Business Administration

Associate Certificate Part-time School of Business + Media

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Program Overview

Credential: Associate Certificate
Format: Part-time
Start Dates: Sept, Jan, Apr
Campus: Burnaby, Vancouver, Online
Domestic Tuition: $4,000*
International Tuition: Read More
*cost estimate

All Business + Media Programs

Overview

The part-time Business Administration Associate Certificate comprises 7 courses designed to equip you with essential knowledge across various business domains such as marketing, accounting, and operations. This program is ideal for advancing or starting your career, providing you with core skills essential for success in any business role.

The Business Administration associate certificate program is an excellent place to start learning essential business skills. With just a few courses, you’ll build a strong, lifelong foundation required for an entry management position in almost any industry. In this flexible program, you’ll learn the most current job-relevant skills from industry professionals while preparing for a variety of business roles.

About the program

Seven courses to complete
Flexible training with in-person and online courses
Build a solid foundation of skills necessary in any aspect of business

To learn more about how this program prepares you for career advancement, visit the Program Details.

Who should complete the Associate Certificate in Business Administration?

This program might be right for you if:

You’re looking for the core skills required in any aspect of business
You’re hoping to build a new career
You might be interested in continuing your training to a diploma program

Begin your training for a new career in business today by visiting the Entrance Requirements page!

What grads can do

With the experiential learning you receive through this BCIT program, you’ll be getting the most usable, job-relevant knowledge, and skills that you can apply immediately to your current job or toward a new career in business. This program will help prepare you for entry and mid-level jobs in almost any area of business while also offering you the opportunity to apply your credits toward further training and even more career opportunities and earning potential.

Visit the Graduating and Jobs page to learn more about the opportunities awaiting graduates of this program.

Entrance Requirements

About Flexible Learning

Take a single course, or work towards a credential at your own pace.

Part-time courses are offered in various scheduling formats, including at night or on weekends, flexible daytime delivery, or you can opt for distance or online learning. If you meet the prerequisites and there’s space available, you can register for a course immediately. Courses are offered in each of three terms: Fall (September), Winter (January), and Spring/Summer (April).

To earn your credential, you must complete a Part-time Program Declaration Request. Applications are processed throughout the year.

Application processing

This program is open to declarations beginning:

February 1st* for the January intake
May 1st* for the April intake
October 1st* for the September intake

*or next business day

Entrance requirements

Notice to applicants: As part of our ongoing commitment to ensure students are best prepared for their studies, Flexible Learning programs will be adopting English Language Proficiency standards (Categories 1, 2, and 3) as part of their declaration requirements effective April 2025.

Declarations submitted for program intakes beginning April 1, 2025 or later will be evaluated using the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement below.

English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent

International applicants

This program is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.

Program declaration

Declaring your Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) program ensures that BCIT is aware of your intent to complete a program as it is currently outlined and provides you the opportunity to apply for transfer credit.

To submit your declaration:

Answer all questions completely.
If required, convert transcripts and documents to PDF files.
Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.

Declare Now

Upon approval, a program plan letter will be sent to you confirming your program of study. Please allow approximately eight weeks for processing.

Learn more about program declaration

Scheduled Intakes

Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.

Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)

Students may request to have prior work experience or previously taken courses assessed for course exemption. Contact the department for further details on Prior Learning Assessment Recognition.

Costs & Supplies

Bring your own device

Most courses and programs in the School of Business + Media are BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Please ensure you bring a laptop to every class. Plug-in outlets will be provided at most stations in classrooms, but not in all classrooms, so please ensure you have at least 2 hours of battery life available at the beginning of each class. Check the following recommended computer requirements prior to the start of class. If a program or course does not require you to provide your own device, that information will be provided by your instructor or indicated in the course outline.

For online classes, it is important you have a stable and consistent internet connection to access course content.

Tuition fees

Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.

Courses

Important Updates to Flexible Learning

English Requirement: Find out more.

By focusing on the essential foundations in business administration, you’ll be preparing for lifelong success in business. The courses in this program are flexible to suit your needs, you’ll work with industry professionals for the most current information in topics like marketing, accounting, business communication, and more.

Please note: part-time programs and courses are open enrolment and although we make every effort to accommodate demand, course registration cannot be guaranteed in every semester. High demand courses fill quickly and may result in students unable to register for a course that semester. Courses may also be cancelled due to low enrolment.

Program matrix

Check current availability of courses for this program.

