Program Planning

In the Bachelor of Commerce you must complete 120 credits of non-duplicative coursework. All students must choose a major and, regardless of which major you choose, you must complete core requirements and elective requirements. You have the option to complete a second major OR one or two minors, provided you can satisfy elective requirements with that same coursework.

A number of tools and resources are available to help you choose courses for your degree and stay on track towards graduation:

Academic Calendar

The Academic Calendar is not just a list of dates. It contains the official rules and regulations that govern what courses you need to take to graduate with a degree in your chosen discipline. A new calendar is published each year. You must use the Academic Calendar corresponding to the year you declare your major and minor (if applicable) or the year you are accepted into an Honours program.

Pay attention to these sections in particular as you plan the courses you will take to complete your degree:

• Degree requirements
• Requirements for your major(s) or Honours
• Requirements for your minor(s)
• Degree regulations
• Institutional graduation regulations

Academic Calendar // Programs

Academic Calendar // Institutional Graduation Requirements

Course descriptions

You may also refer to the Academic Calendar for course descriptions and information on prerequisites or corequisites as you select and enrol in your courses.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR // COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Academic program progress report

If you were admitted to your program or declared your major in Fall 2019 or later, you will have access to the Academic Progress Report and the What if Report in myStudentSystem. These advising tools will help you track your progress in your program. If you have declared, the APPR report will show you how your completed and enrolled courses will be used to satisfy your program requirements. If you are undeclared, you will need to use the What if Report and select what you intend to declare.

USING MYSTUDENTSYSTEM // ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Academic Schedule (important deadlines)

The Academic Schedule is a list of all the important dates and deadlines for the academic year, including fee payments, exam periods, and course add/drop/withdraw deadlines. These dates are non-negotiable and missing them could have academic and/or financial consequences.

ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

If you have taken post-secondary courses previously, some of those credits may qualify for transfer to this program.

Transfer credit assessment

The process for assessing transfer credit varies depending on where you took your courses. In all cases, your first step is to apply to the program. Transfer credit will only be assessed after you have been accepted.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSFER CREDIT ASSESSMENT

Placement of your transfer credit

After your transfer credit has been evaluated and if you have questions about the assessment of the courses, request a program check to help you understand how the credits work towards your degree requirements.

If you have already completed a business diploma, you may be able to ladder up to 60 credits towards the Bachelor of Commerce. The number of credits you receive depends on both the courses you completed in your diploma and the major and/or minor you choose to declare in the degree. Before you enrol in courses, we recommend that you complete a program check to have your coursework reviewed by an advisor.

Program checks are a formal review of your course history and progress toward meeting your major/minor requirements and degree regulations.

It is a good idea to request a program check when you are at the halfway (or a little more than the halfway) point of your degree, as this will give you time to make any scheduling adjustments and complete any outstanding requirements that have been identified in the program check.

At the absolute latest, we urge you to request a program check before enrolment opens for your final year.

How to request a program check:

• Fill out the program check request form. You will be prompted to log in with your MacEwan credentials.
• Watch your myMacEwan Gmail account for a notification that your program check is complete. An advisor will highlight any issues and attach the document for your reference.
• If necessary, you may book an appointment to meet with an advisor to review your program check.

Program Check Request Form

This is a suggested sequencing and you may wish to reduce your course load, take more electives or modify to suit your individual needs.

First-year suggested course sequence

There are three types of elective requirements within the 120-credit Bachelor of Commerce. Refer to the program of study in the Academic Calendar for the number of required electives in each of the following categories:

• Business electives
  Business electives are business courses outside core requirements or primary major requirements. Business electives can be used to broaden general business knowledge or to develop an additional area of emphasis, such as a secondary major or a minor.
• Non-Business electives
  Non-business electives are courses that are outside the Triffo School of Business. These electives make up the general education component of the degree and are necessary to graduate. You may choose any baccalaureate-level course from outside the Triffo School of Business.
• Open electives
  Open electives can be business or non-business courses. These electives allow you to shape your degree.

Choosing your Electives

Course descriptions

Course descriptions provide you with a brief overview of what you will study in a course, the credit value and the prerequisites. The course description legend breaks down the structure of a course description. Course descriptions are available in the Academic Calendar.

Prerequisites and corequisites

A prerequisite is a course condition that must be successfully completed with a specific grade prior to attempting the next-level course. The prerequisite grade for most university-level courses in the Triffo School of Business is D, but a few courses may require a higher grade.

The course descriptions in the Academic Calendar may also list corequisites, which are courses that must be taken along with another in the same term.

You are responsible for using the Academic Calendar to confirm that you have met the high school and/or post-secondary prerequisites for any courses that you enrol in. The Triffo School of Business has the right to withdraw you from a course or withhold credit for a course at any time if prerequisites or corequisites are not in place.

Courses numbered 100-199 are considered junior-level.
Courses numbered 200 and higher are considered senior-level.

