You’re ambitious, determined and motivated to succeed. Lay the foundation for your future achievements in the fast-paced, competitive business world with a diploma in Business Administration. You’ll acquire basic business skills in your first year, and in your second, you’ll tailor your education to your career aspirations in one of three majors: accounting, management and business operations.  The skills you learn will help you be successful in all avenues of business, including companies of all sizes, your own small business, government organizations, not-for-profits and social organizations.

Step right into a great career upon graduation, or, with transfer agreements in place at institutions across Canada and around the globe, you can easily continue your education to earn your bachelor’s degree.

The Business program is a great stepping-stone.  If you are sure you want to pursue a career in anything business – start with us! If you are unsure of what you want to do or what career to pursue, you will learn skills that will benefit you in any career you settle on.  Whatever direction you go in, you’ll be dressed for success with a Business Administration diploma.

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Career Opportunities

A variety of opportunities will await you once you graduate. You'll have the option to continue your studies, obtain a professional designation or immediately pursue your career in fields such as:

  • Accounting
  • Advertising
  • Agriculture-Business
  • Banking
  • E-commerce
  • Energy Industry
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Financial Services
  • Human Resources
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Project Management
  • Retail Management
  • Running your own business
  • Sales
  • Start-up Business
  • Taxation
  • Technology

The Business Administration program is also excellent preparation for further post-secondary education.

Visit ALIS website for more career information.

Student Feature: Ashley Pierson

3

majors to choose from: accounting, management or business operations

Numerous opportunities

to network with and learn from real-life businesses

Professional designation

– many courses transfer into Canada’s only professional accounting designation (CPA)

At-a-Glance

Starts-in

September or January

Credential / Accreditation

Diploma

Duration

2 years

Dates and Deadlines

Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.

Program Availability
Domestic Status
International Status
International Status with Study Permit
Fall 2024
Open
Open
Open
All majors
Winter 2025
Open
Open
Open

Admissions

This program is available for International Students.

New applicants are accepted into the Business Administration program in the Fall (September) and Winter (January) terms.

Note: Prospective students wishing to spread their courses over an additional term and/or commence their studies in the Winter term are encouraged to consult with an advisor for information regarding pre-requisites and course sequencing. Students who begin their studies in the Winter (January) term and plan to complete an accounting major must have credit for ACC-1175 Financial Accounting II (3 credits) prior to September in order to complete the program within two years. This means completing ACC-1175 Financial Accounting II (3 credits) in the Spring (May) term.

General Admissions Requirements

All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.

Academic Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants to this program must also satisfy the following specific course requirements (or equivalencies):

  • Grade 12 Math (equivalent to Alberta’s Math 30-2 or a higher level Math)
Graduation Requirements

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Business Administration Diploma with designated major.

Transfers
Athabasca University 

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Business Administration diploma program are eligible to receive 30 credits towards a number of post-diploma bachelor's degrees in Commerce, Management, Human Resources/Labour Relations, and Professional Arts at Athabasca University. To explore options, please visit www.athabascau.ca

It is highly recommended, but not mandatory, that BUS-2292 Business Finance (3 credits) and STS-2250 Statistics (3 credits) be included in your Lethbridge College diploma.

Chartered Professional Accountant designation

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Business Administration – Accounting major are eligible to receive credit for nine of the fourteen required courses to pursue Canada's only professional accounting designation – Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Details can be found at https://www.cpaalberta.ca/Become-a-CPA

College of the Rockies 

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Business Administration – Accounting, Management, or Business Operations majors are eligible to receive full block transfer into the Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices degree at College of the Rockies, provided all other entrance criteria are met and space remains available in the program. Entrance by new students to all programs at College of the Rockies is on a first-qualified, first-in basis.

Griffith University, Australia

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration diploma program are eligible to transfer credit towards the completion of a Bachelor of Business degree (all majors available) at Griffith University, in Australia. All students will be provided with an approved course completion pathway at time of application into a Griffith program. For more information, please visit www.griffith.edu.au/credit 

Northwestern Polytechnic 

Graduates of Lethbridge College's Business Administration – Accounting, Management, or Business Operations majors are eligible to receive full block transfer into the Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Northwestern Polytechnic, provided all other entrance criteria are met and space remains available in the program. Entrance by new students to all programs at Northwestern Polytechnic is on a first-qualified, first-in basis.

