Bachelor of Commerce General (Four years—120 credits)
Regulations effective September 1, 2011.
This program is designed for students seeking a rigorous, technically based business degree comparable in content to most Bachelor of Commerce degrees in Canada. Courses in all core business areas are required, including marketing, statistics, financial accounting, management accounting, finance, economics, information systems, strategic management, organization behaviour, and commercial law.
All students in the Bachelor of Commerce program will complete a common set of core courses in Years 1, 2, 3, and 4. The core courses are the same for the general Bachelor of Commerce degree and the following three majors.
Majors
The Accounting Major is designed for students wishing to pursue an accounting career, and offers flexibility and generous transfer arrangements to meet professional accounting association requirements. Students will focus on financial, management and taxation accounting, along with auditing and accounting information systems.
The e-Commerce Major is intended for students with a career focus in the areas of e-Commerce and management information systems, and is delivered using online systems.
The Finance Major is a contemporary major, integrating finance and economics courses to provide graduates with a broad exposure to this growing services sector. The field of financial services involves the study of financial markets, financial instruments and investment decision making, and analyzes alternative methods to obtain, manage, and use capital by institutions and individuals.
The Bachelor of Commerce degree is offered by Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business. For more information, phone 1.800.468.6531 or email.
Second Undergraduate Degree
Students who hold a recognized first degree in a field outside of business or management and who wish to obtain an AU undergraduate degree in a different subject area, must apply under the second undergraduate degree regulations. These students may transfer in up to 50 per cent (60 credits) into the four-year degree program, based on course work in the first degree that is applicable. Preparatory (100 level) credits cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a second undergraduate degree.
Degree Conversion Provision
The degree conversion provision is available to Athabasca University students who have been awarded a three-year AU degree and wish to convert to a four-year degree. Students with the three-year AU Bachelor of Administration degree may convert that degree into the four-year Bachelor of Commerce program. For more information about this regulation, please review the Degree Conversion Provision Policy.
Classroom Setting
In addition to completing this degree through online and distance learning, you have the option of registering in Bachelor of Commerce courses in a classroom setting at other institutions.
Enrolment Restriction
Students who hold a degree in administration, business, commerce or management, or a degree with a major, concentration, or any equivalency programs from Athabasca University or another university, will not be accepted into the Bachelor of Commerce General Program or its three majors.
Students are not permitted to obtain a second undergraduate degree in the same field or related field as their first undergraduate degree. Those students who hold an international undergraduate degree who wish to obtain a Canadian credential, or those students who wish to obtain another Bachelor’s degree in a major different than their first undergraduate degree, will be permitted (in consultation with the Program Director and reviewed by the Office of the Registrar).
Regulations Governing all Bachelor of Commerce Students
Students must have a weighted average of at least 1.7 (60 percent) across all courses taken at Athabasca University towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree in order to graduate.
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.
Transfer Credit completed more than 10 years ago in the following disciplines at the senior (300/400) level will not receive credit: ACCT, MGSC, LGST, MKTG, FNCE and TAXX. If you are currently working in the field and provide evidence of work being completed, this restriction will be waived.
Program Plans
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Counselling Services offers an assessment website, "Mapping Your Future: Your Career and Athabasca University." Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Bachelor of Commerce: Accounting Major
Bachelor of Commerce: e-Commerce Major
Bachelor of Commerce: Finance Major
Program Structure
Total credits in the program | 120 |
Required courses (Years 1 and 2) | 36 |
Options | 24 |
Required courses (Years 3 and 4) | 24 |
Options | 36 |
Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University, including ADMN 404, in Years 3 and 4. These 30 credits must include ADMN 404 (3 credits) plus 12 credits from the list of required courses for Years 3 and 4. | |
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits | 21 |
Required Courses (36 credits)
ACCT 253 | Introductory Financial Accounting | (3) |
ACCT 355 | Cost Analysis | (3) |
ADMN 232 | Introduction to Management | (3) |
ADMN 233 | Writing in Organizations | (3) |
CMIS 245 | Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows) | (3) |
ECON 247 | Microeconomics | (3) |
ECON 248 | Macroeconomics | (3) |
ENGL | A junior or senior level English course | (3) |
LGST 369 | Commercial Law | (3) |
MATH 244 MATH 260 MATH 265 MATH 270 |
Business Mathematics or Calculus for Social Sciences and Economics* * Recommended for students who wish to pursue 400-level FNCE or 400-level MGSC courses. or Introduction to Calculus I or Linear Algebra I |
(3) |
MGSC 301 MATH 215 MATH 216 |
Statistics for Business and Economics I* *strongly recommended or Introduction to Statistics or Computer-oriented Approach to Statistics |
(3) |
MGSC 312 | Statistics for Business and Economics II | (3) |
|
(3) |
|
(9) |
*A maximum of 3 credits in any area of study at the preparatory (100) level can be taken in the above 12 credits. | |
|
(12) |
Required Courses (24 credits)
ACCT 356 | Strategic and Competitive Analysis | (3) |
CMIS 351 | Management Information Systems | (3) |
FNCE 370 | Overview of Corporate Finance | (3) |
MGSC 368 MGSC 369 |
Introduction to Production and Operations Management or Service Operations Management |
(3) |
MKTG 396 | Introduction to Marketing | (3) |
ORGB 364 | Organizational Behaviour | (3) |
And a senior (300 or 400) level Organizational
Behaviour course (other than ORGB 364) |
(3) | |
ADMN 404 | Strategic Management* | (3) |
*ADMN 404 must be taken with AU. Transfer credit will not be awarded. ADMN 404 should be taken as the last course in the program. |
Any non "Business and Administrative Studies" credits at the senior (300/400) level | (6) |
Business and Administrative Studies credits at the senior (300 /400) level with a minimum of 9 credits at the 400 level | (30) |
Information effective Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2012.
Updated June 08, 2016
Related Links
- Accounting Major
- e-Commerce Major
- Finance Major
- University Certificate in Finance
- Program Website
- Transfer Credit Services
- Archived Program Regulations