Course load

Course load refers to the number of credits taken in a term. When choosing how many courses you should take in a term, be aware of the following:

• Each course in the Bachelor of Commerce is 3 credits.
• To be a full-time student, you must enrol in 9 credits per term.
• The maximum course load in the Bachelor of Commerce is 15 credits per term.
• You must enrol in a minimum of 3 credits in an academic year to remain in the Bachelor of Commerce.
• You must enrol in a minimum of 3 credits in the first term you are accepted to the program.

Credit overload requests

You may request permission to take more than five courses in a term if you meet the following criteria:

• Present a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the previous term
• Have completed a minimum of 24 university-level credits
• Have completed a full course load in previous term(s)
• Be in good academic standing.

If you meet the above criteria, you may submit a properly formatted, formal business letter to make your appeal.

Address your letter to:
Dr. Mike Annett, Associate Dean

Include the following in your letter:

1. Your full name and student ID number.
2. Why you want to take a sixth course.
3. Which course it is (including the term and section number you are requesting).
4. How you plan to be successful with the course overload.

Email the letter to business@macewan.ca and we will forward it on your behalf.

Please NOTE: It may take up to 3 weeks for a decision to be made. We will notify you via email.

You will use myStudentSystem to enrol in classes on or after your enrolment date. Check out the step-by-step instructions for using myStudentSystem to learn how to navigate the university’s student information and enrolment system.

Print this Timetable Worksheet to keep track of your course schedule as you enrol.

When you enrol, myStudentSystem will check for post-secondary prerequisites.

At the beginning of every academic term (Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer), the Triffo School of Business audits every student in every business course for prerequisites. If you are missing any prerequisite requirement (course(s), prerequisite grade), you will be dropped from the course and advised via email. The drop will occur before the last day to add classes to allow students time to reorganize their schedule.

Prerequisites for courses in future terms

You can enrol in a course in a subsequent term if you are enrolled in the prerequisite course in the prior term. For example, if you are enrolled in ORGA 201 in the Fall term, you can then also enrol in ORGA 316 in the Winter term. Please note that if you are waitlisted for the course in the first term, you will not be able to enrol in the next-level course in the following term. For example, if you are waitlisted for ORGA 201 in the Fall term, you will not be able to enrol in ORGA 316 in the Winter term. If you get a seat in your waitlisted class, you will then be able to enrol in the next-level class in the following term.

If you withdraw from or fail to successfully complete the prerequisite course, you must remove yourself from the winter term course immediately.

You may be withdrawn from a course at any time if you start the course without the prerequisite or corequisite. Credit for that course may be withheld.

If you do not meet the prerequisite for a course exactly as written in the course description, you will require a permission number to enrol.

This may be because:

• You completed a substitute course.
• You were approved for a prerequisite waiver by the department chair.
• Your program of study requires you to complete the course in a different order.

Request process

To request a permission number, submit an email from your MacEwan University student email account to business@macewan.ca.

Include the following information in the email:

1. Your full name
2. Your student ID number
3. The term and year you are requesting a section for (e.g., Fall 2022 or Winter 2023)
4. The course and section number you want to take (e.g., ORGA 422 CC01)
5. Your reason for requesting a permission number

Example

Name: Stu Dent
ID number: 123456
Term/Year: Fall 2023
Course/Section: BUSN 450 CC01
Reason: I have completed substitute prerequisite courses in my business diploma.

The Triffo School of Business recognizes that, in some situations, taking a course at another post-secondary institution can help you build new skills, stay on track with your program or add flexibility to your studies.

You may be approved to complete up to six credits of eligible courses at another institution when there is a clear academic reason. The course must also support the learning outcomes and requirements of your program.

Approval guidelines and eligibility requirements

Review the Triffo School of Business approval guidelines before starting your request to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements.

Request timelines

External Course Taking requests may take up to four weeks to process. Academic advisors review requests only during the following periods:

Before you apply

1. Review the Triffo School of Business approval guidelines to confirm your eligibility.
2. Run and review your Academic Program Progress Report (APPR) to confirm that you meet the requirements.
3. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide see how the course transfers to MacEwan.

Request approval

1. Email business@macewan.ca from your MacEwan student email to start your request. An academic advisor will review your inquiry and, if appropriate, send you more information and an application form.
2. If directed, complete the application form and return it to business@macewan.ca.
3. An academic advisor will review your request and forward it for consideration.
4. You will receive the decision by email. Decisions are final and will not be reconsidered.

After approval

If your request is approved, the Office of the University Registrar will send a Letter of Permission to your MacEwan email. Keep the Letter of Permission, as it includes important information and instructions you will need after completing the external course.

Apply and enrol at the host institution. MacEwan University does not manage your application, admission or registration at the host institution.

Receive transfer credit

1. After completing the external course, arrange for an official transcript to be sent directly from the host institution to MacEwan University’s Office of the University Registrar.
2. Make sure your transcript is received by the Office of the University Registrar by the applicable document deadline. Missing a deadline may affect your program progress or graduation.
3. If you plan to use the external course as a prerequisite for a MacEwan University course, your transfer credit must be posted to myStudentSystem before you enrol in the next-level course.
4. Check your transfer credit report in myStudentSystem to confirm that your transfer credit has been posted correctly.

