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
$13,734
International: CAD
$33,905
Estimated Book Costs:
CAD
$2,800
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
Graduates with an Accounting Major gain a broad understanding of business with a focus on the development of job ready, technical accounting skills, soft-skills, and other related business abilities needed for success in the accounting field.
To learn more about working in the accounting field, Watch Video Here
Transfer credits with Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA)
CPA offers transfer credits for several courses to the CPA Program. Find more information at CPA Alberta Transfer Credit Guide.
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
The Business Administration diploma program consists of core business courses and major specific courses. Courses are available both in class and online. Please note that not all courses may be available online each semester. Consult with Academic Advising Team to assist with your program planning.
For courses with scheduled midterms (max two per course) and final exam, they are required to be completed in person or at an approved invigilation site.
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
In order to complete the Accounting Major, you must receive credit for all the Foundation Courses.
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.
"Bow Valley College is a great place for learning and development. I would love to work at Bow Valley College one day and be a part of their successful team."
Year One
Term One
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.
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.
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.
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.
Term Two
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.
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.
Building and expanding on accounting knowledge explored during introductory financial accounting, this course takes an in-depth examination of the current accounting principles, practices, and standards for both public and private corporate financial presentation and reporting. The course concepts focus on assets reported in the statement of financial position and the related income effects and results. Learners apply accounting standards to various business transactions and build professional judgement and decision-making capabilities.
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 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.
Year Two
Term Three
This course introduces statistics for business disciplines. The course begins with an introduction to descriptive statistics and probability theory, then builds to a thorough understanding of theories and methods used in model building, estimation, and interpretation. Emphasis is placed on applying real data, technology, and statistical data analysis techniques to business problems to promote critical and informed business decisions and conclusions.
This course delves deeper and expands the examination of the field of managerial accounting. Both short-term and long-term management decision-making are examined and topics include pricing decisions; the balanced score card and product profitability; customer profitability; process costing; spoilage, scrap and rework; cost allocations; joint and by-product costing; inventory planning, control and costing; long-term investment decisions and capital budgeting; transfer pricing and other control systems and performance measurements used in reporting for control.
Prerequisite: ACCT2201
This course continues to examine the complexities of current accounting principles and standards for both public and private corporate financial presentation, with a focus on liabilities and equities. Topics covered include, current and long-term liabilities, leases, accounting for income taxes, pensions and other employee benefit plans, complex debt and equity instruments, basic and diluted earnings per share, shareholder's equity, accounting changes, and analysis of financial statement.
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.
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.
Term Four
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.
This course introduces the fundamental principles, concepts, and applications of Canadian income tax laws affecting individuals and corporations. Emphasis is on understanding and applying the rules of the Canadian Income Tax Act pertaining to the determination of taxation for individual and corporations, corporate investment income, transfer of property and GST/HST. Learners explore employment income, business income, property income, capital gains and losses, and other income and deductions, taxable income and taxes payable for individuals and corporations.
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.
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.
Elective CoursesEarn at least 3 credits from the following courses:
This course provides learners with an introduction and exposure to auditing concepts and other assurance services. The primary emphasis is on the audit decision-making process and the nature and amount of audit evidence needed to render an opinion on the fairness of an organization's financial statements.
Prerequisite: ACCT2101
This course deals with financial accounting topics such as consolidations, foreign currency, and not-for-profit accounting. It examines the complexities of recording and reporting of investments in other companies, where the investing company has no influence, has significant influence, or has control. As you progress through this course, you can expect to develop and strengthen both technical and enabling competencies of The Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) Competency Map.
Many businesses use computerized accounting systems to provide accurate and timely financial data needed for effective decision-making. This course uses a practical approach and will introduce learners to commonly used accounting software programs. Learners will produce and maintain records for all activities in the accounting cycle using computerized accounting systems. Specifically, learners will practice data entry and comparison of software programs using the software features and tools for payables, receivables, banking, and inventory. Learners will also be expected to use Microsoft Excel to perform minimal tasks and export data.
This course focuses on management information systems (MIS) and the roles, impacts, and risks of information technology infrastructure. Learners have the opportunity to understand how MIS is applied to address organizational challenges. The course explores how organizations use interconnected technology and systems to enable decision-making and achieve goals. Learners also analyze the effect of technology innovation on strategic planning.
Prerequisite: ACCT1103
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.
The Accounting Major focuses on the development of job-ready technical accounting skills, soft-skills, and other related business abilities needed for success in the accounting field. Graduates typically find employment as accounting technicians, bookkeepers, accounts payable/receivable clerks, financial analysts, internal or external auditors, or in a variety of other entry-level accounting positions.
The Alberta Government provides up-to-date information on Alberta’s occupational profiles including wage and salary information. Click on the link to find out more.
Alberta Learning Information Services: Occupational Profile
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 also assist you with planning.
Click on the link below to find out about 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.