Location
Start Dates

  • September 03, 2024
  • January 09, 2025
Duration

4Terms

Program Delivery

  • Any-time Online
  • Blended
  • In Class
  • Real-time Online
Tuition & Fees

Domestic: CAD $13,836
International: CAD $33,906
Estimated Book Costs: CAD $2,775

Not all courses may be offered in each delivery modality each semester.

The maximum course load for Fall or Winter semester is five (5) courses. Taking less than five courses for Fall or Winter term will take longer to complete the program. If taking condensed courses in the Spring/Summer term, the recommended maximum course load is two (2) condensed courses plus one (1) full-term (Spring/Summer) course. Students may elect to register in any combination as long as no more than two (2) condensed spring or summer courses are taken at the same time.

Note: Students can maintain full time status with at least three courses. 

Program Description

Students gain a broad understanding of a multitude of business concepts. This major is designed to provide students with pathways to further post-secondary studies at various universities in Alberta. Please consult with an Academic Advisor if you are planning to transfer to one of Bow Valley College's many post-secondary partners.

To learn more the General Business Major, Watch Video

Time commitment

This is a two-year (four term) diploma program. A standard course load is five courses per term. Students can maintain full time status with at least three courses. Taking less than five courses per term will take longer to complete the program.

Learning options

Core courses are available both in class and online. Students will choose nine courses from any of the Business Administration majors to complete the major specific courses.

Course Listings Request More Information Applying FAQ
Domestic Applicants

Welcome Centre
South Campus – Main Floor
info@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-1402


International Learner Applicants

International Education
South Campus – Main Floor
international@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-3476


Admission Requirements

Academic requirements
  • Credit in English Language Arts 30-1 or minimum 65% in English Language Arts 30-2 or equivalent
  • Credit in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or equivalent

Or

Successful completion of the General Educational Development (GED) test that consists of five tests with a minimum score in the following sections:

  • Language Arts: Reading and Writing: 520 minimum standard score
  • Math Test: 520 minimum score
 OR:
  • Satisfactory results on the Bow Valley College Admissions Test

OR:

  • Completion of 30 credits from a recognized business program (departmental approval required)  
 
English language proficiency requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, please review English language proficiency requirements.

 

Transferability

Transfer opportunities are available to a variety of institutions. Transfer credits are reviewed and accepted on an individual basis by the institution to which you apply. See our most current transfer agreements here

Related Links



Domestic Applicants

Welcome Centre
South Campus – Main Floor
info@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-1402


International Learner Applicants

International Education
South Campus – Main Floor
international@bowvalleycollege.ca
403-410-3476


Employment Rate

86%


Training Related Employment Rate

77%


Based on 2019-2020 domestic and international students who self-reported finding employment or training-related employment within 6-12 months after graduating.


Aleksandra Iurkovets

"I can absolutely say that it is a great pride for me to be a Bow Valley College alumni. My studies gave me unbelievable experiences and helped me gain confidence. Even before completion of my program, I got multiple job offers."

Aleksandra Iurkovets

Business Administration Diploma, General Business Graduate 2017

Course Listing


Full course outlines are available here.

Curriculum subject to change.

First Year Courses

Required Courses

In the business environment, accounting and financial information are essential for internal and external decision-making. Therefore, understanding the basics of accounting and financial statements are important for every business graduate. This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles and concepts of accounting with an emphasis on decision-makers' objectives and use of financial information. Key concepts explored include accounting principles and standards, the complete accounting cycle, recording and reporting business transactions, and preparing and analyzing financial statements.

Learners are recommended to complete the Business Math Skills Self-Assessment (https://bowvalleycollege.ca/schools/chiu-school-of-business/MSA) prior to taking this course.

Note: Learners with prior credit in ACCT1101 and ACCT1102 cannot take ACCT1103.

The central theme of the course focuses on the relationship between thinking, human behaviour, and organizational effectiveness. Opportunity is provided for learners to experience incidental learning as they evaluate their own behaviour. Learners explore how concepts and ideas pertaining to human behaviour can transform self, relationships, and the workplace.

Learners apply their knowledge of human resource functions through multiple stakeholder lenses while aligning functions to an organization's vision and strategy. Utilizing business scenarios, learners transition through the employment cycle adhering to legal requirements, ensuring health and safety in the workplace, and building positive work culture initiatives.