Okanagan College (pending review)

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration – Accounting, Management, or Business Operations diploma program with a minimum GPA of 2.3, or 67%, are eligible for admission into the third year of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program at Okanagan College.

Royal Roads University

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration – Accounting, Management, or Business Operations diplomas with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to receive block transfer into the third year of Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management or Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainability and International Business degree programs — provided all entrance criteria for admissions to Royal Roads University are met and space remains available.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) 

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration – Accounting diploma are eligible for admission into the third year of SAIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting (BBA ACCT) degree program. Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration – Management diploma are eligible for admission into the third year of SAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration Management (BBAM) or Human Resource Management (BBAH) degree programs. Please note, some bridging courses are required. Students are encouraged to contact Academic Advising at SAIT for more information. 

University of Lethbridge 

Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Business Administration diploma are eligible to receive two years’ credit towards the University of Lethbridge’s Bachelor of Management degree, provided that a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 is achieved in the Lethbridge College diploma program. The exact number of additional required courses varies based on courses taken and the major selected at the University of Lethbridge. Visit www.uleth.ca for further information.

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Delivery Formats

The Business Administration program is delivered on campus. We offer some online, asynchronous courses. Not all required program courses are available online.

Online (Partial)

This program offers some courses, but not all required program courses, online with either synchronous (learning occurs in real-time on a set schedule) or asynchronous (learning does not occur at the same time or same place) components.

On Campus

This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.

Courses

View all courses
CourseTitleCredits
Year 1
ACC-1170Financial Accounting I3
ACC-1175Financial Accounting II3
BUS-1166Business Law3
BUS-1170Introduction to Management3
BUS-1177Entrepreneurship3
BUS-1185Business Computer Applications1.5
COM-1162Interpersonal Relationships and Communications3
CPU-1165Business Applications II3
ECN-1180Microeconomics3
ENG-1159Writing for the Workplace3
MKT-1188Introduction to Marketing3
 Credits31.5
Year 2
Students must select one major from the following:30
Accounting
 
Business Operations
 
Management
 
 Credits30
 Total Credits61.5

Accounting Major

Accounting is often called “the language of business”. Accountants engage in a wide variety of activities related to the financial health of any type of organization including service and manufacturing industries, public accounting, government, and the not-for-profit sector. This program provides the theory and real-life skills to be ready to succeed in the complex and evolving business environment. Graduates of this program can pursue a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation in addition to being successful in any kind of business-related position.

As a very skills-based diploma, and our most transferable major, Accounting graduates are well prepared to take on many kinds of business roles and have successfully entered many business jobs and careers on the basis of their accounting diploma - traditional accounting roles but also many types of business related roles.

CourseTitleCredits
Year 2
ACC-2250Management Accounting I3
ACC-2251Management Accounting II3
ACC-2271Intermediate Financial Accounting I3
ACC-2273Intermediate Financial Accounting II3
ACC-2278Computerized Accounting for Management3
BUS-2292Business Finance3
ECN-2253Macroeconomics3
STS-2250Statistics3
TAX-2251Taxation3
Approved Elective (See elective lists A and B)3
 Credits30
 Total Credits30

Business Operations Major 

Operating a business takes adaptability and innovation. You will develop the strategies that make a business successful. While theory and practical application are foundational to this program, creativity is an integral element. You will learn skills that provide an understanding of customers, create awareness of external perspectives, and establish business objectives such as driving revenue, steering growth, adding value, and building loyalty.

Have an entrepreneurial spirit? The Business Operations major might be right for you. Ideal for individuals planning entrepreneurial careers, graduates will have a great start to opening their own business or entering jobs and careers in many business fields including sales and marketing.

Special note: If you intend to pursue a university degree upon completion of the Business Administration diploma, we strongly recommend that you include STS-2250 Statistics (3 credits) in your program.

