Accounting (Post-Baccalaureate Diploma)
Domestic Applications
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
Please visit the International Application Deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
Overview
Interested in pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation? Get started with the two-year Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting. This program is designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than commerce or business administration.
Once you graduate you'll have the skills to secure intermediate-level accounting positions in financial reporting, taxation, management accounting and auditing.
Two ways to get a practical education
Earn money and get relevant work experience before you graduate with the optional Co-operative Education Program.
Get essential career training that will prepare you for your future career with the Career Boost Program.
Further education
If you are interested in pursuing further education, the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Accounting satisfies the entrance requirements of the Chartered Professional Accountant’s (CPA) Professional Education Program (PEP). From there, you can move on to careers such as tax auditor, financial officer, controller, auditor and financial analyst.
Flexible studies
Day and evening courses, offered year-round to both part-time and full-time students, provide you with flexibility while earning your post-baccalaureate diploma.
Students whose degree is in commerce or business administration should apply for entrance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Accounting program.
Job opportunities
Over 11,000 accounting and financial auditor job openings are expected in B.C. for the next ten years. You can also expect a median salary of $72,000 once you graduate.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet the admission requirements listed below:
- General College Admission Requirements
- Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada or an equivalent credential from an approved institution of a different country. Any applicant who earned their credential in a language other than English must meet the Douglas College English language proficiency requirement.
This program is intended for students with degrees in areas other than Business. Applicants whose undergraduate degree is in business administration should also look at the Post-Degree Diploma in Accounting program to determine if this is a more suitable program for you.
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
Graduation Requirements:
- Successful completion of 60 credits
- In good academic standing
- Courses used towards a previously received credential can be used to meet program requirements, but additional courses will need to be taken to replace these credits. Please contact the program co-ordinator for approval of substitutions.
- 50% (30 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College
- 18 credits out of 33 upper level credits must be completed at Douglas College
- A minimum program GPA of 2.00 is required
- Students can also take this program with a cooperative education option
- Time limit to complete the program graduation requirements: seven (7) 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.
Additional Graduation Requirements with Cooperative Education Option
- Successful completion of 9 additional credits through Cooperative Education I (COOP 1100).
- Students completing the Cooperative Education option will graduate with 69 credits.
- 50% (34.5 credits) of all coursework must be completed at Douglas College.
Course Requirements:
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Required Courses: | ||
| ACCT 11101 |
Principles of Accounting I | 3.00 |
| ACCT 12101 | Principles of Accounting II | 3.00 |
| ACCT 2320 | Introductory Managerial Accounting | 3.00 |
| ACCT 3310 |
Intermediate Accounting I | 3.00 |
| ACCT 3410 |
Intermediate Accounting II | 3.00 |
| ACCT 3420 |
Intermediate Managerial Accounting | 3.00 |
| ACCT 3370 |
Income Tax I | 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 |
| BLAW 1320 | Introductory Business Law | 3.00 |
| BUSN 3431 | Business Statistics II | 3.00 |
| BUSN 4275 |
Business Strategy and Competitive Analysis | 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 |
| Select one course from the following two options: | ||
| BUSN 2429 | Business Statistics | 3.00 |
| MATH 1160 | Introduction to Statistics | 3.00 |
| Total Credits | 60.00 | |
Cooperative Education Option
|
Cooperative Education I |
9.00 |
|
|
Total Credits with Cooperative Education Option |
|
69.00 |
1Students can take ACCT 1235 to meet the requirements for ACCT 1110 and ACCT 1210. Student who take ACCT 1235 must take another 1000 - 4000 level elective from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. 1000-2000 level electives must be university transferable (courses that transfer to one of the Research Universities - SFU, UBC (UBCV or UBCO), UNBC or UVIC) according to the BC Transfer Guide.
Students contemplating completing Accounting designations (namely CPA, ACCA, CAFM) should refer to current information released by the respective professional body for minimum grade requirements for each course.
3The co-op work term is a minimum of 420 hours of work and must be taken through Douglas College's Co-op program. The timing of the work term is restricted to the following:
- Can be undertaken only after completion of a minimum of two semesters, 27 credits
- Cannot be taken in the last semester of the program
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.
Career Pathways
Career opportunities include:
- Investment Analyst
- Controller
- Audit and Compliance Director
- Tax Auditor
- Internal or External Auditor