Overview

Our Business Administration - Accounting major will help you build practical and fundamental accounting skills and understand how to analyze a company’s financial performance. If you’re interested in finance and math, problem-solving, and ethics and want diverse career options, this major is for you. 

You’ll learn how to use accounting principles in real businesses. You’ll be able to make and understand financial statements, which is essential in the business world. 

We’ll teach you how to calculate taxes for different business situations. Understanding tax laws is crucial for making smart financial decisions. 

You’ll explore financial concepts and how they apply to businesses to help you manage money, evaluate investments, and help clients make wise financial choices. 

Discover how technology and management information systems can make businesses run more efficiently. You’ll learn to use data and technology to make better decisions. 

We’ll talk about the right way to behave in the accounting profession. Ethics are essential for trust and respect in the accounting world. 

Preparation for Certified Public Accountant Advanced Certificate 

Our program gets you ready for advanced accounting studies. You’ll be well-prepared to become a certified accounting professional. 

This program gives you fundamental and practical accounting skills. You’ll know how to analyze finances and understand different parts of business administration. You’ll to take on accounting-related business administration jobs. 

Those working in the accounting field tend to be methodical, innovative, and directive.  

You need: 

  • high ethical standards 
  • strong communication skills 
  • critical-thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills 
  • time-management skills 
  • the ability to work independently or as part of a team.

You should enjoy following rules, solving problems creatively and be comfortable giving directions to others.

The opportunity to advance your education by transferring into this program or gain credit for previous postsecondary courses may be available.

Graduates of this program with a minimum 2.3 cumulative GPA (67% or C+) may be eligible to enter the Bachelor of Business Administration and earn their degree with an additional two years of study. 

A degree can open more career options and provide a direct path toward the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation and the world of financial accounting. 

Learn more about program and institution transfer options.

You’ll have the option to participate in an integrative experience capstone project in your final semester.  

If you choose a capstone project, you’ll work collaboratively with students from other majors to address a challenge faced by a local business or organization. You’ll work together as a team to investigate and analyze the challenge or problem before presenting a solution to company representatives. 

You can pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Professional Education Program upon completing a degree.

Additional exams, education, or work requirements may apply for earning a designation or certification.

Upon successful completion of this program, you’ll receive a SAIT Business Administration diploma with a major in Accounting.

Download program info

Careers and opportunities

Each year, SAIT conducts a survey between February and April to determine the employment rate, salary and satisfaction of our newest SAIT alumni. 

people icon 92% graduate employment rate

salary icon $51,113 average starting salary

Find out more about our graduate employment statistics >

Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 10010, 10019, 10021, 13100, 13102, 13110, 11100, 11101, 12011, 12200, 14200.

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Career counselling and support

Unsure which career path is for you? SAIT offers career planning services to help you decide your future.

You can also get started by taking our online career finder quiz, which can help you narrow down your search based on your current skills and interests.

Finally, you can also head to Alberta alis for various tools and resources, including additional quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a career path.

Services and workshops

Courses

Twenty courses (60 credits), including electives, are required to complete this program. You can take up to seven years to complete all 20 courses.

If you study full-time, with a full course load, you can complete the program in two years. For part-time learners, a combination of online and on-campus classes may be required to complete the program.

View classes by semester

Business cores

Course Credits

This course provides an introduction to financial accounting from the perspective of the user who makes decisions based on financial information. The course includes an introduction to the accounting framework, generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements. Accounting concepts such as accounting for cash, accounts receivable, assets, liabilities, sales and inventories, are covered in the context of how they are applied to decision-making. Decision analysis regarding corporate ownership and application of financial ratios will also be studied.

Equivalents:
  • ACCT 1010
3

The use of industry-standard software is essential to effectively manage the information technologies that are required in business and online environments today. In this course, you will demonstrate skills in managing and customizing the Windows environment, as well as effectively using internet resources to enhance business productivity. You will develop skills in creating professional documents, managing data using spreadsheets and using technology for effective presentations. Through hands-on applications, you will learn to use productivity tools and application software in various business situations, and be able to select the right tool for the business need.

