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Athabasca University

Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma) General Degree (Four years—120 credits)

Regulations effective September 1, 2015.

There are two routes to the Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma) General Degree:

  1. Business-Field Diploma-Holder Route

    Students presenting two-year college diplomas in business (or a closely related field) from an accredited college or technical institute will receive 60 credits of block transfer award toward the first two years of the Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma) General degree, except students from Ontario colleges, who will receive 45 credits. These students must complete additional credits in non-Business and Administrative Studies courses to reach the 60-credit requirement. Ontario students with approved three-year diplomas in business (or a closely related field) will receive a block transfer award of up to 75 credits towards this degree program. All diplomas presented must be approved for credit by Athabasca University.

  2. Non Business-Field Diploma-Holder Route

    Students presenting two- or three-year professional diplomas in non-business fields from an accredited college or technical institute, will receive a block transfer award of 30 credits. All diplomas presented must be approved for credit by Athabasca University. Students must also complete the required courses (30 credits) and the required and options courses in the Business-Field Diploma-Holder Route.

Transfer credit

Regulations Governing all Bachelor of Commerce Students

In order to graduate, students must have a weighted average of at least 1.7 (60 per cent) across all courses taken at Athabasca University towards a Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma) General Degree. 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.

For more information, contact Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business at 1.800.468.6531 or email.

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.

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.

Bachelor of Commerce: Accounting Major (Post Diploma)
Bachelor of Commerce: e-Commerce Major (Post Diploma)
Bachelor of Commerce: Finance Major (Post Diploma)

Program Structure
Total credits in the program 120
Block transfer credit for two-year business diploma (excluding Ontario) 60
Block transfer credit for Ontario two-year business diploma 45
Block transfer credit for Ontario three-year business diploma up to 75
Required credits (Years 3 and 4) for two-year diploma 27
Required credits (Years 3 and 4) for Ontario three-year diploma 27
A minimum of 12 Business and Administrative Studies credits must be at the 400 level (including ADMN 404). 12
Options
Senior (300/400) level Business and Administrative Studies credits 15
   Ontario three-year diploma 9
Senior (300/400) level Non "Business and Administrative Studies" credits 18
   Ontario three-year diploma 9
Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits, including ADMN 404, must be obtained through Athabasca University in Years 3 and 4. 30
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 (PLAR) credits 9

Years 1 and 2 (60 credits)

AU-approved college diploma

Years 3 and 4

  • 60 credits for two-year diploma
  • 45 credits for Ontario three-year diploma

1. BUSINESS-FIELD DIPLOMA-HOLDER ROUTE

Required Courses (27 credits for two-year diploma and Ontario three-year diploma)

ACCT 355 Cost Analysis (3)
ACCT 356 Strategic and Competitive Analysis (3)
CMIS 351 Management Information Systems
(3)
FNCE 370 Overview of Corporate Finance (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 312 Statistics for Business and Economics II (3)

MGSC 368

MGSC 369

Introduction to Production and Operations Management

or

Service Operations Management

(3)
MKTG 396 Introduction to Marketing (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.  
Options
33 credits for two-year diploma
18 credits for Ontario three-year diploma

Senior (300/400) level Business and Administrative Studies credits

Ontario three-year diploma

15

9

Senior (300/400) level Non "Business and Administrative Studies" credits

Ontario three-year diploma

18

9

*PHIL 333 Professional Ethics and PHIL 337 Business Ethics is strongly recommended if not already taken within diploma.

2. NON BUSINESS-FIELD DIPLOMA-HOLDER ROUTE

The block transfer award for a diploma approved by AU is 30 credits. If you present courses equivalent to the following list, or another required course within the Bachelor of Commerce program with the diploma, the block transfer award may increase up to 60 credits. All diplomas presented must be approved for credit by Athabasca University. Students complete the following courses (30 credits) and the required and options courses in the Business-Field Diploma-Holder Route list.

Required Courses (30 credits)
ACCT 253 Introductory Financial Accounting (3)
ADMN 232 Introduction to Management (3)
ADMN 233 Writing in Organizations (3)
CMIS 245 Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows) (3)

COMM 329

 

COMM 243

 

COMM 277

Mediated Interpersonal Communication

or

Interpersonal Communication

or

Group Communication

(3)
ECON 247 Microeconomics (3)
ECON 248 Macroeconomics (3)
LGST 369 Commercial Law
(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)
ORGB 364 Organizational Behaviour (3)

 

NOTE: And the required and options courses in the Business-Field Diploma-Holder Route list.

 

Information effective Sept. 1, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2016.

Updated January 24 2017 by laurab

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