Dec 03, 2024  
University of Alberta Calendar 2024-2025 
    
University of Alberta Calendar 2024-2025

Faculty of Business General Information


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Please Note [October 30, 2024] - ERRATUM. The previously terminated Diploma in Corporate Finance was erroneously included on this page. Please see Amendments to the Calendar  for more information.


The Alberta School of Business

About the Alberta School of Business

In 1916, the Faculty of Business, also known as the Alberta School of Business, started from humble beginnings, with a handful of students enrolled in the Department of Accountancy at the University of Alberta. Since then it has grown to be one of the world’s leading institutions of business education and research. Recognized for its leadership in research, the quality of academic programming, graduate career success, and economic impact for Alberta and the world, the school fosters and supports an environment where innovation and entrepreneurial thinking is free to flourish.

AACSB Accredited

The Alberta School of Business is the first and longest running Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited business school in Canada. It first received AACSB accreditation in 1968 and remains one of only 25 Canadian schools to receive the honour.

Our Programs

We are a research-intensive business school dedicated to fostering a welcome and supportive environment and equipping our faculty and students with the latest insights and tools to ensure students receive a transformative learning experience that prepares them for success in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

We are committed to offering undergraduate, master’s and PhD degrees, as well as professional development through our Executive Education program. The varied disciplines covered by these degrees are grouped into four departments:

World-class education, leadership opportunities and connecting to the global community are part of what makes the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) program an exceptional experience. With majors in traditional areas of study as well as specialty niches, over 15 international exchange partnerships, a fully integrated and accredited co-operative education program, and the first Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce program in Canada, the BCom program offers unique opportunities for undergraduate students.

The Alberta MBA is built on Alberta tradition: great ideas, hard work, and outstanding people. A host of degree options, coupled with small class sizes, an applied hands-on learning style, over 4,000 alumni, and strong ties to the business community, translate into incredible opportunities for Alberta MBAs. Other master’s business programs also include the Master of Accounting, Executive MBA program and master’s programs offered in China.

Led by a diverse faculty of dedicated researchers renowned for their intellectual and academic excellence, graduates from our world-class PhD program are recognized as distinguished experts in their subject areas.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Business program at the University of Alberta offers specializations in Accounting, Finance, Operations and Information Systems, Marketing, and Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Management — including macro and micro organizational behaviour.

In addition to our business degrees, the Alberta School of Business offers management training and leadership development programs through our Executive and Professional Programs. Executive Education specializes in certificate programs and short courses designed to support individual and organizational growth through continuous professional development. For more information about the school and its programs, please visit Alberta School of Business Programs.

Centres and Institutes

The Alberta School of Business is home to specialized centres and institutes that are dedicated to excellence in research, outreach and education as well as fostering an important connection to the business community.

Careers and Work Integrated Learning Office

Careers and Work Integrated Learning (CWIL) in the Alberta School of Business offers comprehensive career development programming for BCom and MBA students (including advising, coaching, job postings and a Co-op Program), recruitment support for our employer and community partners, and opportunities for alumni engagement.

Office of Education

The Office of Education is dedicated to creating an exceptional educational experience that reflects the needs of our students and society. We work in partnership with our students, instructors and program offices to continuously improve what our students are learning and how they are learning it. We strive to create a place where students are equipped to be critical thinkers who lead with impact.

Members of the Faculty

Alberta School of Business Members of the Faculty  

Undergraduate Programs

BCom Program

The Bachelor of Commerce program seeks to provide the student with a broad background in the different areas of business as well as in related fields in the humanities and social sciences. The business world and its environment have changed enormously in the last twenty years and will change at an even faster pace in the next twenty. In this trend, questions about the environment will become increasingly important. No school of business can possibly teach the solution to problems which will arise several years from now. A school should, therefore, seek to provide a basis for effective self-learning through actual experience by teaching the broad underlying fields of knowledge which are basic to business. The emphasis is on developing a comprehensive analytical framework within which various organizational problems can be analyzed. Students will also be able to study an area of interest in some depth.

