Majors and Certificates
Majors
Ten majors are offered, including General Business Studies which enables students to custom-tailor a program.
- Accounting
- Computing and Information Systems
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- General Business Studies (Custom-Design)
- Global Business Management
- Honours Economics
- Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
- Management
- Marketing
Certificates
Accounting
Department Chair: Dave Bateman
Career and Program Information
Accounting continues to be one of the most popular majors. The program is designed to prepare you for a successful career as an accounting professional or for other business careers which require a solid understanding of financial information. Not just for "number-crunchers", a career in accounting would appeal to students with wide-ranging interests and good communication skills.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in the Accounting courses taken at the 2000 level or above (i.e., ACCT 2241. ACCT 2242, and 3rd and 4th year courses (as indicated below by *).
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Computing and Information Systems
Department Chair: Dr. Michael Zhang
Downloadable CIS Major brochure
Career and Program Information
Over the past few decades, Information Systems and e-Business have transformed the business landscape in North America and around the world. Computerized information resources and organizational knowledge have become the key sources of competitive advantage for modern companies. At the same time, electronic data networks, including the Internet, are removing barriers of time and space between individuals and organizations and creating new frontiers of business opportunities. To be successful in this evolving business environment, companies, government agencies, and other organizations require individuals who possess in-depth understanding of the technologies and processes underlying the new technology-enabled business and social environment, and, at the same time, understand the strategic information needs of businesses and consumers. The Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Computing and Information Systems is designed to prepare students to fill this important role in modern organizations.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ACCT 3323 and all Computing and Information Systems courses taken at the 2000 level or above (as indicated below by *).
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
Economics
Department Chair: Dr. Atul Dar
Career and Program Information
Economists are central players in setting government policy, from social programs to economic development. In the private sector, they contribute to market research for new products, evaluate the impact of mergers, and assess tax policy. If you are interested in human resources, the environment, international development, international financial markets, or money and banking, you may want to consider a major in Economics. Economics also offers the only Honours program in Commerce.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all requirements for a major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ECON 1201, ECON 1202, Economics electives from second year, and the 3rd and 4th year courses (as indicated below by *).
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Economics - Honours
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for a major, a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required at the end of Year 2, and maintain this minimum GPA until graduation. Students must make application for admission to the Honours program on the special form obtainable from the Registrar no later than the last day of registration at the beginning of Year 3. They must obtain the approval of the Chairperson of the Economics Department and the Dean of Sobey School of Business.
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* For courses marked with an asterisk (*), no grade below a C is acceptable and at least forty-eight (48) credit hours must have a grade of B or higher.
Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
Entrepreneurship
Advisor: Dr. Ellen Farrell
Career and Program Information
The Entrepreneurship major is one of the most extensive programs of its kind in Canada. We develop an entrepreneurial mindset that improves your ability to access good opportunities and exciting companies. Graduates can start their own businesses. Alternatively, they can work with banks, financial and other institutions that advise and support entrepreneurs. In the Entrepreneurship program, you will work with dedicated faculty members and with consultants employed at the University's Business Development Centre to develop the broad knowledge and skills that translate your entrepreneurial spirit into successful endeavours.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ACCT 3332, MGMT 2383, MGMT 2384, MGMT 2380, MGMT 3389, MGMT 4487, MGMT 4494, and MGMT 4495 (as indicated below by *).
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
Finance
Department Chair: Dr. Michael Zhang
Career and Program Information
The turbulent stock markets of the last decade have shown the importance - to firms and to individuals - of rational investment decisions. For this reason, and because of well-paying employment opportunities and our faculty members' close ties to the investment community, Finance has become an increasingly popular major. As a Finance graduate you will be prepared to pursue a career as a professional financial planner or a financial analyst.
