Athabasca University

What you'll study

The program requires a total of 120 credits. Students complete a common set of BComm core courses in Years 1–4 and the Human Resources Management major-specific courses. Key required senior-level courses for post-diploma entrants 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 300 – Financial Economics (3) or FNCE 370 – Overview of Corporate Finance (3) (FNCE 370 required if planning further ACCT or FNCE study)
• 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, not eligible for transfer credit, and should be the final course in the program.

Human Resources Management major core courses (21 credits):

• BTMA 320 – Overview of e-Commerce (3)
• HRMT 301 – Recruitment and Selection (3)
• HRMT 441 – Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
• IDRL 215 – Introduction to Labour Relations (3)
• IDRL 308 – Occupational Health and Safety (3)
• ORGB 319 – Motivation and Productivity (3)
• SOCI 321 – Sociology of Work and Industry (3)

Options (9 credits): students choose either senior-level Business and Administrative Studies credits (recommended IDRL, HRMT, ORGB courses) or senior-level non-Business and Administrative Studies credits per program rules.

Entry requirements

There are two post-diploma entry routes:

• Business-field diploma holders: approved two-year business or closely related diplomas receive a block transfer award of 60 credits (45 credits for Ontario two-year diplomas); approved three-year business diplomas may receive up to 75 credits. Where Ontario diplomas yield 45 credits, additional junior or senior credits are required to reach 60. All diplomas must be approved for credit by Athabasca University.
• Non business-field diploma holders: approved two- or three-year professional diplomas in non-business fields receive a 30-credit block transfer award; students must then complete the specified remaining required and option courses (30 credits) equivalent to the Business-Field route. Diplomas must be AU-approved for credit.

Other regulatory details: students must have a minimum weighted average of 1.7 (C-) across AU courses applied to the BComm to graduate; at least 30 senior-level (300/400) credits must be taken at Athabasca University (including ADMN 405); a minimum of 12 Business and Administrative Studies credits must be at the 400 level (including ADMN 405); maximum PLAR credits allowed toward the program is 9. Transfer credit time limits apply for certain subjects (see program regulations).

Career prospects

The curriculum blends HR topics (recruitment, labour relations, occupational health and safety, strategic HR) with core business competencies (accounting, finance, statistics, operations, information systems and strategic management). Graduates are positioned for HR practitioner and management roles where understanding of organizational behaviour, labour relations and business strategy is required.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not list specific awards; prospective students should consult institutional scholarship and financial-aid offices for bursaries, transfer-credit implications on funding, and any program-level awards. Consider employer sponsorship if continuing from relevant work and review residency and transfer-credit rules when planning eligibility for internal awards.