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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Under special circumstances, School of Business students may apply for permission to take a course at another post-secondary institution. These requests are occasionally considered to provide exposure to diverse academic experiences and breadth in curriculum to enhance the student experience and the academy. In some situations, these requests may also be granted to accommodate a student facing extenuating circumstances temporarily limiting their ability to attend courses at MacEwan University

Process

You must apply for and be granted permission before starting an external course. The visiting student process is governed by the External Course Taking policy. If approved for visiting student permission, you will receive a Letter of Permission from MacEwan University’s Office of the University Registrar. Without the Letter of Permission, transfer credit will not be applied to your MacEwan University student record.

Basic requirements

The School of Business is very conservative in granting visiting student permission and eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. The following outlines some specific criteria; however, approval is not guaranteed.

Visiting student applicants must:

• Be declared (for Bachelor of Commerce students).
• Have completed a minimum of 30 credits towards their School of Business program at MacEwan University.
• Be in good academic standing at the time of the application.
• Ensure compliance with program of study residency requirements.
• Be aware of and adhere to the application, prerequisite and graduation deadlines.

Visiting student permission will not be granted:

• For courses that are regularly scheduled at MacEwan University.
• For any course considered a program and/or major capstone.
• To bypass prerequisite requirements.
• If you already have an outstanding Letter of Permission and the transfer credit for the outstanding Letter of Permission has not yet been posted to your student record.

Important notes

• Only one course per request form.
• Approval is given only for the course and term listed on the Letter of Permission. If you wish to take a different course, or take the course in a different term, or attend a different institution, you must submit a new visiting student application.
• You must comply with the visiting student deadlines and policies of both MacEwan University and the host institution.
• Students will not be considered for credit overload under the visiting student application.
• If you begin, but withdraw from or fail a course for which visiting student approval was granted, you must still submit an official transcript from the host institution to the Office of the University Registrar.
• If you do not take a course for which visiting student approval was granted, you must inform the School of Business Academic Advising Centre in writing.
• Your eligibility for academic awards or scholarships may be affected when you complete courses at another institution. Contact the Financial Aid Office in the Office of the University Registrar with any questions.
• If approved, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are enrolled in MacEwan University courses as per Withdrawal from University Programs policy

Procedure

Part I - TIMELINES AND DEADLINES

Visiting student requests may take up to four weeks to process. Advisors will only review visiting student requests during the following periods:

Part II - First steps

1. Run and review your Academic Program Progress Report (APPR) to confirm you meet all of the Basic Requirements above.
2. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide to find the course you want to transfer.
3. Initiate an inquiry by emailing business@macewan.ca from your student email. An academic advisor will review your request and respond with further information and an application form, if appropriate.

Part III - Request

1. If directed, complete the application form, and return to business@macewan.ca
2. An academic advisor will review your request and forward it for consideration.
3. You will be advised of the decision via email. Please note that decisions are final and will not be reconsidered.
4. If your application is approved, the Office of the University Registrar will send a Letter of Permission (LOP) to your MacEwan email. Retain the LOP as it contains important information and instructions you will need upon completion of the external course.

Part IV - Enrolling and receiving credit

1. It is your responsibility to apply and enrol at the host institution. MacEwan University has no role in your application, admission or registration at the host institution.
2. Upon completion of the external course, you must arrange for an official transcript to be sent directly from the host institution to MacEwan University’s Office of the University Registrar.
3. You are responsible for ensuring all transcripts are received in the Office of the University Registrar by document deadlines. Failure to meet any deadline may impact your program progress and/or graduation.
4. If you plan to use a visiting student course to meet prerequisites for a MacEwan University course, your transfer credit must be posted to myStudentSystem prior to enrolling in the next level course.
5. Check your transfer credit report in myStudentSystem to ensure that transfer credits are properly posted.

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

If you need to request a deferral for a midterm exam or assignment, talk to your instructor. To request a deferred final exam, follow the process outlined by the Exam Services Centre.

Exam Services Centre // 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 redeclare 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 15

Competitive declarations

The following minors are considered competitive:

• Finance Minor
• 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 redeclare your major and/or minor.

1. Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your Network ID 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 Network ID 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 redeclare 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 redeclare 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.