BCom Program after Approved Degree

Requirements for a BCom degree after another approved degree will depend, in part, on the previous degree held.

Individuals who have been admitted to the Faculty and have an approved degree conferred in the last eight years shall be required to satisfy the requirements of the Business Core plus five senior business electives. This is subject to completing a minimum of 45 units of course weight in coursework and not more than 60 units of course weight in the Alberta School of Business. Students possessing a previous Business degree or equivalent from another institution may not be eligible for the After-Degree Program. Depending on previous coursework, a student in the After-Degree program may not be eligible to take certain majors or minors. The Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce is not available to After-Degree students.

For further information, contact the Undergraduate Office of the Alberta School of Business.

Bilingual BCom/Baccalauréat bilingue en Administration des affaires

The four-year Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce degree is a collaborative effort between Faculté Saint-Jean and the Alberta School of Business. This is a program unique in Canada for offering students the opportunity to obtain a fully bilingual Business degree in Canada’s two official languages. Students will complete half of their course work at Faculté Saint-Jean and half of their coursework in the Alberta School of Business. The objectives of the program are:

  • To respond to a need expressed by Francophone and Francophile students for course in French leading to a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Alberta;
  • To prepare bilingual (French-English) graduates who will be competitive in a global economy;
  • To promote the University of Alberta as a leading University offering a unique degree in North America;
  • To attract students from French-speaking Canada and other countries in the world where French is a major language.

Students seeking entry to this program should consult the admissions sections for both the Alberta School of Business (Readmission of Previous Students ) and Faculté Saint-Jean (Faculté Saint-Jean Regulations (English) ). For a detailed program description see Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce [Business]  and Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce [Business] .

Transition Year Program

This admission category is reserved for Indigenous applicants who have successfully completed the Transition Year Program administered by First Peoples’ House (Student Services Office) at this University. Such applicants will be considered for admission to the Alberta School of Business if they have obtained a GPA of 2.3 or better. For further details, see Transition Year Program for Indigenous Applicants .

Visiting Students

Students from other universities or colleges are eligible to be considered for admission to the Alberta School of Business as visiting students if

  1. they are Business or equivalent degree program students at their home institution;
  2. their home institution provides a letter of permission;
  3. they have completed a minimum of 24 units of course weight at the home institution;
  4. their academic record shows satisfactory standing.

Priority for visiting student status is given to students who are applying under the auspices of a formal exchange program. Visiting student status is granted for one academic year. Visiting students must reapply each year and present a new letter of permission from their home institution. As the Alberta School of Business is a limited enrolment Faculty, visiting student admissions may be restricted.

Degree students in the Alberta School of Business wishing to attend another institution as a visiting student see Attendance at Another Institution .

Special Students Studying to Satisfy Requirements of Professional Accounting Organizations

The Faculty’s policy with respect to special students taking courses to satisfy the requirements of professional accounting organizations such as the Chartered Professional Accountants, is as follows:

  1. Special accounting students, see Admission and Readmission Deadlines  for deadlines.
  2. All students applying for Special Student Status are required to be registered as a student with one of the professional accounting organizations and provide the Faculty with a letter confirming this registration. The letter must also detail which courses the student requires.
  3. Students who hold a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, awarded by the University of Alberta within the previous five years from date of application, will be considered for admission to take the courses required to meet professional accounting requirements.
  4. Students who received the Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta more than five years previous to the date of application must have graduated with a grade point average of at least 3.0 during their final year of study to be considered for admission.
  5. All other applicants who hold an approved degree must have obtained a grade point average of at least 3.0 during their final year of study to be considered for admission.
  6. Students who are admitted in accordance with (5) above will be allowed to take a maximum of 24 units of course weight to satisfy professional accounting requirements. In all cases, course prerequisites must be satisfied. If the total number of courses required exceeds 24 units of course weight, including prerequisites, the applicant will be considered for the BCom program for applicants holding an approved degree.
  7. Students will be admitted only if space exists both in the BCom program overall and in the courses required by the student.
  8. Further information about professional accounting organizations is available from The Chartered Professional Accountants website.