Equivalents:
  • BCMP 1225
3

Business Law outlines the Canadian legal system in the context of a business environment and empowers students to apply the law and make informed decisions concerning their legal affairs. Emphasis is placed on the construction of the judicial system, the resolution of disputes, tort law, contract law, business structures, and employment law. These legal principles are applied to personal and business scenarios. Upon completion, students will have an understanding of when to seek legal advice.

Equivalents:
  • BLAW 2030
3

Business Mathematics introduces you to mathematical techniques used to solve finance problems involving simple and compound interest, debt repayment, valuation of investments, simple and general annuities, amortization of debts, sinking funds and bond valuations.

Equivalents:
  • BMAT 1040
  • BMAT 205
3

Communication and Presentation Skills provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to compose business documents and give engaging, formal presentations. You will learn how to effectively communicate in a professional environment and consider different aspects of spoken, written and nonverbal communication (e.g., channel, content, organization, style, tone, format and mechanics) in order to share clear and concise messages with your audience. You will be required to work in both individual and collaborative settings.

Equivalents:
  • COMM 1030
  • COMM 1070
3

In this introductory course in Microeconomics, you will learn about economic principles involved in analyzing problems in the business and consumer sectors of the Canadian economy. Some of the topics covered are: economic scarcity, demand, supply, elasticity, and perfect and imperfect competition.

Equivalents:
  • ECON 1010
3

Macroeconomics introduces you to the operation of the Canadian economy. You will apply economic principles to analyze a national economy. Topics include measuring and analyzing demand and supply, economic performance, and unemployment and inflation; As well, government fiscal, trade, and monetary policies are explored.

Equivalents:
  • ECON 1110
3

Marketing Essentials is an introductory course offering you a solid foundation in marketing principles. Working individually and in teams, you will research and discover how marketing decisions are made and identify the components of sustainable marketing programs. Your research, content application and teamwork skills will be developed and reinforced as you progress through the course.

Equivalents:
  • MKTG 1060
3

The Introduction to Business course will provide you with tools to understand multiple business functions including: management, human resources, marketing, supply chain, and personal finance. You will also explore the Canadian business and economic system, as well as the importance of business ethics and social responsibility in an increasingly global environment. Working through a team project and business simulation, you will begin to develop a 21st Century skill set including communication, critical thinking, collaboration and effective teamwork. By the end of this course, you should have the foundations for understanding business and business ownership.

Equivalents:
  • MNGT 1200
3

This introductory course provides an overview of human behaviour in organizations at the individual, group, and organizational level and the effect of each on organizational effectiveness. Topics include: individual differences, motivation, communication, teams, power and politics, conflict and negotiation, leadership, organizational culture, and change management.

Equivalents:
  • MNGT 2250
3

Quantitative Methods will build analysis skills through the study of basic concepts in statistics, including: sampling; measurement of central tendency and variability; probability and probability distributions; random variables; estimation; hypothesis testing; small sample theory; and regression analysis.

Equivalents:
  • STAT 2040
3

Accounting major cores

Course Credits

In this first of two intermediate accounting courses, you will develop technical competencies as you examine the statement of comprehensive income (income statement), statement of changes in equity (statement of retained earnings), statement of financial position (balance sheet) and statement of cash flows (cash flow statement) in depth, with emphasis on the measurement, valuation and presentation of current and non-current assets.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 255 or ACCT 240
Equivalents:
  • ACCT 3210
3

Introductory Management Accounting introduces you to key concepts and practices of management accounting. You will learn to process and analyze information for management control and decision analysis. Some of the topics you will study include cost accounting, cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting, inventory costing and job costing.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 255 or ACCT 240
Equivalents:
  • ACCT 2020
3

The focus of this second intermediate financial accounting course shifts from assets to liabilities and equities. Specialized topics, including accounting for complex debt and equity instruments, leases, income taxes, pension and other post-employment benefits, and accounting changes, enable you to consolidate the knowledge and skills you developed in previous accounting courses. Your numeracy skills will develop to encompass present value calculation activities; and your qualitative and quantitative skills will be enhanced as you analyze complex financial situations and prepare more complex financial statements.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 315 or ACCT 305
Equivalents:
  • ACCT 3310
3

A review of management accounting: cost behaviors and cost allocation methods; product pricing methods and strategies, process costing with joint, by-product and spoilage; linear programming; regression analysis; and short-term decision analysis under certainty and uncertainty.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 338 or ACCT 345
  • STAT 270 or STAT 220 or STAT 360
Equivalents:
  • ACCT 3120
3

This course is a foundation course with an emphasis on the contemporary finance decisions made by an organization. These include: Financial Statement Analysis, Working Capital Management Decisions, Refunding and Leasing Decisions, Calculation and use of Cost of Capital, Capital Budgeting Decisions, and Risk and Capital Budgeting with Risk.