With today's dynamic business climate and diverse workforce, the demands of managers to engage employees, be innovative, and be adaptive have become paramount to organizational effectiveness. As a result, managers are required to demonstrate a diverse range of skills which include, but are not limited to: planning and strategic management; effective decision-making and critical thinking; organizing human capital to facilitate efficient and effective work-practices; fostering positive influence to engage a diverse workforce with a focus on employee wellbeing, satisfaction, and performance; and implementing controls to establish and measure performance. This course provides the opportunity for students to explore key management concepts and the multi-faceted role of a manager within an organization.

Introduction to organizations and sustainability articulates a management approach to integrating economic, ethical, and environmental responsibilities into all aspects of organizations working to benefit society. Learners examine ethics of business and constructs of morally appropriate behavior concerning decision-making and businesses' relationship with the community. Concepts and practical approaches are used to discuss and integrate sustainability criteria with business requirements, including performance management and evolving strategies as business needs change.

Confident business communication requires learners to explore the changing landscape of digital media, while developing writing skills and techniques to compose competent, professional communications. In this course, learners explore research tools to aid in effective oral presentations and strengthen interpersonal skills to be an effective communicator in the Canadian workplace.

The allocation of scarce resources in the face of unlimited wants and needs is at the core of economics. This course introduces the fundamentals of microeconomics and creates the foundation for economic analysis and thinking. The course starts with the study of individual choice and opportunity cost, then proceeds to introduce supply and demand and the market adjustments leading to equilibrium, and addresses the use of market price and the sources of market failure. It transitions to consumer behaviour focusing on how consumers make decisions, while creating a framework to understand how firms optimize production under different market structures. The course concludes with the application of microeconomic theory to more advanced topics such as international trade, marginal analysis and the trade-off between equity and efficiency.

Learners are recommended to complete the Business Math Skills Self-Assessment (https://bowvalleycollege.ca/schools/chiu-school-of-business/MSA) prior to taking this course.

A basic understanding of key elements of the law is an essential factor in successful business management. Learners apply legal fundamentals useful in today's fast-paced, rapidly changing business environment.

Learners critically evaluate day-to-day economic subjects in a personal and business context. Throughout the course the economy is examined at the aggregate level with an emphasis on the determination and measurement of national income in the short and long run. The role of households, businesses, government, financial intermediaries and the international sector in influencing national income is examined. Learners analyze business cycles, money and banking, inflation, unemployment, exchange rates, and fiscal and monetary policies.

Learners are introduced to concepts aimed at providing a solid foundation of marketing principles and the role marketing plays in business. Emphasizing a holistic approach, learners have the opportunity to analyze and apply the marketing mix. Key concepts include product, price, placement, and promotion (4Ps), the Integrated Marketing Communications Mix (IMC), market research, and consumer behaviour.

Second Year Courses

Complete the following Courses:

This course explores the concepts and key fundamentals of managerial accounting used for planning, controlling, and measuring operations. Focus is on short-term management decision-making and the techniques, methods, and systems of performance reporting and evaluation used to assist management. Learners explore a variety of costing systems, cost-volume-profit relationships, budgeting, and variance analysis, which are essential to understanding business operations.

This course covers the fundamentals of business strategy theory and application of the frameworks. Learners integrate the knowledge gained in previous business courses and demonstrate how the various pieces of the business puzzle fit together. Learners explore why the different parts of an organization need to be managed in strategic harmony to meet its goals within its competitive environment. A pragmatic approach to developing a strategic analysis skill set is followed. Learners work in multi-disciplinary teams from across the business majors to focus on building long-term strategies for organizations.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

This course identifies the role of human resource professionals within the context of change management theories. Learners analyze and apply change management theories and strategies to different business scenarios. Focus is directed toward the change process which includes initiation, through to maintaining the change. Trends within change management are identified and discussed.

This course examines legislative acts and delves into hazards that exist in the workplace while building engagement on the importance of health and safety within the workforce. Various human resources programs are explored, including wellness, disability, return to work, and training. The use of relevant people analytics to assess a workplace's emergency response and readiness are also discussed. At the core of this course are emerging trends in the workplace, including mental health, bullying and remote workforce.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

This course provides hands-on learning with Microsoft Excel and its applications in today's business environment. Learners develop skills to navigate, consolidate, and analyze data across multiple worksheets. Learners also create macros for efficient analysis, manage complex nested formulas for scenario planning, and design effective corporate dashboards.