Certified Management Accountants (CMA)

The University of Alberta School of Business is a CMA Canada Accredited University Program. The accreditation process recognizes universities that achieve high standards of instruction in management accounting. Graduates of the University of Alberta Bachelor of Commerce program and MBA program may be exempt from writing the CMA Entrance Exam. Contact CMA Alberta for more information.

The Degrees of BSc in Forest Business Management and BSc in Agricultural/Food Business Management

These programs are offered jointly by the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, and the Alberta School of Business. While they are administered in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, the programs are managed by an interdisciplinary committee with representation from both Faculties. (See Bachelor of Science in Agricultural/Food Business Management  and Bachelor of Science in Forest Business Management  for details.)

Graduate Programs

The Alberta School of Business offers the degrees of Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management. Information on these graduate programs can be found in Graduate Programs .

Executive and Management Development

The University of Alberta School of Business, Executive Education, specializes in delivering excellence in education and career development. Through participation in our programs, participants enhance business and organizational results by learning key management, leadership, and project management principles and practices. For more information please contact:

University of Alberta, Faculty of Business
Executive Education
2-006 Enterprise Square
10230 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4P6
(780) 492-5832
Toll-free: 1-877-MGMT-DEV
E-mail: executiveeducation@ualberta.ca
Website: www.executiveeducation.ca

Executive MBA

The Alberta Executive MBA program is an integrated program that is provided jointly by the Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta and the Faculty of Management at the University of Calgary. It provides a challenging curriculum for executives and managers wishing to upgrade and enhance their existing skills. For more information please contact the

The Office of MBA Programs
2-30 Business Building
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6
(780) 492-3946
E-mail: mba.programs@ualberta.ca
Website: www.albertaemba.com

Centre for Cities and Communities

Internship Program

Any student registered in the Bachelor of Commerce program or Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce program is eligible to participate in the School of Business Consulting Group. It provides students with paid employment. Contact the Centre for Cities and Communities for more information.

Career Opportunities

The opportunities for Bachelor of Commerce graduates range from positions in government (federal, provincial and municipal) and large enterprises, to partner or owner of small firms. The types of positions graduates hold in these organizations range from systems analysts to financial analysts, from sales managers to accountants.

Opportunities in any year fluctuate with the general level of economic activity in the country. Although it is difficult to forecast the job market several years ahead, the demand for graduates is expected to grow or at least remain constant in the next few years; the job market outlook is therefore favorable.

Additional information about employment opportunities is available from the Alberta School of Business, Careers and Work Integrated Learning, 2-21 Business building.

Information regarding the various areas of specialization within the field of business administration is found in Majors in Business .

Student Organizations

BSA (Business Students’ Association)
The BSA is the largest undergraduate student organization within the Faculty. Undergraduates registered in the Faculty are automatically members of the Association and are entitled to run in BSA elections for both executive and council positions in the BSA. In addition, a number of positions are available on the Business Council, General Faculties Council and Students’ Council. These representatives act as liaisons between students, the Faculty, the University and the business community.

The BSA publishes a handbook for all Business students, rents lockers in and around the Business building and operates a number of social, academic and professional events throughout the year. Contact the office [2-06 Business, (780) 492-2454] for further details.

The MBA Association
Office: BUS 4-06B

The MBA Association is the official body representing masters’ degree students in the Alberta School of Business. It is a non-profit service organization administered by the students of the MBA program. The organization promotes fellowship among students through their activities; promotes cooperation and rapport between the students and the academic and administrative staff; represents students on all organizations and bodies on which the Association has representation; promotes contact between graduate students and members of the business community; extends the academic and non-academic interests of the members through forums, special lectures, and discussion groups; and advises, counsels, and acts on student problems which cannot be handled effectively through Faculty channels.

Other Student Organizations
Business students are actively involved in various clubs across many disciplines and issues. Detailed information is available from Student Organizations on the Alberta School of Business website.