Business Administration
www.ufv.ca/busadmin

Business Administration diploma

The two-year diploma program is designed to give graduates a solid educational background on which to build a business career. The Business Administration diploma program develops practical skills in business writing, mathematics, and computing along with an understanding of fundamental principles in the areas of marketing, accounting, economics, and management. Students who complete the two-year diploma and meet the entrance requirements to the third-year degree level will normally have all their courses recognized as satisfying the first two years of the Business Administration degree program offered at UFV. To maximize this recognition (up to 60 of the 120 credits required for the degree program). Students should consult degree program requirements before registering for diploma courses.

Entrance requirements

Note: Changes to the Business Administration diploma program are being developed for Fall 2010. When final approval for the changes have been received, the program changes will be published to the UFV 2010-11 draft calendar. Students are advised to consult with an education advisor. The changes are expected to be done in November 2009.

1. B.C. secondary school graduation, or equivalent.

2. Principles of Mathematics 12 (C+ or better), or UFV MATH 095 (C+ or better), or MATH 110 (C+ or better) or a MATA score of 67% or better (see Note 1) or equivalent. MATH 111 and 115 also meet this requirement but have Math 12 as a prerequisite;

3. English 12 (C+ or better) or a CPT score of 48 or better or UFV English 081 and/or 091 (C+ or better) or UFV ENGL 099 or CMNS 099(C+ or better (see Note 2).

Note 1: The Math 12 Ability Test (MATA) is available for students to determine their proficiency in Mathematics for UFV Business programs only. Students who receive a passing grade on the MATA will be considered to have met the Math 12 admission requirement for UFV Business programs (but will not receive Math 12 credit). Students considering taking this test should contact the Business department for procedures, exam dates, and permission to write.

Note 2: As of September 2009, students must meet the prerequisite to CMNS 125.

Note 3: All students entering Business Administration programs are expected to be computer literate. This means knowing how to run programs from a Windows environment, and having basic Internet, word processing, and spreadsheet skills. CIS 100 with a C or better is recommended.

Students who have completed relevant certificate or one-year programs such as the Administration certificate may have some or all of their credits recognized for credit to the Business Administration diploma program. See the department for further information.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Business Studies program path.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall semester only. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee, along with your UFV application for admission form, to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
• Official transcripts (or interim transcripts) of all post-secondary institutions attended showing grade/course achievement as per program entrance requirements.

The following must be included:

a. Official transcript (or interim transcript) from high school
b. B.C. English 12 with C+ or better or equivalent.
c. B.C. Principles of Math 12 with C+ or better or equivalent.
d. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent

Note: Students making an early application must provide evidence of courses in progress as soon as available.

2. In April/May an orientation will be offered for all Business Administration programs. Attendance at the orientation is mandatory.

3. Upon admission, you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes.

4. In cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements must be submitted by the date stated on your acceptance letter.

Program re-entry

For re-entry to a Business Administration program, GPA will be calculated based on the courses that will be used to fulfill the program requirements only (program GPA). Limitations on the number of courses retaken will apply.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Length and location

You can complete the diploma program in two years if you take five courses each fall and winter semester.

A reduced course load is permitted but will result in a longer period of time needed for program completion. The department normally requires the diploma to be completed within seven years.

The full diploma program is offered at both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses. Most of the first year of the diploma program is offered at the Mission campus. All students should expect to travel between campuses during their program.

Residency requirements

At least 25 percent of the course work must be completed at UFV.

Transferring courses to other institutions and associations

Students intending to pursue commerce or business administration studies at UBC, SFU, UVic, or UNBC are advised to study those institutions’ calendars carefully before enrolling in any UFV courses which have a BUS designation. Students should consult an educational advisor in Student Services or at the institution to which they intend to transfer, or refer to the Provincial Transfer Guide at www.bctransferguide.ca for transfer details.

Many business administration courses are transferable to B.C. colleges and institutes. To obtain maximum transfer credit, students should ensure that electives chosen are transferable and appropriate for the desired program.

