 100, 310
LFS 350 Land, Food, and Community II LFS 250

Courses offered in Term 2: January-April

Course Description Pre-Requisites
APBI 200 Introduction to Soil Science

APBI 265

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

APBI 315 Animal Welfare and the Ethics of Animal Use Third year standing
APBI 322 Horticultural Techniques
APBI 342 Soil Biology BIOL 121
APBI 360 Agroecology II Note: 4-credit course One of APBI 260, APBI 265
APBI 361 Key Indicators of Agroecosystem Sustainability
APBI 402 Sustainable Soil Management APBI 200
APBI 444 Agroforestry An undergraduate course in ecology or equivalent
APBI 460 Advanced Agroecology APBI 360
APBI 495 Principles of Wildlife Management in Forestry and Agricultural Environments
ECON 371 Economics of the Environment

FRE 302

Small Business Management in Agri-Food Industries

One of ECON 101, 310

FRE 385 Quantitative Methods for Business and Resource Management One of ECON 101, ECON 310 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, FRST 231, STAT 200
FRE 460 Economics of Food Consumption One of ECON 101, 301

GRS 300

Global Water and Energy Nexus

One of CHEM 111, CHEM 121 and one of BIOL 112, BIOL 121, BIOL 140.

LFS 350 Land, Food, and Community II LFS 250
Food BioTechnology

Requirements for the Certificate in Food BioTechnology

Courses offered in Term 1: September-December

Course

Description Pre-Requisites
FNH 300 Principles of Food Engineering One of PHYS 101 or PHYS 107
FNH 301 Food Chemistry I One of CHEM 201, CHEM 205 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 233
FNH 302 Food Analysis One of CHEM 201, CHEM 205 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 233
FNH 413 Food Safety All of MICB 202, CHEM 233
FNH 415 Business Concepts in Food, Nutrition and Health
FNH 497 (A,B,E) Directed Studies in Food, Nutrition and Health
FRST 413 Ecological Plant Biochemistry Either a) all of BIOL 200, BIOL 201 and one of BIOL 209, 210; or b) all of FRST 200, FRST 210

Courses offered in Term 2: January-April

Course Description Pre-Requisites
APBI 440 Plant Genomics Co-req: BIOL 335
FNH 303 Food Product Development One of LFS 252, BIOL 300, EPSE 482, FRST 231, STAT 200
FNH 313 Microorganism in Food Systems BIOL 112
FNH 402 Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals 3rd year standing

FNH 405

Microbiology of Food and Beverage Fermentation

One of MICB 201, BIOL 203, BIOC 203. (Third-year standing)

FNH 436 Integrated Functional Genomics BIOL 335
FNH 497 (A,B,E) Directed Studies in Food, Nutrition and Health

FRE 302

Small Business Management in Agri-food Industries

One of ECON 101, ECON 310

FRE 385 Quantitative Methods for Business and Resource Management One of ECON 301, ECON 101 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, FRST 231, STAT 200
Food and Resource Economics

Requirements for the Certificate in Food and Resource Economics

Courses offered in Term 1: September - December

Course Description Prerequisites
FRE 295 Managerial Economics Either (a) ECON 100 or (b) all of ECON 101, ECON 102; and MATH 105
FRE 306 Introduction to Global Food Markets One of ECON 101, ECON 310
FRE 340 International Agricultural Development One of ECON 100, ECON 101
FRE 374 Land and Resource Economics One of ECON 101, ECON 310
FRE 490 Current Issues in Food and Resource Economics One of ECON 101, ECON 310
FRE 426 Econometric Analysis for Food and Resources Economics One of ECON 101, ECON 310

Courses offered in Term 2: January - April

Course Description Pre-Requisites
FRE 302 Small Business Management in Agri-food Industries One of ECON 101, ECON 310
FRE 385 Quantitative Methods for Business and Resource Management One of ECON 101, 310 and one of LFS 252, BIOL 300, FRST 231, STAT 200
FRE 420 The Economics of International Trade and the Environment One of ECON 101, FRE 295, COMM 295 (or 6 credits of upper-level FRE or ECON)
FRE 460 Economics of Food Consumption One of ECON 101, ECON 310