Bachelor of Commerce General

The Bachelor of Commerce provides a thorough grounding in all core areas of business, from accounting to strategic management, and everything in between.

Athabasca University’s online program is designed for students seeking a rigorous, technically based business degree. You will learn theory, technical skills and ethical perspectives in the core business areas of

• marketing
• statistics
• financial and management accounting
• finance
• economics
• information systems
• strategic management
• organizational behaviour
• commercial law

When you graduate, you will have the assessment, problem-solving and leadership skills necessary for business success.

Why take the Bachelor of Commerce?

The Bachelor of Commerce is one of the most highly recognized credentials in the Canadian business community.

If you’re working while you study, you will be able to put your new knowledge to use right away – you might even be able to use work projects for school assignments.

PLG 1: Our graduates will be effective decision makers.

The intent of this goal is the ability to analyze a given business situation and propose an appropriate course of action. It includes skills in critical thinking and problem solving as well as an applied understanding of current business issues.

PLG 2: Our graduates will be capable communicators.

This goal means the ability to produce quality written documents and give effective oral presentations—to analyze your audience and the communication situation, and create effective academic papers, business reports, infographics, or slide presentations that meet your needs and fulfill your goals as an effective communicator.

PLG 3: Our graduates will have ethical awareness.

The goal is to enable you to identify relevant ethical issues in a given situation—what is at stake, and why your choices are important to business and society.

PLG 4: Our graduates will have a global perspective.

In today’s business environment, you need to be able to identify the opportunities and challenges of operating within complex local, regional, and global environments, which is the purpose of this goal.

PLG 5: Our 4-year business program graduates will be competent in discipline-specific skills and knowledge.

As a program graduate, you will be able to demonstrate the functional capability that is a foundation for a career in the field of Accounting, Business Technology Management, Finance, Human Resources Management or Marketing.

• Completion of high school in an English-speaking country.
• Completion of 15 university credits from a recognized English-speaking university, or 1 year at a non-university post-secondary institution with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).

English is the language of instruction and communication in SCIS graduate programs.

Proficiency in English is an essential requirement for admission to SCIS graduate programs. Although working and studying online requires a different level of English language skills than does the classroom situation, students must nevertheless be able to communicate effectively with faculty, administration, and with other students.

For more information on the English Language Prociency Requirements for Graduate Studies please refer to the AU graduate calendar.

• Minimum score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Minimum score of 60% on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).
• Minimum score of 80 on the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test.
• Minimum score of 59 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• Minimum score of 213 on the computer- or paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), with 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Minimum score of 80 with an essay score of 20 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).
• Successful completion of AU’s English Language Proficiency Program with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).
• See the English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy for further details.

How to apply

You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.

• How to enrol in an undergraduate program

Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.