Be ready for your journey of becoming a business leader.
Any successful business always has a strong accounting foundation and team. In this two-year experiential program, learn how you can make your financial mark in the business world by learning to create, share and evaluate important financial information. Develop critical thinking and assessment skills and gain insight into all aspects of business and personal finances.
Be a Student for a Day
Why should you study Business Administration at Lethbridge Polytechnic?
At Lethbridge Polytechnic, you will embark on an educational journey that goes beyond theory, acquiring foundational skills essential to success and putting theory into practice with hands-on experiences. Learn from experienced instructors who know you by name. Enjoy smaller class sizes in supportive learning environments in and out of the classroom. Become central to all business operations and strategies found in all types of organizations and build a rewarding career and make a lasting impact. Additionally, you can gain essential credit towards the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation
Graduates of this program receive credit for courses with and can pursue a CPA designation
Numerous opportunities
to network with and learn from real-life businesses, which often leads to employment opportunities after graduation
70%
of Business Administration grads had a related job less than one year after completing the program
Career Opportunities
A variety of opportunities will await you once you graduate. You'll have the option to continue your studies, pursue a professional designation or immediately begin your career in fields such as:
- Accounting
- Agri-business
- Banking
- E-commerce
- Energy industry
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial services
- Management
- Retail management
- Sales
- Taxation
- Technology
Why Lethbridge Polytechnic Business Administration? Employable after 2 years – step right into a great career upon graduation, or, with transfer agreements in place at institutions across Canada and around the globe, you can easily continue your education to earn your bachelor’s degree in as little as 2 additional years.
2 years
is all it takes to become employable – step right into a great career upon graduation or, with transfer agreements in place at institutions across Canada and around the globe, you can easily continue your education to each your bachelor's degree in as little as two additional years
Case competitions
Student can compete in prestigious case competitions to show how the skills learned in class are used in real life.
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September or January
Credential / Accreditation
Diploma
Duration
2 years
International Eligibility
This program is available for International Students.
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Academic Centre
Program Availability
Admissions
Apply NowNote: Prospective students wishing to spread their courses over an additional term and/or commence their studies in the Winter term are encouraged to consult with an advisor for information regarding pre-requisites and course sequencing. Students who begin their studies in the Winter (January) term and plan to complete an accounting major must have credit for ACC-1175 Financial Accounting II (3 credits) prior to September in order to complete the program within two years. This means completing ACC-1175 Financial Accounting II (3 credits) in the Spring (May) term.
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge Polytechnic programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Academic Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants to this program must also satisfy the following specific course requirements (or equivalencies):
- Grade 12 Math (equivalent to Alberta’s Math 30-2 or a higher level Math).
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Business Administration - Accounting diploma.
| Partner Institution | Partner Program | Incoming/Outgoing | Effective Dates and Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athabasca University | Post-Diploma Bachelor of Commerce | Outgoing |
September 2022 - August 2027
Post-Diploma Bachelor of CommerceGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards Athabasca's Post-Diploma Bachelor of Commerce. Students should consult Academic Advising at Athabasca University and visit their website for more information. |
| Athabasca University | Post-Diploma Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations | Outgoing |
September 2022 - August 2027
Post-Diploma Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour RelationsGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards Athabasca's Post-Diploma Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations. Students should consult Academic Advising at Athabasca University and visit their website for more information. |
| Athabasca University | Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management | Outgoing |
September 2022 - August 2027
Post-Diploma Bachelor of ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards Athabasca's Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management. Students should consult Academic Advising at Athabasca University and visit their website for more information. |
| Athabasca University | Bachelor of Professional Arts - Governance, Law, and Management | Outgoing |
September 2022 - August 2027
Bachelor of Professional Arts - Governance, Law, and ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards Athabasca's Bachelor of Professional Arts in Governance, Law, and Management. Students should consult Academic Advising at Athabasca University and visit their website for more information. |
| College of the Rockies | Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices | Outgoing |
April 2023 - March 2026
Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business PracticesGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, with a cumulative GPA of 2.3 (C+) or higher, and a minimum grade of C on transfer courses, are eligible to receive full block transfer (63 credits) into the third year of the College of the Rockies' Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices. For more information, students should contact an Academic Advisor at College of the Rockies or visit their website. |
| Griffith University, Australia | Bachelor of Business | Outgoing |
July 2021 - June 2026
Bachelor of BusinessGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, with a cumulative GPA of 65% or higher, are eligible to receive transfer credit towards the completion of Griffith University's Bachelor of Business program (all majors). Students will be provided with an approved course completion pathway at time of offer of admission into the Griffith program. For more information, please contact an Academic Advisor at Griffith University or visit their website. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - General | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - GeneralGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - General. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - AccountingGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 39 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Human Resource Management | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - Human Resource ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 39 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Human Resource Management. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Marketing | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - MarketingGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 39 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Marketing. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Management | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 45 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Management. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Entrepreneurship and Innovation | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - Entrepreneurship and InnovationGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 48 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business Administration - FinanceGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements at the time of application, are eligible to receive up to 51 credits towards NAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance. Students should consult an Academic Advisor at NAIT for further information. |
| Northwestern Polytechnic | Bachelor of Business Administration | Outgoing |
September 2023 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business AdministrationGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet admission requirements, are eligible to receive full block transfer (60 credits) into Northwestern Polytechnic's Bachelor of Business Administration program. Students should contact Academic Advising at Northwestern Polytechnic for further information and program planning. |
| Other | Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Designation | Outgoing |
Ongoing
Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) DesignationGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration – Accounting diploma are eligible to receive credit for nine of the fourteen required courses to pursue Canada's only professional accounting designation – Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). Details can be found here. |
| Royal Roads University | Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management | Outgoing |
October 2021 - September 2026
Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, with a minimum GPA of B (3.00 out of 4.33) and who meet all other admission requirements, are eligible to receive block transfer into the third year of Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management. Students should consult Academic Advising at Royal Roads University or visit their website for further information. |
| Royal Roads University | Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainability and International Business | Outgoing |
October 2021 - September 2026
Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainability and International BusinessGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, with a minimum GPA of B (3.00 out of 4.33) and who meet all other admission requirements, are eligible to receive block transfer into the third year of Royal Roads University's Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainability and International Business. Students should consult Academic Advising at Royal Roads University or visit their website for further information. |
| Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) | Bachelor of Business Administration | Outgoing |
September 2018 - August 2028
Bachelor of Business AdministrationGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, who meet competitive admission and selection requirements and have coursework no older than 5 years prior to application, are eligible for up to 57 transfer credits towards SAIT's Bachelor of Business Administration. Transfer credit will be assessed on a course-by-course basis and bridging courses will be required. Students should consult the Transfer Affairs Office at SAIT by emailing transfer.options@sait.ca for more information. |
| University of Lethbridge | Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management | Outgoing |
April 2021 - April 2026
Post-Diploma Bachelor of ManagementGraduates of Lethbridge Polytechnic's Business Administration - Accounting Diploma, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, are eligible to receive two years' credit towards the Post-Diploma Bachelor of Management at the University of Lethbridge. The exact number of additional required courses varies based on the courses taken and the major selected. Students should consult with an Academic Advisor at the University of Lethbridge or visit their website for more information. |
| Lethbridge Polytechnic | Business Administration - Business Operations or Management | Internal |
Ongoing
Business Administration - Business Operations or ManagementDual Diploma Option |
