Athabasca University

What you'll study

The program totals 90 credits. Outcomes are achieved by completing a combination of block transfer credits from an approved college diploma and required senior-year courses and options delivered by Athabasca University.

• Block transfer credit: business-field two-year diplomas (approved by AU) receive 60 credits toward Years 1 and 2 (Ontario two-year business diplomas receive 45 credits); three-year business diplomas may receive up to 66 credits. Non-business professional diplomas receive a 30-credit block transfer.
• Required Year 3 credits (21–30 credits depending on route): core senior-level management courses include (selection shown on program page): ADMN 417 International Business Management OR ECON 401 The Changing Global Economy; CMIS 351 Management Information Systems; FNCE/ECON 300 Financial Economics OR FNCE 370 Overview of Corporate Finance (students planning to ladder into ACCT or FNCE are advised to take FNCE 370); ORGB 364 Organizational Behavior; HRMT 386 Introduction to Human Resource Management; MGSC 368 Introduction to Production and Operations Management OR MGSC 369 Service Operations Management; and ADMN 404 Capstone I: Strategic Management (ADMN 404 should be taken as the last course in the program).
• Options (9 credits): six credits of senior (300/400) level Business and Administrative Studies electives and three credits of senior-level non–Business and Administrative Studies electives.
• For students entering via the Non-Business-Field route, a required set of foundational courses (30 credits) includes ACCT 250 Accounting for Managers OR ACCT 253 Introductory Financial Accounting (ACCT 253 recommended for those pursuing accounting designations or ladders), ADMN 232 Introduction to Management OR ADMN 201 Introduction to Business Studies, ADMN 233 Writing in Organizations, CMIS 245 Microcomputer Applications in Business, COMM 243 Interpersonal Communication OR COMM 277 Group Communication, ECON 247 Microeconomics, ECON 248 Macroeconomics, LGST 369 Commercial Law, MGSC 301 Statistics for Business and Economics I, and one of MATH 244 Business Mathematics, MATH 260 Calculus for Social Sciences and Economics, MATH 265 Introduction to Calculus I, or MATH 270 Linear Algebra I. These are in addition to the Business-Field route required courses and options.

Entry requirements

There are two entry routes based on prior diplomas: Business-field diploma-holders with approved two-year business diplomas receive block transfer credit (60 credits except Ontario two-year receive 45); three-year business diplomas may receive up to 66 credits. Non-business professional diploma-holders receive a 30-credit block transfer. All diplomas must be approved for credit by Athabasca University. Students are ineligible for admission if they already hold a degree in administration, business, commerce, or management, or an equivalent major/concentration from Athabasca or another university.

Career prospects

The program is intended to develop critical thinking, communication, and management skills applicable across diverse work settings, with an international orientation. Athabasca University has program learning outcomes that describe potential career options for graduates; students may use the senior-level management and elective courses to prepare for roles in operations, human resources, finance-related business functions, or international business contexts depending on elective choices and prior credentials.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not list specific awards. Prospective students should consult Athabasca University’s central scholarships, bursaries and student aid information and explore institutional awards, external scholarships for continuing education, and employer tuition support where applicable.