Finance, BBA (Honours)

Students who are interested in pursuing graduate school or who wish to explore their selected field in more depth are advised to apply for admission into the Honours stream in the Bachelor of Business Administration. Core BBA program requirements are augmented with a course in research methods and the completion of an Honours Research Project. The Honours BBA provides students with a choice of two streams. The first is a scholarly stream and intended for students interested in pursuing graduate school. The second is an applied stream and intended for students seeking to enhance career skills - with a focus on applying theory to practice.

Please contact Business Student Advisors and obtain the latest Honours BBA Handbook, which contains more detailed information.

Admission Requirements - Honours

To be considered for admission into the honours program, the student must achieve a 3.5 GPA in their most recent 20 courses (60 credits) prior to June 30 of the year they apply for entrance into the honours program. Admission into the Honours stream is competitive and is not guaranteed.

Note: A student who has already graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration may not apply to enter the Honours stream.

Application for Admission - Honours

Students may apply for admission into the Honours stream in the fall of their third year, after the completion of a minimum of 20 courses. Applications will be accepted each year from September 15 to November 15. The process for application to the Honours stream is included in the BBA Honours Handbook which can be found on the Bissett School of Business website. It is recommended that the student obtains, in advance, the agreement of a full-time faculty member of the Bissett School of Business to be that student’s Honours Research Project supervisor.

If a student is admitted into the program, they will take MGMT 5110 - Research Methods for Business in the winter semester (it is anticipated this course will be offered only once per academic year). Upon successful completion of MGMT 5110, the student will then commence their MGMT 5120 - Honours Research Project in the fall of their final year.

Program Continuance - Honours

Students admitted into the Honours BBA stream must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50. Students who fail to maintain a semester GPA of 3.50 will lose their place in the Honours stream. Students will normally not be permitted to re-apply to the Honours stream and may do so only with the permission of the Chair of their honours discipline. Students permitted to re-apply must follow the procedures for “application into the Honours stream,” as mentioned above. There is no guarantee that a student will be re-admitted into the Honours stream.

Curriculum

The foundation of the BBA includes 16 required core business courses, 10 major courses, three honours courses, 10 General Education courses, and one elective, for a total of 40 courses over four years.

Major Specific Courses

The BBA - Finance Major offers two concentration choices to students. The concentration in Financial Analysis provides students with a comprehensive education in analytical finance through a combination of theory and applications, whereas the concentration in Financial Services provides students with an education in both the principles and practices of financial services. The choice of these two concentrations provides students with the opportunity to develop distinct and unique skill sets that allows them to pursue careers based on a targeted area of interest and to maximize their employability at graduation time.

All BBA - Finance students must complete the 10 major courses in one of the following concentrations as part of their requirements.

Concentration in Financial Analysis

The concentration in Financial Analysis develops analytically oriented finance professionals who will apply their knowledge of financial theory, domestic and international financial markets, investments and advanced corporate finance, together with analytical tools, such as advanced modeling and financial data management systems, to excel in the fast-paced world of finance. This dynamic concentration prepares students for financial careers in industry, banking, asset management, investment banking, securities trading and other analytically oriented roles.

Students completing this concentration are well prepared to pursue a Chartered Financial Analyst ® (CFA) designation upon graduation. The Bachelor of Business Administration - General Management Major, Financial Analysis concentration also includes a Co-operative Education option.

The concentration in Financial Analysis consists of 10 courses, six of which are required courses and four of which are chosen from a list of options.

Concentration in Financial Services

The concentration in Financial Services is designed to provide graduates with a thorough education in both the principles and practices of financial services supplemented with a broad knowledge of the general principles of investments and the

corporate finance function. This concentration educates financial services professionals who not only have an understanding of all financial functions and markets but are firmly oriented towards practical application, for a career in a variety of financial services roles. This dynamic, diverse and comprehensive concentration can be applied to opportunities in banking, financial planning, investment management or insurance careers.

After completion of all courses, students are prepared to write the examinations leading to the Certified Financial Planner ® (CFP) designation. The BBA - Finance Major, Financial Services concentration also includes a Co-operative Education option.

The concentration in Financial Services consists of 10 courses, eight of which are required courses and two of which are chosen from a list of options.

Note

* No more than one FNCE Directed Readings course may be used as one of the option courses in a concentration.

Honours Specific Courses

BBA Honours students must take the following two courses.

Electives

Students must complete two elective courses.

General Education Requirements

Ten courses must be completed to meet the General Education requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Four courses will be taken at the foundational level: one from each of the thematic clusters.
Three courses will be taken at the second tier: no more than one from each of the thematic clusters. One of these courses must be from the Numeracy and Scientific Literacy cluster.
Three courses must be taken at the third tier, selected from at least two of the thematic clusters.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation, students must satisfactorily complete all degree program requirements and course work. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to be eligible for graduation within the honours stream. Students must follow the graduation application procedure outlined in the current Mount Royal Calendar. Applications must be submitted by the date published in the Academic Schedule.