Program

Accounting (Bachelor of Business Administration)

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Accounting
Credits
121.50
Length of Program
Four years
Credential Type
Bachelor's Degree
Campus
New Westminster
Learning Format
Full-time
Part-time
Admission Type
Open Enrolment - Additional Admission Requirements
Offered
Fall
Summer
Winter

Overview

Launch an exciting career in Canada’s growing financial industry with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. This program’s applied curriculum and work-experience component provide you with the necessary skills to secure intermediate-level accounting positions once you graduate.

You’ll be qualified to work in the areas of financial reporting, taxation, management accounting and auditing. We offer year-round day and evening courses to both part-time and full-time students and provide you with flexibility while earning your credential.

This program satisfies the entrance requirements of the Chartered Professional Accountant’s (CPA) Professional Education Program (PEP). Additionally, courses offered in the BBA in Accounting are recognized by Aboriginal Financial Officers (AFOA) Canada towards the Certified Aboriginal Financial Manager (CAFM) designation

Choose a concentration for your degree 

The Accounting degree offers a number of concentrations to choose from that will help you build industry-relevant skills for your career path. See the Concentrations tab for more information.

Two ways to get a practical education

Earn money and get relevant work experience before you graduate with the optional Co-operative Education Program.  

Complete projects in the modern workplace with the  Business Internship Program

You will also need work experience in order to complete BUSN 4500, the capstone course in this program, which requires you to have 500 hours of Canadian work experience. Hours gained through Co-operative Education and volunteer positions may be used to satisfy this component. See Program Requirements for more details. 

Job opportunities

Surveys show that 85 percent of our Accounting degree graduates are working in the field after graduation. (Source: B.C. Student Outcomes). Over 11,500 accounting and financial auditor job openings are expected in B.C. for the next ten years. You can also expect a median salary of $72,996 once you graduate.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:

 

Cost

Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more. 

For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts

Program Requirements

Curriculum Framework

Graduation Requirements:

  • Successful completion of 121.50 credits.
  • A minimum of 45 credits must be upper level courses, e.g. at the 3000 or 4000 level. The 45 credits may include both required courses and electives. Please keep this in mind when choosing your electives. 
  • A minimum of 40% of course work must be completed at Douglas College.
  • A minimum program GPA of 2.00 is required.
  • In good academic standing.
  • 1000-2000 level courses must be University Transferable. A University Transferable course is a course that transfers to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC, or UVIC in the BC Transfer Guide.
  • Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: ten (10) years. Any courses completed outside of that time limit will not be usable. Students may seek the permission of the Department/Program to complete a credential outside the approved time limits.

 

Course Requirements:

Course Number Course Title Credits

Required Courses:

ACCT 11101

Principles of Accounting I (or ACCT 1235, see note 1)

3.00

ACCT 12101

Principles of Accounting II

3.00

ACCT 1222

Computer Applications for Accounting

3.00

ACCT 2320

Introductory Managerial Accounting

3.00

ACCT 3310

Intermediate Accounting I

3.00

ACCT 3370

Income Tax I

3.00

ACCT 3410

Intermediate Accounting II

3.00

ACCT 3420

Intermediate Managerial Accounting

3.00

ACCT 3470

Income Tax II

3.00

ACCT 3880

Data Analytics for Managers

3.00

ACCT 4510

Advanced Financial Accounting

3.00

ACCT 4520

Advanced Management Accounting

3.00

ACCT 4750

Auditing

3.00

BUSN 1210

Management Essentials

3.00

BLAW 1320

Introductory Business Law

3.00

BUSN 3431

Business Statistics II

3.00

BUSN 4275

Business Strategy and Competitive Analysis

3.00

BUSN 45002

Career and Portfolio Development. This is a capstone course that requires 500 hours Canadian work experience.

1.50

CMNS 1115

Business Communication

3.00

CSIS 1190

Excel for Business

3.00

CSIS 2200

Systems Analysis and Design

3.00

ECON 1150

Principles of Microeconomics

3.00

ECON 1250

Principles of Macroeconomics

3.00

FINC 2340

Corporate Finance

3.00

MARK 1120

Introductory Marketing

3.00

Open electives

Seven 1000 - 4000 level electives. 1000 and 2000 level electives must be university transferable.