CFA Institute University Recognition Program
Saint Mary’s University’s Bachelor of Commerce, Finance, has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Recognition Program. This status is granted to institutions whose degree program incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) which provide students with a solid grounding in the CBOK and positions them well to sit for the CFA exams.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in FINA 4463, FINA 4466, FINA 4467 and six (6) credit hours used to satisfy the 4000 level Finance electives requirement (as indicated below by *).
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
General Business Studies (Custom-Design)
Advisor: BComm Advising Office
Career and Program Information
Although Saint Mary's offers a broad range of majors, you may prefer to design a program custom-fit to all of your interests. Employers too are often searching for someone who can adapt to a wide range of environments. Students in the General Business Studies program tend to pursue several different interests, drawn from many disciplines. Students may not double major by combining another major in Commerce with a Major in General Business Studies.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in the eighteen (18) credit hours in Commerce electives completed in fulfillment of the major. (Courses included in the GPA calculations are indicated by *.)
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Global Business Management
Coordinator: Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald
Career and Program Information
Even small local businesses must compete with imports and be prepared to look for markets beyond their national boundaries. To survive in this international arena, you need not only astute business sense, but also an understanding of other languages and cultures. The Global Business Management major, unique in its broad interdisciplinary outlook, prepares you for opportunities in international business at home or abroad.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ACCT 3357. MKTG 3375, FINA 4476, MGMT 4488, and the geographic and cognate electives completed in fulfillment of the major (as indicated below by *).
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
Department Chair: Dr. Russel Summers
Career and Program Information
In a global marketplace, we must compete with countries that have low labour costs by developing markets for products and services that require a highly skilled, productive workforce. How to develop leaders and entrepreneurs; how to motivate employees; and how to design organizations that are productive, yet respond to the needs of a diverse workforce are some of the questions you will address in the Human Resources and Industrial Relations major.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ACCT 3332, MGMT 2383, MGMT 2384, MGMT 3385, MGMT 336, MGMT 4482, MGMT 4483, MGMT 4485 and MGMT 4486 (as indicated below by *).
Students who successfully complete the above requirements for the Human Resource Management major will automatically be granted the Certificate in Human Resource Management.
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes. |
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Management
Department Chair: Dr. Russel Summers
Career and Program Information
Managers are strong generalists who are at ease not only with accounting, finance and marketing, but also with human resources and operations management. Management is not a narrow specialization in one subject area, but rather helps you develop the diverse skills which are highly sought after by today's businesses.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for this major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in ACCT 3332, MGMT 2383, MGMT 2384, MGMT 3385, MGMT 3386, MGMT 4481, MGSC 3317, plus the courses satisfying in the required ACCT, FINA, and MKTG electives (as indicated below by *).
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Please refer to Academic Calendar for Notes.
Marketing
Department Chair: Dr. Gordon Fullerton (Acting)
Career and Program Information
Rapid changes in the global marketplace make marketing a dynamic and exciting field of study. Customer service and international competitiveness are among the most critical issues facing business today and marketing managers play a key role in responding to these changes. Courses in retailing, sales, distribution management, advertising and promotion, and business-to-business marketing are offered to help you prepare for the many career opportunities in marketing.
Requirements for Major
In addition to all other requirements for the major, a minimum GPA of 2.2 is required in all Maketing courses taken at the 2000 level or above (i.e. MKTG 2270 and the 3rd and 4th year courses (as indicated below by *).
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Certificate in Human Resource Management
Advisor: BComm Advising Office
The certificate has been offered for over 30 years and has been developed in cooperation with professionals in Human Resource Management. It will prepare students for the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) designation. Students should be aware that as of 2011, a bachelor's degree will be one of the requirements for the CHRP designation.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in the Human Resource Management Certificate Program courses is required for graduation with the Certificate. Students without previous university course work may have to complete prerequisites that are specified for each course, in addition to the required courses.