This course is aimed at providing a hands-on learning experience with a Windows operating system and computer applications (Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) used in a business environment. Learners will develop skills and gain experience to create business documents, navigate, consolidate, and analyze data across multiple worksheets, manage professional communications, and create electronic presentations.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

Project management is an essential skill contributing to an organization's competitive advantage. This course incorporates the global standards from the Project Management Institute. The essential elements of project management include principles of project management, proposal stages, project scheduling, controlling, reporting, and the use of technologies to manage projects.

Operations management is the administration of all activities that transform inputs to outputs for all goods and services. This course explores the design and management of products, processes, services, and supply chains. Learners examine the integration of critical business processes from planning to short-term scheduling.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

The goal of finance is to increase the value of a firm as measured by the market value of the share price. Focusing on the framework of working capital management, capital budgeting process, long-term financing and external growth through mergers, learners explore the major financial decisions faced by the business. This course provides opportunities for learners to apply the skills and knowledge of finance to contemporary business situations.

Risk management is critical for an organization's operation. The ability to identify, assess, manage, and monitor risks benefits a business's sustainability and continuity in today's evolving society. This course introduces the fundamental principles and concepts of risk management. Learners practice and apply the risk management standards, framework, process, and strategies through the course.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

This course explores introductory statistical data analysis and interpretation techniques used in business environments. Learners develop foundational knowledge on key topics including data collection and presentation and measures of descriptive statistics. Random variables, probability and probability distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis are also covered.

This course is an introduction to business analytics as a way to improve business decisions. Learners explore descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics, and have the opportunity to compile database analytics including querying databases. Learners focus on descriptive analytics to create data visualization for real-world applications, use Excel, and explore other tools such as SQL and Power BI.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

This course explores the sales process from business concept to post sales follow-up with an emphasis on trust-based relationship selling and developing a loyal customer base. Learners are provided an opportunity to develop key skills to execute on the entire sales cycle.
Pre-requisites: MKTG1101, MGMT1201
Anti-requisites: FNSR2501, MKTG2201 & MKTG2202

The focus of integrated marketing communications is making sure that an organization's brand identity and messages are consistent and credible across all communication channels. This approach creates a competitive edge for an organization and improves brand loyalty. For consumers and stakeholders, this continuity creates a seamless journey across the different components of the marketing mix and the many communication channels. Learners explore the various promotional approaches including advertising, direct marketing, interactive communication, sales promotion, and public relations.

Earn at least 3 credits from either courses:

This course explores both the creation of an entrepreneurial venture as well as the development of an innovative, entrepreneurial and team approach to business. Learners are challenged to develop an entrepreneurial mindset through engagement in a process that includes identifying entrepreneurial opportunities, testing business model attribute hypotheses, and presenting an entrepreneurial opportunity. Working through this process builds awareness of the experiences an entrepreneur will have in practice.

The impacts that differences in culture, politics, law, ethics, and economics have on business decisions are closely examined. Learners consider decisions in international expansion strategies and entry modes. Application of theory is focused on operations in human resource management, supply chain, marketing, and communications, all within the context of globalization and the global money system.
Prerequisite: MGMT2401

General Business Major Courses

Required Major Course ElectivesChoose 1 course

Students choose any 1 course Here.

Program FAQs

Today's companies seek employees with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The evolution of the modern workplace, increasing competition, and rising consumer demands has forced employers to seek out motivated candidates with critical thinking and decision-making capabilities who also possess leadership potential. 

If you have prior work experience or have taken courses comparable to those required under this program at another institution, you may be eligible for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) or transfer credit.

All requests must be submitted prior to the start of the program.  

The Business Administration Diploma typically takes two years or four terms to complete. This may take longer if the student takes less than five courses per term. 

Business diploma graduates with a major in general studies have a broad understanding of a multitude of business concepts and applications. Graduates typically find employment as management trainees, general managers, assistants, managers, sales representatives, sales managers or personnel officers in retail, financial services, insurance, human resources, not-for-profit, sales, and marketing industries.  

 

 

Planning your course schedule according to availability and prerequisites requires some consideration.

Once you are a registered student in a program at the Chiu School of Business, our Academic Advising Team can assist you with planning. 

 

 

Click on the link below to find out about Computer Requirements. 

Computer Requirements

Some courses might require additional software or applications packages. You will be given this information before starting the course.

 

The approximate cost of textbooks and other supplies is estimated at $750 per term. 

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