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| ACC-1170 | Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC-1175 | Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| BUS-1166 | Business Law | 3 |
| BUS-1170 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| BUS-1177 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| BUS-1185 | Business Computer Applications | 1.5 |
| COM-1162 | Interpersonal Relationships and Communications | 3 |
| CPU-1165 | Business Applications II | 3 |
| ECN-1180 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENG-1159 | Writing for the Workplace | 3 |
| MKT-1188 | Introduction to Marketing | 3 |
| Credits | 31.5 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| ACC-2250 | Management Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC-2251 | Management Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC-2271 | Intermediate Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC-2273 | Intermediate Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC-2278 | Computerized Accounting for Management | 3 |
| BUS-2292 | Business Finance | 3 |
| ECN-2253 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| STS-2250 | Statistics | 3 |
| TAX-2251 | Taxation | 3 |
| Approved Elective (See elective lists A and B) | 3 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 61.5 | |
List A - Approved Business Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS-2268 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| BUS-2275 | International Business | 3 |
| BUS-2276 | Financial Planning | 3 |
| BUS-2277 | Retailing Strategies | 3 |
| BUS-2278 | Industrial and Labour Relations | 3 |
| BUS-2281 | Logistics | 3 |
| BUS-2283 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| BUS-2285 | Advanced Small Business Management | 3 |
| BUS-2286 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| BUS-2287 | Business Analytics and Decision Making | 3 |
| BUS-2288 | Project Management | 3 |
| BUS-2290 | Business Research Methods | 3 |
| BUS-2293 | Advanced Marketing Strategies | 3 |
| BUS-2298 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| CPU-2254 | Basic Desktop Publishing | 3 |
| FWK-2283 | Industry Placement | 3 |
| FWK-2284 | Industry Placement II | 3 |
| MKT-2260 | International Marketing | 3 |
| BUS-11XX | Unspecified 1 | 3 |
| BUS-22XX | Unspecified 1 | 3 |
| MKT-11XX | Unspecified 1 | 3 |
| MKT-22XX | Unspecified 1 | 3 |
1 Unspecified credits for post-secondary Business and Marketing courses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
List B - Approved Non-Business Electives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO-1151 | Environmental Issues | 3 |
| BLK-1151 | Blackfoot Language I | 3 |
| CPL-1150 | Community Service Learning | 3 |
| FWK-2283 | Industry Placement | 3 |
| FWK-2284 | Industry Placement II | 3 |
| HUM-1150 | Logic | 3 |
| HUM-1155 | Ethics | 3 |
| HUM-1180 | Introduction to World Religions | 3 |
| HUM-1190 | Popular Culture | 3 |
| INS-1155 | Introduction to Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| PED-1123 | Academic Success in Athletics I | 1.5 |
| PSC-1161 | Introduction to Politics | 3 |
| PSC-1165 | Canadian Government | 3 |
| PSY-1160 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SGV-1111 | Student Government | 3 |
| SGV-1112 | Student Government | 3 |
| SGV-1122 | Student Government | 6 |
| SGV-2113 | Student Government | 3 |
| SGV-2114 | Student Government | 3 |
| SGV-2124 | Student Government | 6 |
| SOC-1160 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPN-1150 | Introductory Spanish | 3 |
Practicum Experience
There is a practicum component to this program. The Polytechnic dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the practicum experience.
View course timetablesTuition costs are estimates for the 2025/2026 year.
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$4,995.00
|
$1,581.00
|
$1,700.00
|
| Year 2
|
$5,040.00
|
$1,388.00
|
$1,500.00
|
View detailed program cost estimates
International Students
| Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1
|
$16,808.00
|
$1,581.00
|
$1,700.00
|
| Year 2
|
$17,544.00
|
$1,388.00
|
$1,500.00
|
Notes
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Budget Wizard
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
The Business Administration program is delivered on campus. We offer some online, asynchronous courses. Not all required program courses are available online.
Online (Partial)
This program offers some courses, but not all required program courses, online with either synchronous (learning occurs in real-time on a set schedule) or asynchronous (learning does not occur at the same time or same place) components.
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge Polytechnic campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge Polytechnic awards and scholarships- visit our Awards and Scholarships page for more information.
Featured Graduates
Ashley Pierson
“Lethbridge College has provided me with opportunities and training to hone my leadership, interpersonal communication, and critical thinking skills. I was constantly challenged and pushed out of my comfort zone with the hands-on learning experience the college provides. Not only did I get to learn about new concepts, but I got to apply these concepts to real life business situations where I was able to receive specific feedback catered to me individually. Most of all, Lethbridge College has given me the confidence that I will Be Ready for both my future academic endeavours and professional career. I could not have chosen a better institution to be the starting point of my academic journey.”
Thari De Silva
“Never be afraid to talk to people because every member in the college is there to help you and support you… Lethbridge College is a family, a community, and it supports you.”
Sarah Phillips
“The quality of instructors in this program is probably unparalleled by anywhere else I’ve ever been. The classrooms are small, the work is hands on… Honestly, I would probably do this over again from the beginning if I had a chance. I just can’t believe how quickly this two years has flown by.”