Students must complete the following 24 credit hours of core
courses:
- MGMT 1281 Introduction to Business Management
- MGMT 2383 Micro Organizational Behavior
- MGMT 2384 Macro Organizational Behavior
- MGMT 3385 Human Resource Management
- MGMT 3386 Industrial Relations
- MGMT 4482 Staffing & Selection
- MGMT 4485 Wage & Salary Administration
- MGMT 4486 Training and Development
Students must also complete 24 credit hours (8 courses)
from the following:
- ACCT 2241 Introductory Financial Accounting
- ACCT 2242 Introductory Managerial Accounting
- CMLW 2201 Legal Aspects of Business - Part I
- CISY 1225 Introduction to Computer Applications
- COMM 2293 Communications
- ECON 1201 Principles of Economics: Micro
- ECON 1202 Principles of Economics: Macro
- ECON 3340 Human Resource Economics
- ECON 3341 Labour Economics
- MGMT 3388 Business and Society
- MGMT 3392 Occupational Health and Safety
- MGMT 4481 Organization Theory: Structure Process, Analysis & Design
- MGMT 4483 Management Skills I
- MGMT 4488 International Business Management
- MGMT 4493 Business-Government Relations in Canada
- MGMT 4496 Collective Bargaining
- MGMT 4497 Issues in Industrial Relations
- MGMT 4499 Senior Management Perspectives
- PSYC 3309 Human Factors and Performance
- *PSYC 3399 Special Topics in Psychology
- PSYC 4417 Interpersonal Relationships
- PSYC 4425 Psychology of Organizational Development
- PSYC 4441 Psychological Measurement
- PSYC 4446 Seminar in Psychology
*Note: Course must be directly related to the field of Human
Resource Management
Certificate in Financial Instrument Analysis
Advisor: BComm Advising Office
The Certificate in Financial Instrument Analysis can be completed in conjunction with a Bachelor of Commerce
degree or as a stand alone certification for those seeking professional development in their disciplinary areas.
There are two streams within the Certificate in Financial Instrument Analysis, the Accounting stream and the
Finance stream. Students may choose either the Accounting or the Financial Stream (cannot qualify for
both). To graduate with the Certificate in Financial Instrument Analysis, students must attain a minimum GPA of 2.0 on the required courses. The required courses for each stream are as follows:
Accounting Stream (CFIA )
ACCT 2241 Introductory Financial Accounting
ACCT 2242 Introductory Managerial Accounting
ACCT 3341 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACCT 3342 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
ACCT 3345 Financial Accounting Theory
ACCT 4443 Advanced Financial Accounting
ACCT 4455 Financial Accounting Seminar or ACCT 4470 Managerial Accounting Seminar
ACCT 4465 Accounting for Financial Instruments
FINA 2360 Business Finance I
FINA 3361 Business Finance II
FINA 4472 Computerized Portfolio Analysis and Reporting Systems
FINA 4473 Current Trends in Capital Markets
Financial Stream (CFIF)
ACCT 2241 Introductory Financial Accounting
ACCT 2242 Introductory Managerial Accounting
ACCT 3341 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACCT 3342 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
ACCT 4465 Accounting for Financial Instruments
FINA 2360 Business Finance I
FINA 3361 Business Finance II
FINA 4466 Investments
FINA 4467 Portfolio Management
FINA 4468 Financial Innovations
FINA 4472 Computerized Portfolio Analysis and Reporting Systems
FINA 4473 Current Trends in Capital Markets
Students pursing only the Certificate in Financial Instrument Analysis (accounting or finance stream) will
require the following courses (or their equivalents) as prerequisites:
MGMT 1281 Introduction to Business Management
ECON 1201 Principles of Economics: Micro
ECON 1202 Principles of Economics: Macro
MGSC 1205 Introduction to Quantitative Methods I
MGSC 1206 Introduction to Quantitative Methods II
MGSC 2207 Introductory Statistics
CISY 1225 Introduction to Computer Applications
COMM 2293 Communications
It is the student's responsibility to ensure appropriate prerequisites have been completed.