Business Administration

What to expect from the program

NorQuest's program integrates practical learning experiences with unique content for a truly different business program. The practical and intensive training throughout the program helps our graduates become in-demand job candidates.

Graduate with experience

NorQuest College believes in the importance of on-the-job experience that provides an enriched learning opportunity.

This program includes an optional paid co-op placement totalling 640 hours.

Specializations

Applicants can apply directly to the specialization of their choice. All specializations are available to start Fall 2023 and Human Resources and Management are available for Winter 2024 and Spring 2024.

There are five specializations for the Business Administration program; each provides a flexible and dynamic core understanding of business fundamentals with a wide assortment of job opportunities. Students must have appropriate prerequisite courses as needed:

• Accounting

  Graduates with an accounting specialization have an aptitude for numbers and enjoy problem-solving. They are able to look at the overall big picture while determining the bottom line. They are prepared to work with companies in financial, computerized tax, and cost accounting areas.

• Human Resources Management

  Graduates with a human resources management specialization will know how to improve corporate culture and increase employee productivity. They will be confident in creating performance management policies, employing effective hiring and retention practices, reviewing and recommending employee compensation packages, creating hiring selection criteria, and applying employment law.

  The Human Resources Management specialization is accredited with the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta (CPHR Alberta). This certification provides an additional opportunity for graduates wishing to prepare for success in the HR profession. The HR courses you take align with the content tested on the CPHR Designation National Knowledge Exam and can assist with building strategic competencies and skills. Visit CPHR Alberta for more information.

• Finance

  Graduates with a finance specialization will be well positioned for work opportunities in banks and any financial services organization. As a financial professional, this program prepares students in the areas of financial planning, principles and industry standards, financial products and services, tax and legal implications, managing risks, and building financial customer service sales and expertise.

• Management

  Graduates with a management specialization are becoming increasingly important to business in our competitive economy due to their strategic planning and analytical skills. They assist companies in integrating planning and development strategies using problem-solving techniques and consensus building. Leadership, marketing, and financial information are also studied.

  • Entrepreneurship focus: for students who are interested in starting a business of their own or who wish to help a newly formed business grow. It provides a thorough understanding of what is required to start and maintain a sustainable venture. Students will acquire the tools necessary to identify opportunity, assess entrepreneurial potential, produce a business plan, organize, promote, and finance a business, and prepare a marketing and sales structure.

  • Business operations focus: for students who are interested in how businesses supply, produce, and distribute goods and services in the most efficient and profitable way possible. Students will learn how to plan, control, and optimize business systems and techniques to deliver projects on time and on budget. Learning how to assess and improve productivity throughout an organization will make these graduates a valuable asset to any organization.

• General Studies

  Students may elect not to have an area of specialization. These students would take the common first-year courses, then choose 10 additional courses out of all Year 2 courses offered.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Business Administration program may find employment in the private or public sector, in small business, government, banking, insurance, not-for-profit organizations, retail, hospitality, oilfield, construction, and other industries.

Accounting graduates may find careers as accounting technicians, accounting clerks, bankers, business analysts, bookkeepers, audit administrators, accounts payable or accounts receivable administrators, office managers, billing supervisors, business managers, credit and collections officers, inventory control officers, payroll accountants, and data entry professionals.

Human resources management graduates are able to apply their skills in a variety of career opportunities such as HR generalists, recruiter, HR coordinator, trainer, consultant, HR manager, or compensation/benefits specialist.

Management graduates have a broad understanding of various business concepts and applications, and as such, may find careers as general managers, operations managers, sales managers, account managers, branch managers, or business managers in retail, financial services, insurance, human resources, not-for-profit, sales, or marketing industries.

• Entrepreneurship graduates may want to start their own business or help build new businesses, but their training can be applied to any industry. With their entrepreneurial skill and strong, general business foundation, they can focus on the bigger picture. Graduates may also find work as marketing coordinators, project managers, business administrators, product managers, or sales account managers.
• Business operations management graduates will possess a highly transportable set of skills applicable to a variety of service and manufacturing industries, in both business improvement and supply chain roles. Project management, business analysis, purchasing, improvement specialist, quality control, and consulting roles would be examples of potential career paths.

Finance graduates may find careers as customer service representatives in banks, personal financial services specialists, insurance sales representatives, or seek a designation as a Qualified Associate Financial Planner.

For more information on related careers see:

• ALIS OCCinfo occupational profiles
• ALIS WAGEinfo salary info is available for many occupations in the business administration area, and can vary dependent on specific role and industry. Be sure to check out the many career options available.