Commerce

Bachelor of Commerce

Introduction

Welcome to the Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree program at the Haskayne School of Business! The Haskayne School of Business is a progressive and innovative business school with an international reputation for influencing the ethical practice of commerce, business, management and leadership through quality teaching and research.

The challenge of competing effectively in a rapidly changing global economy can only be met through well-educated responsive business leadership. Preparing students who will successfully meet this challenge is the mission of the Haskayne School of Business.

Haskayne offers 15 concentration areas to choose from within the Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree. Most minors and embedded certificates available at the University of Calgary are compatible within the Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree.

Exceptionally motivated students have the opportunity to participate in additional research-intensive coursework under the close guidance of a Haskayne faculty member as part of the BComm Honours Program. You can participate in a paid Co-op program that allows you  to "earn while you learn", gain business experience, develop a network of contacts and have a better understanding of careers in the field. Haskayne’s Career Development Centre is available for assistance in polishing resumes and practicing for interviews. As a Haskayne student, you are encouraged to utilize Student Experience resources to broaden your degree.

Courses recommended in your first year

As a first-year BComm student, you will follow a common core curriculum, regardless of your intended concentration. If you have already received post-secondary credits or are applying into either 2nd or 3rd year, you should consult with a program specialist in the Haskayne Undergraduate Student Services Office before course registration. This BComm Course Planning Worksheet will be helpful, regardless of your year of entry.

Check Pre- or Co-Requisites

Ahead of registration, make sure to check the course descriptions. The pre- or co-requisites listed within each course description will determine which courses you select and the term you take them in. Full course descriptions can be found in the academic calendar.

Your Bachelor of Commerce

You may complete up to 30 units in year 1. If you are unable to take one of the 1st year recommended courses in the fall or winter terms, you can typically complete what remains in the spring or summer intersessions- with no impact on degree progression. We will not overload you into a full course or add you to a waitlist as that would mean prioritizing you over hundreds of other students (which is impossible for our office to do fairly). If you are unable to get into a recommended 1st year course, you can choose to take an additional Jr Non-Commerce option.

The first year of university can be a challenging transition from high school. Students may want to consider taking 12 units in each of the Fall and Winter Terms and then their remaining 6 units in the spring and summer intersession (the spring and summer intersessions are optional). To be considered a full-time student, you must take a minimum of 9 units in each of the Fall and Winter Terms. Additional registration information can be found on the Haskayne School of Business website or by contacting a program specialist in the Haskayne Undergraduate Student Services Office. You will be receiving important program information via email so please ensure that you have set up and are checking your ucalgary email account frequently.

To graduate, all BComm degree requirements must be met. They can be found here.

The 1st year common core curriculum courses are ECON 201 and ECON 203, STAT 213 and STAT 217, MGST 217, SGMA 217, 200-level ENGL and MATH 249 or 265. It is additionally recommended that students take ENTI 217 and/ or ACCT 217 and/or a Junior Non-Commerce option.

1. Mathematics 249 or 265 may be completed in either the fall or the winter term of year 1. Mathematics 249 is for students who have not completed Math 31 (or equivalent). Mathematics 265 is for students who have completed Math 31 (or equivalent). You can not take both Mathematics 249 and 265.

2. The 200-level English course may be completed in either the fall or winter term of year 1. Students who delay completing the junior English course beyond the first year may have difficulty registering for it in a later year due to registration restrictions. Please note that English 203 and 265 are typically best suited for English majors or students with a strong aptitude/ interest in this subject.

3. Management Studies 217 and Strategy and Global Management 217 may be completed in either the fall or the winter term of Year 1. It is recommended, but not required, that these courses be taken in separate terms.

4. Refer to the Haskayne School of Business section 3.3 Course Work in the University of Calgary Calendar for “Enrolment in Non-Commerce Courses” for option selection. A recommended option sheet is available online. While the subject matter of your non-commerce electives is optional, completing the options themselves is not. If you plan to pursue a minor or embedded certificate, careful consideration should be given to which Jr options are required for these credentials. Most minors or embedded certificates are completed within the options for your degree. Some may require additional time and courses to complete.

5. We recommend that students intending to pursue the BComm Honours Program plan to complete Data Science 201 to satisfy one Junior Non-Commerce Option.

6. Students intending to pursue the International Business Strategy concentration are advised that demonstrated language proficiency (equivalent to two courses) in ONE modern language other than English is a requirement. For this purpose, 200-level language courses can fulfill two of the Junior Non-Commerce Options for International Business Strategy concentrators.

7. Accounting 217 has a pre-requisite of 12 units and therefore only students with advanced credit can take it in the fall term. Many of our students take Accounting 217 in their 2nd year.

8. Entrepreneurship and Innovation 217 can be used as a Junior Commerce option within the BComm degree.

Tip:
Remember to register for both fall and winter semesters at the same time.