21.00

Open electives

Five 3000-4000 level electives.

15.00

Select one course from the following two options:3

FINC 1231

Business Mathematics 3.00

MATH 1125

Calculus for the Social Sciences 3.00

Select one course from the following two options:3

BUSN 2429

Business Statistics

3.00

MATH 1160 Introduction to Statistics 3.00
Select one course from the following four options:
PHIL 1102 Values and Contemporary Issues 3.00
PHIL 1122 Business Ethics 3.00
BUSN 4490 Applied Legal and Ethical Decision Making for Managers, Professionals and Executives 3.00
ACCT 4580 Ethics and Workplace Skills 3.00
Select one course from the following two options:

CMNS 2115

Advanced Business Communication

3.00

ENGL 1130 Academic Writing 3.00

Total Credits

 

121.50

Notes:

1. Students may take ACCT 1235 instead of ACCT 1110 and ACCT 1210. When ACCT 1235 is taken, students must take another 1000-4000 elective offered by the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration.  

2. There is a significant amount of work required to successfully complete BUSN 4500. Students who do not have the 500 hours of related work experience required to complete the course are strongly encouraged to seek this experience early in the program.

3. FINC 1231 and BUSN 2429 are highly recommended.

Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

FAQs

The BBA degree granted by Douglas College is given under a license granted to us by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, British Columbia Government, and as such it is an accredited post-secondary degree.

Most BBA courses are transferable to other post secondary institutions. Granting credit for work done at Douglas is entirely up to the receiving institutions. For first and second year courses, most colleges and universities follow the BC Transfer Guide for course transfers.

For 3rd and 4th year courses which are normally subject specialty courses, the receiving institution may grant credit provides such courses are compatible both in content and coverage with the courses at their institution.

This degree is open to all students meeting the admission requirements. Students who have previously earned another credential may be eligible to use this coursework to partially satisfy the BBA in Accounting curriculum requirements. Refer to the “Multiple Credentials” section of the Douglas College Credentials Policy for further information.

We offer 3 intakes per year: in the Fall, Winter and Summer semesters.  We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the seats are assigned on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applications must be submitted online and you may forward your official transcripts by mail. Apply online here.

International applicants are encouraged to apply.  Douglas College International is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our international students. Please direct your inquiries to cie@douglascollege.ca.

Yes, you may. In such cases, applicants are classified as "pre-BBA" and will be required to complete all the prerequisite courses whether from high school or lower level college prerequisites. Douglas College offers math upgrading and English upgrading for those applicants who may be missing high school level courses. As well, students may also upgrade for business programs with specific courses. 

Yes, we can. Please contact the BBA Coordinators for a personal meeting. We will be pleased to sit down, assess your current educational needs and try to find a program that may best fit your future educational goals and expectation. Get contact info.

The focus of the degree is to equip you with relevant, applied skills in the field of professional accounting. You take a diverse set of courses, many of which include a "hands-on" component enabling you to practice and master skills that will be very relevant at the workplace. The design of the curriculum provides a seamless transition from the classroom to the work environment.

You can choose from three specialties: Accounting, Financial Services or Management.



Accounting is ideal if you plan to earn your Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation or enter the field of accounting.



Financial Services will prepare you for wealth planning and securities positions, plus designations such as CFP, PFP, CIM, FMA, CFA, and Mutual Fund Licensing.

Management will prepare you for the management-level roles in an industry of your choice with the combination of the Chartered Management Program (CMP) designation and industry-specific skills in such fields as financial services, international business, supply chain, hospitality and project or trades management. Plus, earn an additional industry-specific designation for your chosen concentration.

All classes are offered in the day and evening on a rotational basis to accommodate employment and family commitments. 

It will take 2-4 years for full-time students to complete this degree (durations for part-time students vary), depending on your level of business education. 

Career Pathways

Job opportunities include:

  • Accountant 
  • Account and/or Billing Coordinator 
  • Business or Cost Administrator 
  • Billing Administrator 
  • Compensation Advisor 
  • Credit Loans Officer or Credit (Risk) Analyst 
  • Financial Controller or Analyst 
  • Financial Investment Advisor
  • Management Trainee 
  • Mortgage Underwriter 
  • Payroll Administrator