Nov 11, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Calendar 
    
2023-2024 Academic Calendar [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Learn More About Business Administration Diploma


A diploma in business administration will qualify you for a wide range of career opportunities. Depending on your interests and area of specialization, job titles may include, but would not be limited to, market researcher, sales and retail manager, advertising coordinator and product manager. You may choose from three diploma options: General Management, Accounting or Marketing all of which include an optional Co-op term.  

Choose from three diploma options: 

General Management Option

Choose the general management option if you are looking for a program that covers a broad base of management functions. Sharing a common first year with other diploma options, you will continue into second year to learn commercial law, consumer behaviour, e-business, management information systems and entrepreneurial and small business management. These courses and others will help you develop a broad range of business and administrative skills and build a solid foundation for entry into the business world. After graduation, you will qualify for entry-level positions with large and small organizations, in the private or public sector. You will be prepared to start your own businesses or to enter directly into the third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, General Management major.

Accounting Option

Choose the accounting option to qualify for entry-level accounting positions in accounting firms, other businesses or public sector organizations. Many of the courses within the accounting option are recognized toward Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA) designation. If you are pursuing the accounting option, you may, on completion of the diploma, enter directly into the third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Accounting major.

Marketing Option

Choose the marketing option to gain practical skills and a solid foundation of knowledge for employment in a marketing environment. Second year courses include consumer behaviour, professional selling, retail management, services marketing, and entrepreneurship and small business management. You will be prepared for a wide range of careers in retailing, marketing management, public relations, non-profit activities, and international marketing opportunities. You may also choose to ladder directly into the third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree - Marketing major.

Co-operative Education

Co-operative education alternates paid, program-related work experience with academic study. The practical experience gained on these supervised, structured work terms is an integral part of the student’s education. The result is increased confidence, new employment contacts and practical real-world experience locally, on the Island, provincially or internationally. 

If you wish to participate in the co-operative education program, you are encouraged to apply during the first semester of your first year of study in order to have the best options for completing the program. You must complete EMP - 100 Co-operative Education Pre-Employment Seminar as a prerequisite to BUS - 197 Business Administration Co-Operative Education Work Term 1.

Applications are also accepted from second and third-year students. Among the eligibility criteria, you must have a GPA of 2.33 or higher in the required business administration program courses and complete a co-op interview. You can be awarded a co-operative education designation on your degree if you successfully complete EMP 100, BUS 197, BUS 297 and BUS 397 (in addition to your program course work). Note: these courses cannot be used as program electives and have registration fees in addition to the program registration fees.

You may choose alternating or consecutive work terms that must not end in the program’s last semester. For more information on work terms, eligibility requirements, sample job opportunities and wages contact Student Employment Services.

Transfer Credit & Credit For Prior Learning

The NIC business administration program accepts course transfer credit from a wide range of post secondary institutions and professional organizations. Detailed course transfer information for BC institutions may be found by accessing the BC Transfer Guide. Students possessing other applicable prior learning may request prerequisite waivers for selected courses.

Transfer and Pathways

Read more about all the Transfer and Pathways  related to the business programs. Agreements include Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen Scotland, University Savoie Mont Blanc, Vancouver Island MBA/MScIB Guaranteed Admission.  

 

You will be required to have sufficient hardware and software for completing coursework. Download the School of Business Student Checklist for more information.