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. It is essential to the mission and vision of MacEwan University. As a student, you are expected to comply with all academic integrity regulations. You can find out more about defining integrity and your rights and responsibilities on MacEwan’s Academic Integrity website.

Academic Integrity

A course outline, also called a course syllabus, is distributed in the first class of each course. It is an official outline of what you can expect to learn in the course and what is expected of you. It includes such things as required texts and readings, assignment deadlines, assessment dates and the weighting of course requirements.

Read your syllabus carefully and refer to it throughout the term.

Final exams

It is your responsibility to know when and where your final examinations are scheduled and to arrive on time. You must be available for the entire exam period to accommodate exam schedule changes.

For more information about final exams and the final assessment policy, refer to the exams website.

Final Exams

Exam deferrals

To request a deferred final exam, follow the process outlined by the Office of the University Registrar.

Deferred Exams

The minimum passing grade at MacEwan University is D. However, to be in good academic standing, you must maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) each term. Please refer to the Academic Standing Policy for details or speak with an advisor for help understanding the policy.

Once you are confident that you will meet graduation requirements, you must apply to graduate through myStudentSystem by the deadline. You can find the “Apply for Graduation” link in myStudentsSystem under Academic Records.

Advisors will review all graduation applications. If you are missing requirements, they will contact you directly. Students who look like they are on track will NOT be contacted.

MacEwan University holds two convocation ceremonies each year. If you complete your degree in December or April, you convocate in June. If you complete your degree between May and August, you convocate in November.

Check the Convocation website for details on the ceremony, confirming your attendance and ordering your gown.

Your major allows you to study a subject in great depth. It can lead you toward your career or to graduate studies in a specific area. Every Bachelor of Commerce student must choose a major.

A second major and/or minors are optional. You have the option of declaring a second major OR one or two minors, provided you can satisfy elective requirements with that same coursework.

We encourage you to explore several subject areas before you decide on your major(s) and/or minor(s).

Commerce majors and minors

You must officially declare your major (and minor, if applicable) in the Bachelor of Commerce.

Timelines

We recommend that you declare your major and/or minor prior to completing 45 credits towards your degree.

You may declare earlier. Declaring your major (and minor(s), if applicable) allows you to enrol in sections and/or courses that are reserved for declared students. You will also have an earlier enrolment date than undeclared students.

You may re-declare later. However, a late declaration may extend the amount of time and number of courses you need to complete your degree.

Deadlines

Declarations open | September 1

Deadline to declare competitive majors/minors | January 15

Deadline to declare non-competitive majors/minors | February 10

Competitive declarations

The following minors are considered competitive:

• Digital Experience Design Minor

Selection to a competitive minor is based on your AGPA ranked against other students who have applied in the same year, unless otherwise stated. As there is a maximum number of students admitted in these disciplines, we recommend that students who apply for a competitive minor also prepare an alternate plan.

Declaration process

Use myStudentSystem to declare or re-declare your major and/or minor.

1. Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your MacEwan username and password.
2. Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
3. From your student homepage, select Academic Records.
4. Select Major/Minor Declaration in the menu.
5. Click Submit New Request.
6. Select your Major/Minor Choice from the dropdown list. Click on the magnifying glass beside the description box to see a list of options. Click on the ID number beside your choice to make a selection.
7. Read the acknowledgement statement and check the box beside I Agree to confirm your choice(s).
8. Click Submit.

Read all warning messages carefully and click OK to proceed or Cancel to go back.

Notification

You will receive notification of any declaration status changes via your myMacEwan student Gmail account. To confirm your declaration has been processed correctly, review your request in myStudentSystem:

1. Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your MacEwan username and password.
2. Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
3. From your student homepage, select Academic Records.
4. Select Major/Minor Declaration in the menu to review your choices, request status and dates.

Enrolment is limited in Honours programs, and each discipline may have specific selection requirements. If you are considering an Honours program, we encourage you to talk with the Honours advisor for your discipline early in your academic career.

Honours degrees are available in:

• Accounting
• Human Resources Management
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing

Admission to Honours programs at MacEwan University is competitive.

Honours programs in the Bachelor of commerce

Admission to co-operative education programs at MacEwan University is competitive. Eligibility requirements and detailed instructions to complete your application are outlined on the website.

Co-operative Education

You are bound by the requirements published in the Academic Calendar for the year you declare or re-declare your major and minor or the year you are accepted into an Honours program. Requirements include the institutional graduation requirements, degree requirements and major/minor requirements. Make sure to plan your program using the Academic Calendar for the year you process your declaration or redeclaration.

If you wish to change your major or minor, you must re-declare both and meet all requirements in the appropriate Academic Calendar. We strongly urge you to consult an academic advisor before you make a change.

Refer to the table below to determine which Academic Calendar to use based on the year you officially declare.