1. Required Courses:			Credits
	BUSA 2005	Principles of Management Presents both traditional and contemporary perspectives of modern management examining management and management roles in teams, projects, departments and the organization as a whole. Strategic planning, operational planning, leading, organizing and controlling for performance will be addressed. Through actual business scenarios, cases and exercises, participants gain experience in decision-making and applying theory to real world organizations. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	4.0
	MKTG 1102	Essentials of Marketing Marketing 1102 is an introduction to the fundamentals of marketing. In addition to the "four Ps" of marketing—product, price, place, and promotion—students will be introduced to how marketers create customer-driven marketing strategies based on their research and understanding of the marketing environment and customers. Students will plan a strategy for and compete in an online marketing simulation. After the simulation, students will evaluate their performance and deliver a marketing plan for their simulation company, which will be assessed on students' application of marketing terminology and processes and in the professionalism of their work. Additionally, students will complete assignments, quizzes, and exams. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	3.0
	OPMT 1198	Operations Management Fundamentals Educates the student on the importance of managing operations across all industries by presenting the fundamentals in productivity improvement based on a systematic, scientific problem solving methods. Includes economic feasibility, recording techniques, assembly and analysis of data, critical examination, the development and selection of alternative solutions. Case materials explore applications to manufacturing, warehouse, office, materials management and general management. Students uncomfortable with basic algebra applications are encouraged to take OPMT 0199 prior to the course. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	3.0
and
	FMGT 1100	Accounting 1 This course covers the full accounting cycle for individuals with little or no accounting background. Topics include accounting as an information system; introduction to accounting theory; income measure; traditional record keeping; the accounting cycle; cash and financial statements. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	4.0
	or
	FMGT 1152	Accounting for the Manager Covers the accounting function and the services it provides to the manager. Topics include preparation and interpretation of various financial statements, reports, budgets, etc., in managerial decision-making. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites are required for this course. course outline	3.0

2. Elective Courses: (9.0 credits)
Complete a minimum of 9.0 credits of any of the following School of Business + Media courses numbered 4999 or lower. Courses completed in Section 1 cannot be credited towards your electives. APIC – Production and Inventory Control BSUS – Sustainable Business BCST – Broadcast Communications BUSA – Business Administration BLAW – Business Law BSYS – Business Systems ECON – Economics FMGT – Financial Management FUND – Fundraising HRMG – Human Resources Management MKTG – Marketing Management MDIA – Media Communications NPMA – Non-profit Management OFFC – Office Skills Training OPMT – Operations Management ORGB – Organizational Behaviour TOUR – Tourism TDMT – Transportation and Distribution VENT – Venture Development Centre

Total Credits:			22.0

Check current availability of courses for this program.

Transfer credit

Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.

Program Details

The BCIT Business Administration associate certificate program gives you the core competencies needed to start your business career with flexible training.

You’ll be able to choose the schedule of your courses to suit your current needs, including in-person courses on two campuses and online learning. In each of these courses, you’ll earn necessary knowledge and confidence in many aspects of business, including marketing, accounting, and operations management, to help advance or begin your career.

Program delivery

Blended: This program is delivered partly on campus and partly online.

This program is offered on a course-by-course basis, allowing students the flexibility of completing courses in any order, provided that the prerequisites are completed. Students register for each course individually and may undertake studies in any term.

Program location

Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC

Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC

Distance and online learning

Graduating & Jobs

By gaining a strong foundation in many aspects of business, you’ll find a variety of corporate opportunities.

Some opportunities include:

Administrative Assistant
Marketing Assistant/Coordinator
Salesperson
Import/Export Assistant

Additionally, by earning your associate certificate, you’ll be eligible to transfer your course credits for direct entry into many BCIT full-time diploma programs.

Whether you choose to begin your career immediately or continue your education, BCIT prepares you for your future in business.

Graduate employment outcomes

The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.

To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.

Business Administration

Apply for graduation

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.

Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.

All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.

Contact Us

Contact a Flexible Learning Program Advisor with the BCIT program name in the subject line if you have a question about:

Course selection and program planning
Applying for transfer credit and advanced placement
Declaring your program
Making changes to your approved program plan

If you have other program questions that are not answered on the program pages, you need help with a course in which you are currently enrolled, or the waitlist, then please contact us at Kim_Petkov@bcit.ca.

Dr. Izelde Van Jaarsveld
Flexible Learning Coordinator – Business Administration
Tel: 604-432-8665
Email: ivanjaarsveld@bcit.ca

Kim Petkov
Program Assistant – Business Administration
Tel: 604-432-8860
Email: Kim_Petkov@bcit.ca

Questions or comments?

Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.