Business Administration Diploma
Gain a broad understanding of business practices and take skills learned in the classroom into accounting, financial, hospitality and tourism, management, human resources and marketing positions.
Have a vision for your career? Pursue an area of interest that matches that vision and open the door to an exciting career, changing your life in just two years.
OC's Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees and Business Administration Diplomas are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
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Campus
- Kelowna
- Vernon
- Penticton
- Salmon Arm
Legend:
- Full program offered
- Partial program offered
Credential
Diploma
Delivery options
Full-Time, Part-Time
- International students eligible
Tuition and fees
2023-24: $5,948.24
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Depending on the campus and the courses selected, fees may vary.
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Fees include all mandatory fees: Activity fee, Health & Dental, Student Association fee, Education Technology fee, Development fee.
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This program is student loan eligible. View Financial Aid & Awards
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All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
Program details
The diploma program provides students with a broad understanding of business practices. With the experience and skills learned in the classroom, students will be able to progress to more responsible roles in accounting, marketing, operations, personnel or general administration. Year one of the program provides a solid foundation in general business. Options are available in Accounting, Financial Services, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Human Resources Management, Management and Marketing. A General Studies option is also available to those who want to take elective courses from a variety of options.
Regional delivery of studies can differ according to the campus location. Some courses are also available by online delivery and distance education and students can combine on campus courses with online and distance courses.
For details on what is offered visit:
For more information, book an appointment with an Education Advisor or a Business Advisor.
| Campus | Start date | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | Jan. 08, 2024 | |
| Kelowna | May 2024 | |
| Kelowna | Jul. 2024 | |
| Kelowna | Sep. 04, 2024 | |
| Kelowna | Jan. 06, 2025 | |
| Penticton | Jan. 08, 2024 |
|
| Penticton | Sep. 04, 2024 |
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| Penticton | Jan. 06, 2025 | |
| Salmon Arm | Sep. 04, 2024 | The full program is offered at the Salmon Arm campus but select courses may only be available online. |
| Vernon | Jan. 08, 2024 | |
| Vernon | Sep. 04, 2024 | |
| Vernon | Jan. 06, 2025 |
Admission requirements
Regular Applicants
- B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent.
- Students graduating from secondary school in or prior to 2012:
- Principles of Mathematics 11, or an equivalent Advanced Level Adult Basic Education mathematics course;
- Or a minimum grade of 70% in Introductory Mathematics 11;
- Or a minimum grade of 60% in Applications of Mathematics 11.
- Students entering Grade 10 in or after 2010 and/or completing the new mathematics curriculum:
- A minimum of 60% in one of Pre-calculus Grade 11, Foundations of Mathematics Grade 11, or Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics Grade 11, Workplace Mathematics 11,
- Or the equivalent Advanced Level Adult Basic Education mathematics course.
- English 12 with minimum 60% or alternatives.
- Senior secondary students who enter the Business Administration diploma program with a minimum grade of 73% in Accounting 12 may receive credit for BUAD 111.
Mature Applicants
- Mature applicants are at least 19 years of age and have been out of full-time senior secondary study for at least one year. Senior secondary graduation will be waived for mature applicants.
- Mature applicants without Mathematics 11 can take the mathematics diagnostic test, administered by Okanagan College. A minimum score of 16/25 is required.
Prior Learning Assessment:
Where a student has prior learning in the following courses BUAD 111, 116, 121, 128, 176 and 293, credit may be awarded if the student successfully passes a challenge exam. Contact the Business Administration department for more information.
Selective Admission Process: Admission of regular senior secondary applicants will be based on the grade average (GA) on English 12, Mathematics 11 and two other of the student's highest provincially recognized Grade 12 courses.
Qualifying status:
- Applicants who ultimately fail to satisfy the specific English and/or math entrance requirements may be granted admission to and be allowed to remain enrolled in the business program as qualifying students subject to the availability of space after the admission and registration of qualified applicants.
- Qualifying students may concurrently register in a maximum of three first-year business courses, any three for which they satisfy the prerequisites.
- Qualifying first-year business students will not be considered to be continuing students and will, therefore, be allowed to continue in the program after the qualifying year only if all outstanding course entrance requirements have been successfully completed.
Co-operative Education: Entry into the co-operative education option is a student's choice, and subject to completion of all first-year courses and an overall grade average of 65%.
Program requirements:
- A personal computer is required. See the program for computer specifications.
Program outline
Year 1
Students will also complete:
BUAD 113 - Canadian Business
Or both:
Students will also complete six (6) credits of electives (non-business or business)
Year 2
Students will complete one of:
Students will complete 12 credits of specific option electives (see each specialitization to review specific courses)
Students will also complete six (6) credits of electives (non-business or business)
Notes
ECON 115 and ECON 125 may be substituted for BUAD 113 with three credits counting as required credits and three credits counting as elective credits.
Please see specialization options below to review the courses students must include in their elective choices to specialize in any of the available options: Accounting, Financial Services, Hospitality Tourism Management, Human Resources Management, Management, Marketing or General Studies.
Successful completion of the prescribed and elective courses as listed in the program outline with a minimum graduating grade average of 60%.
Program specializations
Offered at all campuses.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Accounting:
Students will also complete two of the following courses:
Offered in Kelowna
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Financial Services:
Plus two of the following courses:
As 1 of the above 2 courses, students can also select BUAD 250 - Canadian Securities
Offered at all campuses.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in General Studies:
12 credits of BUAD and HOSP courses with at least nine credits at the 200 level or higher.
Offered in Kelowna.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Human Resources Management:
BUAD 269 - Human Resources Management
Plus three of the following courses:
Offered in Kelowna and Vernon.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Management:
Students must also complete two of the following courses:
BUAD 215 - Restaurant Management
BUAD 220 - Hotel Management
BUAD 225 - Selected Topics: Management
BUAD 279 - Industrial Relations
BUAD 283 - Management Information Systems
BUAD 289 - Purchasing and Materials Management
BUAD 293 - Entrepreneurship
BUAD 298 - Small Business Management
BUAD 382 - Operations Management
Offered at all campuses.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Marketing:
Students will complete both of the following courses:
Plus two of the following:
The diploma option provides students with an understanding of business and management practices within the tourism and hospitality sector as well as a foundation in general business. Year one of the program provides a solid foundation in general business and the business of tourism. The second year provides experiential learning in the Okanagan wine and culinary tourism and hospitality sectors. Graduates are ideally positioned for a career path leading to supervisory positions within the tourism and hospitality sector.
While satisfying all the requirements outlined above for the Business Administration diploma, students must include the following courses in their elective choices to specialize in Tourism and Hospitality Management:
Students must complete one of the following:
And all of:
Consider the following courses when selecting additional electives:
Additional information
View the official Calendar details and policies
Learn more about the department
View the Tuition and fees page
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