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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.
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.
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.
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.
88% graduate employment rate
$49,920 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.
Career planning support
Unsure which career path is for you? Here are some recommended career planning resources to help you decide your future.
You can also head to Alberta alis for lots of information about careers in Alberta, including quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a path.
Finally, you can take our online career finder quiz, which can help narrow your options based on your current skills and interests.
Courses
The Business Administration - Accounting diploma requires 60 credits (20 courses) to complete.
The program spans two years, with two semesters each year.
You must take all of the following courses to complete this program.
Business core
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
3 |
The Introduction to Business course will provide you with tools to understand multiple business functions including management, human resources, marketing, operations, 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 skillset, 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 in Canada. Equivalents:
|
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:
|
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:
|
3 |
Accounting major
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:
Equivalents:
|
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:
Equivalents:
|
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:
Equivalents:
|
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:
Equivalents:
|
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. Pre-requisites:
Equivalents:
|
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:
Equivalents:
|
3 |
You will choose courses from the following lists.
Business core (choose one)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
Building on the foundation established in Introductory Financial Accounting I, this course introduces accounting concepts related to partnerships and corporations. Topics including adjusting journal entries, bank reconciliations, receivables, capital assets, short and long-term liabilities, share capital, and dividends are explored. You will gain practical, hands-on experience in recording accounting transactions and preparing financial statements for partnerships and corporations. Pre-requisites:
Equivalents:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
3 |
Business core integrative experience (choose one)
Course | Credits |
---|---|
This capstone course allows you to demonstrate the integrative knowledge and skills you gained in earlier classes. You will deliver a pitch for a new or innovative idea that applies concepts learned in the program. Pre-requisites:
|
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:
|
3 |
Accounting major (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:
|
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:
|
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:
|
3 |
Progression
You must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better each semester and pass the prerequisite courses to progress through the program.
To qualify for graduation, you 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 >
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.
Admission requirements
Applicants educated in Canada
Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet all of the following requirements or equivalent:
- at least 50% in Math 30-1 or Math 30-2, and
- at least 50% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 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 accepted educational documents and assessment options.
SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
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.
English language proficiency
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
Transfer agreements
At SAIT, we evaluate post-secondary credit you have previously earned and apply it to your SAIT credential. Explore our formal transfer agreements available for this program.
We can evaluate your prior education, even if we don't have a formal agreement in place.
Submit a transfer credit application
Campus Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement
- Program name
- Provincial Business Administration pathway
- Available credits:
- n/a
Upon successful completion of business administration coursework from one of the Alberta institutions listed on the Campus Alberta Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement, you may be eligible to transfer credit to our business administration diploma or bachelor's degree. For more information, contact an academic advisor at the School of Business.
Transfer options for graduates
Build on the knowledge you’ve learned at SAIT. The opportunity to advance your education at an accredited post-secondary institution may be available.
🔗 Visit Transfer Alberta search tool for all transfer agreements in Alberta (including UCalgary, MRU and BVC).
If there are transfer agreements with other institutions outside of Alberta, nationally or internationally, they will be listed below.
Athabasca University
- Program name
- Bachelor of Management
- Available credits:
- 60
Upon successful completion of this program, you'll be eligible for a 60-credit transfer towards the three or four-year Bachelor of Management post-diploma degree at Athabasca University.
Griffith University
- Program name
- Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting
- Available credits:
- 45
Upon successful completion of this program, you'll be eligible to receive 45 credits (1.5 years) toward Griffith's Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting program.
This degree is a three-year program offered on-campus beginning in February and July each year.
Available intakes
Winter 2025
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Closed
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Application deadline: Extended
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- International students: Closed
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Application deadline: Sept. 30, 2024
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Spring 2025
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Open
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Application deadline: April 30, 2025
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- International students: Open
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Application deadline: March 28, 2025
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Fall 2025
Start dates:
- Domestic students: Open
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Application deadline: June 30, 2025
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- International students: Open
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Application deadline: May 30, 2025
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Costs
2024/25 tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2024.
Domestic students
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 $175 for international applicants.
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
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Phone - 403.284.8485
International Student Advising
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Phone - 403.284.8852
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Email - international@sait.ca
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.