3

Management Information Systems and their role in managing operations is the focus of this introductory systems course. Topics you will cover include systems theory, computer hardware and software, computer networks, file and database structures, computer security and internal control, and the systems design and development process.

Pre-requisites:
  • COMN 220
  • MNGT 200
Equivalents:
  • MNGT 2322
3

Business core elective (choose one)

Course Credits

Building on the foundation established in Introductory Financial Accounting I, this course introduces accounting issues related to partnerships and corporations. Topics including bank reconciliations, bad debts, capital assets, short and long-term liabilities, share capital, dividends and stock splits are explored. You will gain practical, hands-on experience in recording accounting transactions and preparing financial statements.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 210 or ACCT 215
Equivalents:
  • ACCT 2110
3

Personal Financial Planning is an introductory course offering the student a solid foundation in financial principles. The goal of understanding personal financial planning is to achieve personal economic satisfaction. Significant areas that will be covered will be setting financial goals, budgeting, income taxes, insurance, investment products, and retirement/estate planning.

Equivalents:
  • BFIN 1255
3

Human Resource (HR) Management includes the foundational knowledge and skills required by HR Professionals and business managers. This course includes an overview of the field of human resource management, along with human resource planning, employee compensation and benefits, recruitment, selection and training of employees, performance management, government regulation and health and safety in the workplace.

Equivalents:
  • HRMT 2320
3

In this course, you will develop a practical approach to using digital, social and mobile platforms that achieve business goals. Current applications and tools, community management practices and legal/privacy issues related to digital marketing tactics will be examined. Teams will develop a digital plan that specifies the use of email, websites, SEO, social media and mobile marketing, all with the goal of targeting and delivering effective communication to digital media-savvy audiences. An emphasis is placed on the return on digital marketing investment and on building relationships that lead to a culture of trust.

Equivalents:
  • MKTG 1265
3

This introductory course examines the multi-faceted role of managers and leaders within the organization. Issues such as planning and controls, managing the team and group dynamics, and creating and leading change will be examined within the cultural context of the organization. Decision-making and communication skills from a management perspective will be developed in light of sustainability, ethical, and diversity issues combined with a constantly changing competitive environment.

Equivalents:
  • MNGT 1255
3

Supply chain management (SCM) is the movement of material and information through integrated processes in a supply chain to provide the highest degree of customer satisfaction at the lowest possible cost to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Elements of a supply chain include Transportation and Logistics, Procurement and Contract Management, Operations Management, Materials Management and Quality and Safety. You will analyze different components of the integrated process including: location choice, distribution system design, selection of suppliers and distributors, contracting issues, partnership formation, inventory policies, production plans and electronic data interchange. You will be introduced to the planning and management of the production and distribution of goods and services and you will start developing the skills needed to support the integrated SCM process.

Equivalents:
  • SCMT 1255
  • MNGT 2370
3

Accounting major elective (choose one)

Course Credits

This course covers sources and structures of income tax legislation, the meaning of income from employment, net income for individuals, income from business and property, capital cost allowance, capital gains/losses, remuneration salaries vs. dividends, impact of taxation on business decisions and tax planning.

Pre-requisites:
  • BLAW 300 or BLAW 200
  • ACCT 255 or ACCT 240 or BFIN 230 or BFIN 255 or BFIN 301
3

This course provides you with an opportunity to apply accounting knowledge to a computerized accounting environment. In this course, you will use accounting software, but the knowledge you will gain can be applied to all computerized accounting solutions for the preparation of financial statements.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 215
  • ACCT 255
  • ACCT 338 or ACCT 345
3

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to fundamental skills in critical thinking. You will develop skills in identifying fallacies, evaluating formal arguments, and diagnosing the appropriate form of argumentation in a variety of areas, including science and morality. Your skills in argumentation will be honed both in evaluating others’ arguments and in making your own.

