Athabasca University

What you'll study

Students complete a set of required senior-level courses plus option credits to reach a 120-credit degree total. Required courses listed for the Business-Field Diploma-Holder route include:

• ACCT 355 – Cost Analysis (3)
• ADMN 417 – International Business Management (3) or ECON 401 – The Changing Global Economy
• CMIS 351 – Management Information Systems (3)
• FNCE/ECON 300 – Financial Economics (3) or FNCE 370 – Overview of Corporate Finance (3) (FNCE 370 required if pursuing further ACCT or FNCE courses)
• HRMT 386 – Introduction to Human Resources Management (3)
• MGSC 312 – Statistics for Business and Economics II (3)
• MGSC 368 – Introduction to Production and Operations Management (3) or MGSC 369 – Service Operations Management
• ORGB 364 – Organizational Behavior (3)
• ADMN 404 – Capstone I: Strategic Management (3)
• ADMN 405 – Capstone II: Application and Integration of Contemporary Business Topics (3) (must be taken with Athabasca University; transfer credit will not be awarded; should be the last course in the program)

Options: students must complete option credits (30 credits for those entering with a two-year business diploma; 15 credits for those entering with a three-year business diploma). Requirements specify a minimum number of senior (300/400) level Business and Administrative Studies credits, including at least 12 credits at the 400 level (one must be ADMN 405).

For the Non Business-Field Diploma-Holder route, the program lists required introductory courses (30 credits) such as ACCT 250 or ACCT 253, ADMN 232 or ADMN 201, ADMN 233, CMIS 245, COMM 243 or COMM 277, ECON 247 and ECON 248; students still complete the Business-Field Diploma-Holder required and option courses beyond these.

Entry requirements

There are two entry routes based on diploma type. Business-field diploma holders from accredited colleges receive block transfer credit: standard two-year business diplomas (excluding Ontario) receive 60 credits; Ontario two-year business diplomas receive 45 credits; approved three-year business diplomas may receive up to 75 credits. Non business-field two- or three-year professional diplomas receive a block transfer award of 30 credits; in some cases this may increase up to 60 credits if diploma content matches required courses. All diplomas must be approved for credit by Athabasca University.

Enrollment restrictions: applicants who already hold a degree in administration, business, commerce or management (or a degree with a major/concentration in those fields) are not accepted into this BCom; equivalency programs are also excluded. International degree-holders seeking a Canadian credential or students seeking a second bachelor with a different major may be considered in consultation with the Program Director and the Office of the Registrar.

Academic conditions and credit rules: a minimum weighted average of 1.7 (C-) across all Athabasca University courses toward the BCom is required to graduate. A residency requirement mandates at least 30 senior (300/400) level credits taken through Athabasca University, including ADMN 405. At least 12 Business and Administrative Studies credits must be at the 400 level. Transfer credit limits apply by subject and age (for example, senior-level Business and Administrative Studies older than 10 years, CMIS older than 5 years, and Statistics older than 10 years are not normally accepted unless current work experience is documented). A maximum of 9 PLAR credits may be used.

Career prospects

Athabasca University indicates program learning outcomes link to possible career options; the curriculum builds technical competence across core business functions—accounting, finance, marketing, operations, information systems and HR—so graduates are prepared for roles in business analysis, finance and accounting support, operations and project coordination, HR generalist positions, marketing support and management-track roles that require broad business knowledge. Completion of specific accounting or finance courses (for example ACCT 253 or FNCE 370) supports students planning further professional accounting or finance studies.

Scholarships & funding angle

The source page does not list specific scholarships. Prospective students should contact Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business or the Registrar for details on available funding, entrance awards, transfer-credit implications for scholarship eligibility, and whether AU residency requirements affect qualification for distinctions or awards.