CourseTitleCredits
Year 2
BUS-2288Project Management3
Cluster 1 (Choose 3 of 6)9
Retailing Strategies 
Logistics 
Integrated Marketing Communication 
Business Analytics and Decision Making 
Business Research Methods 
Advanced Marketing Strategies 
Cluster 2 (Choose 2 of 5)6
Organizational Behavior 
International Business 
Advanced Small Business Management 
Introduction to Supply Chain Management 
Human Resource Management 
Cluster 3 (Choose 1 of 3)3
Management Accounting I 
Macroeconomics 
Statistics 
Cluster 4 (Choose 1 of 2)3
Financial Planning 
Business Finance 
Approved Electives (Choose 2 from List A and/or List B)6
 Credits30
 Total Credits30

Management Major

People are the most important aspect to any organization.  Managing people is one of the most challenging and significant aspects of business.  Prepare to lead the business world of tomorrow through case studies, simulations, and other engaging learning experiences.  You will solve real business and organizational problems, gaining expertise in recruitment, selection, hiring, training, leadership and communications.

Management graduates are well prepared to take on many kinds of business roles and have successfully entered many business jobs and careers on the basis of their management diploma - traditional human resource department roles, banking, and managing a business, not-for-profit, charitable, or government organization.

CourseTitleCredits
Year 2
BUS-2268Organizational Behavior3
BUS-2275International Business3
BUS-2278Industrial and Labour Relations3
BUS-2285Advanced Small Business Management3
BUS-2288Project Management3
BUS-2292Business Finance3
BUS-2298Human Resource Management3
STS-2250Statistics3
Approved Electives (See elective lists A and B)6
 Credits30
 Total Credits30

List A - Approved Business Electives

CourseTitleCredits
ACC-2250Management Accounting I3
ACC-2251Management Accounting II3
ACC-2271Intermediate Financial Accounting I3
ACC-2273Intermediate Financial Accounting II3
ACC-2278Computerized Accounting for Management3
BUS-2268Organizational Behavior3
BUS-2275International Business3
BUS-2276Financial Planning3
BUS-2277Retailing Strategies3
BUS-2278Industrial and Labour Relations3
BUS-2281Logistics3
BUS-2283Integrated Marketing Communication3
BUS-2285Advanced Small Business Management3
BUS-2286Introduction to Supply Chain Management3
BUS-2287Business Analytics and Decision Making3
BUS-2288Project Management3
BUS-2290Business Research Methods3
BUS-2292Business Finance3
BUS-2293Advanced Marketing Strategies3
BUS-2298Human Resource Management3
CPU-2254Basic Desktop Publishing3
ECN-2253Macroeconomics3
FWK-2283Industry Placement3
FWK-2284Industry Placement II3
MKT-2260International Marketing3
MKT-2279Applied Sales3
STS-2250Statistics3
TAX-2251Taxation3
BUS-11XXUnspecified 13
BUS-22XXUnspecified 13
MKT-11XXUnspecified 13
MKT-22XXUnspecified 13

Unspecified credits for post-secondary Business and Marketing courses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

List B - Approved Non-Business Electives

(a maximum of 3 credits may be included from List B Approved Non-Business Electives.)

CourseTitleCredits
AGR-2286Agricultural Business Management3
BIO-1151Environmental Issues3
BLK-1151Blackfoot Language I3
CPL-1150Community Service Learning3
FWK-2283Industry Placement3
FWK-2284Industry Placement II3
HUM-1150Logic3
HUM-1155Ethics3
HUM-1180Introduction to World Religions3
HUM-1190Popular Culture3
INS-1155Introduction to Indigenous Studies3
PED-1123Academic Success in Athletics I1.5
PSC-1161Introduction to Politics3
PSC-1165Canadian Government3
PSY-1160Introduction to Psychology3
SGV-1111Student Government3
SGV-1112Student Government3
SGV-1122Student Government6
SGV-2113Student Government3
SGV-2114Student Government3
SGV-2124Student Government6
SOC-1160Introduction to Sociology3
SPN-1150Introductory Spanish3

Practicum Experience

There is a practicum component to this program. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the practicum experience.

View course timetables

Tuition and Fees

Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$4,774.00
$1,206.00
$1,550.00
Year 2
$4,950.00
$1,288.00
$1,650.00
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
Title Tuition Fees Books/Supplies
Year 1
$14,854.00
$1,206.00
$1,550.00
Year 2
$15,045.00
$1,288.00
$1,650.00
Notes

Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.

Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.

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Scholarships

With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge College awards and scholarships for which you qualify, including these featured scholarships:

BUS.ACC.DIP
BUS.GEN.DIP
BUS.MGT.DIP
BUS.MKT.DIP