Most accounting and finance-related business administration courses offered at UFV have transferability with the professional accounting associations — the Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA), the Society of Management Accountants (CMA) and the Certified General Accountants Association (CGA). A number of the department’s courses are also recognized by the Municipal Administrators’ Education Council, the Canadian Credit Union Institute, the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and the Purchasing Management Association of Canada.

Distance education

A number of courses applicable to the degree, diploma, and certificate programs are available by distance education through TRU-OL. If your work schedule, or UFV’s timetable, prevents you from taking a course when needed, or you find it impossible to obtain a seat in a course because it is full, you may be able to arrange to take an equivalent course through the publicly funded TRU-OL. Contact the Business Administration department to get information about equivalent courses available on this basis, and to request a Letter of Permission (written authorization) to include them in your program.

Recognition of previously completed Business Administration courses

Former UFV business administration students who finished their studies more than 10 years ago and students who completed courses in other programs and/or at other post-secondary institutions prior to starting a UFV Business Administration program should contact the Business Administration department to determine whether any courses/credits can be recognized for or transferred to the desired UFV Business program. Applicability of courses and/or transfer credits is determined on an individual student basis.

The following criteria are used:

• Relevance and suitability of the course to the program as determined by the Business Administration department
• Generally, courses taken more than 10 years ago will not be considered applicable; courses taken more recently may not be considered applicable if there has been significant change in the course subject matter since the course was taken.
• Grades received (a C grade is the minimum acceptable if the course was taken at another institution)
• Courses taken at other institutions may not be used to meet the program residency requirements.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section.

Textbooks and supplies cost approximately $750–900 per year. Textbooks should be considered an investment and become part of your business library. You may be required to purchase one or more computer software packages. Software costs should not exceed an average of $200 per year and are in addition to the textbooks costs cited above. You should also consider purchasing or arranging access to an industry-compatible computer.

Academic performance requirements

Students must obtain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C average) in their final semester as well as cumulatively in order to be awarded the diploma or a certificate. Students whose cumulative grade point average and/or semester grade point average falls below 2.0 during their program are subject to academic warning and/or removal from the program (see this section for details).

Note: The maximum number of courses applying to Business Administration programs that can be retaken is five, whether for repeating or for upgrading. This maximum applies to any one program and cumulatively to all Business programs taken at UFV.

Note: Diploma students continuing to the degree program require a higher performance level than the minimum stated here to be considered for entry to third year; specifically, no course grade below C, and cumulative Business diploma grade point average of 2.67 (see the degree program entrance requirements).

Co-operative Education option

The Co-operative Education option offers students in the Business Administration diploma and degree programs the opportunity to obtain paid, career-related work experience in their field of study during their education at UFV. After completing their first year of study, Co-op students alternate between semesters of full-time study and full-time paid employment. See the Co-operative Education section of the calendar for further details.

Program outline

The Business Administration diploma is the foundation of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program. The diploma represents the first two years of the degree and is a prerequisite for entrance into the actual degree program, which begins in third year and continues into fourth year.

First Year

Semester I

Semester II

Second Year

Semester III

Semester IV

Note 1: In order to fulfill their diploma marketing requirements, students must complete BUS 120 and one of the following: BUS 221, 222, 223, or 224.

Note 2: Students who have completed Financial Accounting 12 with a B+ or better should complete BUS 145 as equivalent to BUS 143 and BUS 144. Students taking BUS 145 must take an additional business elective for three credits.

Note 3: General Education elective: Diploma students over the two-year program must complete two business or general education electives. Degree students must meet the following general education requirements over the four-year program:
 a) one natural science (lab) course;
 b) one humanities course other than English;
 c) one social science course other than economics; and
 d) one business or general education elective.
It is recommended that the diploma general education electives be satisfied by completing two of the four degree requirements for those students who plan to ladder up to the degree. Students must consult with the program assistant or program chair regarding acceptable electives.

Note 4: Accounting concentration: For those who intend to choose the Accounting concentration in the degree, Management Accounting II (BUS 348) should be taken as a Business Elective in Semester 4. Instructor’s permission will be required.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.