The BBA Super Six
Published1 February, 2024
Photo credit Chelsea Kelso
6 Reasons Why You Should Take the BBA at CapU.
The Bachelor of Business Administration degree program at Capilano University is the most flexible business degree available in the Lower Mainland.
Why? After completing your first two years of coursework, you can study in six distinctive ways.
Accounting
A background in accounting is an asset in every field. The private and public sectors are looking for qualified accountants, with career paths available in technology, sustainability, entertainment and nonprofits, to name a few.
In the accounting concentration, you'll pick up critical audit, taxation, managerial accounting and financial accounting skills, working from real-world examples and case studies.
After completing your BBA with an accounting concentration, you can boost your earning power by pursuing CPA, CA, CGA or CMA designations.
Business Information Management and Analytics (BIMA)
Organizations are investing in advanced analytics to improve their efficiency, drive better business processes and improve their bottom line.
Choosing to specialize in BIMA will give you an advantage in an increasingly data-driven world. Courses will develop your abilities in critical analytical thinking and you'll learn how to manage, analyze, interpret and visualize data to help businesses get ahead.
You'll gain the skills to link information to action in the BIMA concentration, with career options ranging from analysts, intelligence, information systems and cyber security specialists to project managers, ethics and sustainability specialists and more.
“The right amount of knowledge can greatly improve your financial circumstances.”
Financial Planning
The Financial Planning concentration* provides the knowledge and courses needed to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), opening doors to well-paid, fast-paced careers and career paths in the banking, investment and insurance industries.
A financial planner’s expertise guides clients through the challenges of investing, financing, retirement, estate and insurance planning to help them secure their financial future.
“I chose financial planning because I found the concentration to be something I would value having knowledge in,” said Qasim Dhamani, a BBA student who wants to help people who need assistance navigating their complicated personal finances.
After passing your QAFP™ exam and building up on-the-job experience, you'll be ready to study for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) licensing exam.
Human Resources Management
HR professionals see solutions in people. Choosing the concentration in Human Resources Management is where to start if your career goals involve helping others on their career paths.
In this concentration, you'll focus on developing your abilities in people management, talent acquisition, employee relations, change management, workplace learning and development and strategic management.
With the changing nature of work and workplaces, your background in HR will help you navigate the newest advances in workplace culture and norms, so you'll be an asset to your colleagues and organization.
“Having these two specialties will prepare me in my career by highlighting two different aspects of business.”
International Business and Logistics
Specializing in International Business and Logistics means you’ll be at the forefront of keeping business operating smoothly for multinational organizations, ensuring the flow of goods remains constant.
The courses in this concentration take a deep dive into leadership, management and supply chain management processes, mainly how experts keep businesses competitive across diverse and ever-changing industries.
Marketing
Choosing the Marketing concentration is your first step toward becoming an expert in market research, consumer behaviour, advertising, strategy and product development.
In this concentration, you'll learn from experienced marketing professionals about crucial tenets of the industry, including working on hands-on industry projects, gaining valuable insights on creating successful campaigns and applying analytics and creative thinking to real-world client concerns.
“You’ll have the opportunity to network with industry pros and colleagues and take part in time-constrained, real workplace situations, which will help you build your resume.”
“I chose the financial planning concentration because, at the time, I viewed this as the most useful of the six. But after taking a few marketing courses, I decided to do both,” said Mackenzie Gray, who is pursuing a double-concentration in marketing and financial planning.
“With a focus on work-integrated learning programs, students receive experience working on real issues with real clients in today’s market,” said Leigha Nevay, a chartered professional accountant (CPA) who is an instructor in the BBA program.
Applications for the BBA are open now. Contact busadmin@capilanou.ca to speak with one of our instructors or visit capilanou.ca/bba for more information.
*Completion of Financial Planning Concentration courses satisfies the FP Canada™ Core and Advanced Curriculum requirements for the Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ (QAFP™) and Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®). Note that full certification also requires completion of relevant work experience as well as the FP Canada Introduction to Professional Ethics program, the Professional Education Program and successful completion of the FP Canada™ QAFP™ or CFP® exams.
Note: This article was originally published February 15, 2022. It has been updated with additional information about each concentration.
