Program Details

Program description

Get essential business skills in the Business Administration diploma. Discover the key areas of how businesses operate with practical coursework and gain a solid foundation to start your career. With your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) laptop, you engage in small classes with active, collaborative coursework learning from faculty with real business experience. You work in teams to deliver projects, present strategies and meet business goals.

You start with a common first year to build core business skills. In year two, you become proficient in your choice of major: Accounting, Financial Services, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing or Supply Chain Management.

You begin the program with a small business simulation. Then you progress to your final capstone course: a global simulation of an international enterprise where you make all decisions from manufacturing and production to hiring your workforce, determining pricing and promotional strategy and more. You graduate ready to start a great business career with the option to ladder into a business degree.

Program brochure

Explore our brochure for the Business Administration Diploma program — open in a new window, download or scroll to search and find the information you are looking for.

Majors

Business Administration diploma students can choose between the following majors:

Your career

When you graduate, you can pursue entry-level careers such as:

• Accounting: accountant, accounting clerk, bookkeeper, business analyst, payroll clerk, royalty analyst, tax accountant
• Financial Services: fraud investigator, financial planner, financial services representative, insurance claims representative, mortgage assistant, personal banking specialist
• Human Resource Management: benefits advisor, HR coordinator, payroll coordinator, recruiter
• Management: account manager, conference director, management trainee, operations manager, project coordinator, purchasing specialist, store manager
• Marketing: advertising coordinator, business analyst, business development advisor, marketing and communications specialist, marketing coordinator, online advertising sales representative
• Supply Chain Management: buyer, commodity manager, inventory analyst, logistics coordinator, supply chain analyst, procurement specialist

Student success

To achieve success in this program, students should:

• attend and actively participate in all classes
• spend five to eight hours per week on each course outside of regular class time
• be proficient in Windows and Microsoft Office
• be prepared to work in teams
• become familiar and adhere to SAIT’s policies and procedures
• have strong written and oral communication skills.

If you are engaged in campus life and take advantage of SAIT services and resources, you may be more likely to experience success in SAIT's programs.

Credentials and accreditation

After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Business Administration diploma.

Graduates will have the opportunity to pursue a variety of professional designations, depending on their major. Additional exams, education or work requirements may apply for earning a designation or certification. Completion of a degree is required in some cases.

Accounting major students can pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Professional Education Program, upon completion of a degree. See SAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Applied Business Administration (Accounting).

Financial Services major students will have the opportunity to complete the Investment Funds in Canada (IFIC) exam. The Financial Planning Standards Council recognizes the program as meeting the Core Curriculum requirements for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification.

Human Resource Management (no formal agreement in place): Graduates can pursue a number of designations including: Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP), Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR), and Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP). A degree is required in some cases.

Management (no formal agreement in place): Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Canadian Institute of Management (CIM)

Marketing: Certified Sales Professional (CSP)

Supply Chain Management (no formal agreement in place): Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), Professional Logistician (P.Log), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Transfer options

Once completed, this SAIT credential may be eligible for transfer credit at another post-secondary institution. Explore your transfer options to advance your education with another credential at another post-secondary across the globe.

Admission Requirements

Admission and selection

• Applications are accepted until the program start date.

Admission requirements

Completion of the following courses or equivalents:

• at least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or Pure Math 30, or at least 60% in Applied Math 30
• at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1, or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2
• all applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.

SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. 

Competitive entry: six-step process

Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.

Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.

Step 3: Review the selection information to understand the process and deadlines.

Applications and proof of the admission requirements (transcripts and/or anticipated final grades) along with all supporting documents must be submitted to be included in selection or early admission.

Early admission will be offered to applicants who have achieved or will achieve the following requirements:

• a minimum of 60% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2
• a minimum of 60% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or Pure Math 30 or Applied Math 30.

Early admission will be offered until July 2 (winter start) and Dec. 15 (fall start) or until the program is full.

After July 2 (winter start) and Dec. 15 (fall start), admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis. Once the program is full, applicants will be placed on a waitlist in order of academic ranking.

Step 4: Apply to Business Administration and submit your transcripts.

Step 5: Log in to mySAIT.ca to check your admission status. If eligible, your status will indicate that you are "in selection."

Step 6: Continue to monitor changes to your application status through mySAIT.ca .

Failure to meet anticipated final grades will result in offers being rescinded.

Communication during selection

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 business@sait.ca and the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.ssages. 

Courses

Program outline

View additional Business Administration program information including course-specific descriptions and requisites.

This program consists of 60 credits (20 courses). Students take a common first year with an elective option in second semester. In second year they specialize in one of the following majors:

• Accounting
• Financial Services
• Human Resource Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Supply Chain Management

First year

Semester 1 - Common

Semester 2 - Common

Accounting major

Second year

Semester 3

Semester 4

Financial Services major

Second year

Semester 3

Semester 4

Human Resource Management Major

Second Year

Semester 3

Semester 3

Management Major

Second Year

Semester 3

Semester 4

Marketing Major

Second Year

Semester 3

Semester 4

Supply Chain Management Major

Second Year

Semester 3

Semester 4

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.

Costs

Domestic Tuition and Fees*

International Tuition and Fees*

SAIT Fees

Campus Athletic and Recreation Fee: $160
Universal Transit Pass (UPass): $302

SAIT Students' Association Fees

Health Plan: $110**
Dental Plan: $125**
SAIT Students' Association (SAITSA): $288

Books and Supplies*

• Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per fulltime year.
• The Business Administration Financial Services major has a 4th semester course that requires registration and payment to an external accrediting body of approximately $400 for an industry licensing exam.
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program: approx. $600-$800 for a Windows-based laptop that meets the minimum requirements.

Find out about tuition and financial aid.

* Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
** For students with existing health and/or dental plans, please refer to the SAITSA website for information on opting out.

Contact Information

School of Business
403.284.8485
business.advising@sait.ca