Equivalents:
  • PHIL 1011
3

Integrated experience elective (choose one)

Course Credits

In this capstone course, students from different disciplines work collaboratively to apply classroom knowledge and diverse perspectives to a challenge faced by a business or community organization. Combining their disciplinary perspectives for broader context, students will investigate and analyze the problem before presenting a solution. By adding a service-learning component that strengthens community ties, the course allows teams to showcase applied learning and technical skills in a project that expands the individual student’s workplace insights while also forging business connections.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 215
  • BCMP 225
  • BMAT 230
  • COMN 220
  • ECON 250
  • ECON 305
  • MKTG 260
  • MNGT 250
  • MNGT 200 or BLAW 300
3

This course integrates the learning outcomes from pre-requisite courses to enable students to make sustainable and competitive strategic business decisions within a rapidly changing global environment. Critical thinking skills are utilized as students analyze and apply management strategies to business cases and make recommendations to maximize corporate results.

Pre-requisites:
  • ACCT 215 or ACCT 210 or ACCT 330
  • BCMP 225 or BCPT 238
  • BMAT 230 or BMAT 205
  • COMN 220 or COMM 290
  • ECON 250 or ECON 240
  • ECON 305 or ECON 260
  • MKTG 260 or MKTG 205
  • MNGT 200 or BLAW 300 or BLAW 200
  • MNGT 250 or MGMT 254
3

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure >

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Explore your options!

Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies. You can complete courses via Open Studies to get a head start on your education, reduce your course load once accepted into a credentialed program, or determine which career path best suits you before you fully commit. 

You may also take courses for general interest or personal and professional development.

Available Open Studies courses

Admission requirements

Applicants educated in Canada

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet the following requirements or equivalents.

  • at least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 AND
  • at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2.

SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission for applicants educated outside Alberta.

All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English Language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find out what educational documents are accepted and assessment options.

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

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Academic Upgrading

Missing an admission requirement for this program? Upgrade your prior education to help you receive admission into one of SAIT's career programs.

Upgrade
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English language proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Learn more

Available intakes

Spring 2024

Start dates:

Domestic students: Waitlisted
  • Application deadline: Feb. 23, 2024
International students: Closed
  • Application deadline: Jan. 22, 2024

Fall 2024

Start dates:

Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: June 28, 2024
International students: Closed
  • Application deadline: May 29, 2024

Winter 2025

Start dates:

Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: Oct. 25, 2024
International students: Open
  • Application deadline: Sept. 30, 2024

Costs

2024/25 tuition and fees

The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2024. 

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year. 
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $5,910 $1,608 $7,518
2 2 $5,910 $1,608 $7,518
Total cost:
$15,036

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year. 
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $19,500 $1,608 $21,108
2 2 $19,500 $1,608 $21,108
Total cost:
$42,216

Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with a standard computer hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date. Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.

2023/24 tuition and fees

The following costs are effective until June 30, 2024.

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year. 
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $5,910 $1,570 $7,480
2 2 $5,910 $1,570 $7,480
Total cost:
$14,960

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year. 
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $18,936.30 $1,570 $20,506.30
2 2 $18,936.30 $1,570 $20,506.30
Total cost:
$41,012.60
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Financial aid

Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.

Learn more

Application process

When applying in the application portal, select Business Administration. You will declare your major before your second year of the program.

Ready to apply?

Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.

Learn how to apply

Communication during admission

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. 

We recommend you add the business.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.

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Begin your application

Apply now using the online application portal. 

Ensure you have a valid Visa or Mastercard to pay the non-refundable application fee of $120 for domestic applicants or $150 for international applicants. 

Apply now

Information sessions

Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.

Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:

  • What sets SAIT apart
  • An introduction to the program and area of study
  • Admission requirements
  • Future career paths
  • Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.

Contact us

School of Business Advising

Phone
403.284.8485
Email
business.advising@sait.ca

International Student Advising

Phone
403.284.8852
Email
international@sait.ca