Tip:
The pre-commerce courses are shared by many faculties. Sometimes they fill quickly. You should add yourself to the waitlist or monitor the waitlist for spaces to open.

Within a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree, there are a set of common core business courses that you are required to take. In addition, Haskayne offers you the opportunity to choose from one of 15 concentration areas listed below.

A Bachelor of Commerce concentration represents a focus on the material within that business discipline, which allows you to specialize in an area of your choice.

Students unsure of their concentration during application time may select the general “Business (BUSI)” concentration. Students may choose to remain and graduate as generalists with the BUSI concentration or may apply to change their concentration during their degree program. Haskayne program advisors can provide you with more information regarding concentration changes.

The Haskayne School of Business offers several five-year combined degree programs (some examples can be found below). If you are interested in pursuing a combined degree, please refer to the Haskayne School of Business section of the University Calendar.

BComm/BKin (Kinesiology) combined degree
BComm/BSc (Actuarial Science) combined degree
BComm/BSc (Computer Science) combined degree
BComm/BSc (Mathematics) combined degree
BComm/BSc (Engineering) combined degree

Haskayne program specialists can assist with academic rules and permission, course selection, degree planning, program changes, and graduation requirements. They are available through  advising by appointment, or by emailing undergraduate@haskayne.ucalgary.ca.

Bachelor of Commerce Program Advising
Email: undergraduate@haskayne.ucalgary.ca

Co-op Advising
Email: coop@haskayne.ucalgary.ca

Exchange Advising
Email: undergrad.exchange@haskayne.ucalgary.ca

First-year students are often unfamiliar with university vernacular. We are always here to help you navigate this system. You can find a glossary of terms here. Many registration resources are available through the Haskayne Undergraduate Student Success Office and through the Office of the Registrar.

Assistance for incoming first-year UCalgary students starts in May.
Book an appointment with the New Student Registration Assistance (NRSA) »

If you are coming to the University of Calgary with Advanced Placement credit, International Baccalaureate credit, or A-level credit, we recommend that you register as any first-year student would until your credit is officially awarded. You may be eligible to use your advanced credit in your degree program depending on the program you have entered and whether or not the courses are applicable. Once your advanced credit is awarded, you may drop duplicate courses; provided you do so by the drop deadline (otherwise, you will be responsible for tuition costs).  Look for International Baccalaureate credit information here, Advanced Placement credit information here, and A-level credit information here. We recommend that you speak to a Program Specialist before the registration period about this process. You are responsible for ensuring your final transcripts are submitted to the main admissions office to receive any advanced credit for which you are eligible.

You can view your transfer credit by logging in to your Student Centre and reviewing your Transfer Credit Report. Once you know the transfer credit you have received, you may contact the academic advisor in your faculty to get advice on course selection.

First-year students are restricted to junior (200-level courses); before registering for senior (300-level or higher) courses, 18 units (6 courses) at the junior level must be successfully completed. This is unless you receive special placement into a senior course (such as a senior language course, for example).

Honours: In the BComm Honours Program, you will have the opportunity to participate in additional research-intensive coursework under the close guidance of a Haskayne faculty member. This program will allow you to gain practical research knowledge in your chosen area of interest. The Honours Program has been developed for exceptionally motivated students and this challenging program will require strong dedication and commitment. Students wishing to pursue graduate studies should strongly consider the Honours program.

Co-op: Co-operative education is available for all concentrations in the Bachelor of Commerce program. The Co-op program provides 8 to 12 months of supervised and paid work experience in addition to the four-year degree program.

Career Development Centre: Provides professional career coaching and advice to help BComm students identify their key skills and to prepare them for their future careers. In addition, they have a business-focused online job board and run a variety of programs and events that will help you connect with companies that hire BComm students and graduates.

Study Abroad: The Haskayne School of Business offers you the opportunity to study abroad. With more than 30 partnerships with leading business schools around the world including Singapore Management University (Singapore), University of Waikato (New Zealand), Quinn School of Business, University College Dublin (Ireland), and Aalto University (Finland), you can gain valuable international experience while earning credit towards your BComm degree.

Business Library: The Business Library puts information at your fingertips. Not only do you have access to more than 6,000 online business journals, but the Business Library also offers thousands of company, industry, and market reports. We also have a Bloomberg terminal, e-books, guides on citing sources and much more. Help is also available in real-time online.

Mentorship Program: The BMO Mentorship Program at the Haskayne School of Business provides a unique and valuable opportunity for you to pair with established business professionals throughout the Calgary community. It is an excellent chance for you to build and develop your business identity by networking within the local business community to gain applicable insight and knowledge relating to your future endeavours.

Student Clubs: As ambassadors for the Haskayne School of Business, you drive our school’s reputation and help strengthen our brand. Participation in student clubs and events aids you in building important relationships with classmates and professors, and is great for developing future business contacts.