2 years
The two-year diploma program provides a broad background into the functional areas of business. It provides a deeper dive compared to the certificate, for those who have a bit more time to gain further expertise. The program is designed for individuals wanting to quickly progress into management positions, manage their own location, or gain the skills, insight, and confidence to run a successful business. The business diploma enhances other existing credentials.
Students in the diploma will participate in a 90-hour work practicum, research project, or service learning opportunity. Students will survey the functional areas of business, develop an entrepreneurial mindset through creative and critical thinking, and choose from a selection of project based courses in human resources, marketing, accounting, financial services, entrepreneurship and small business, and corporate finance and economics. The diploma provides credit towards the (proposed) Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
The diploma consists of 20 courses or 60 credits. Business Certificate holders may receive transfer credit for up to 10 courses or 30 credits. The diploma can be completed face-to-face and/or online. Please note that all business options courses may not be available online. Students may complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule.
Admission is normally available for the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.
Program Learning Outcomes:
1. Collaboration: Collaborate in and with diverse teams employing interpersonal communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
2. Communication: Communicate effectively utilizing oral, written, nonverbal, and media communication skills.
3. Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving: Integrate creative, critical, and reflective skills and practices to analyze organizational challenges.
4. Globalization: Recognize the impact of globalization across cultures and markets.
5. Social and Cross-Cultural Awareness: Examine different ideas, perspectives, and worldviews in response to dynamic changing global, economic, political, social, and technological business environment.
6. Information, Research, Technology, and Financial Fluency: Apply information literacy, technology, research skills, and numerical and financial fluency to solve problems and analyze business decisions.
7. Ethics: Employ ethical decision making and demonstrate professionalism.
8. Business Acumen - Tools: Apply qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze business decisions.
9. Business Acumen - Analysis: Apply specific knowledge from the functional areas of business including terminology, business analytical tools, and techniques.
10. Business Acumen - Holistic: Apply holistic and entrepreneurial approaches when working in, and managing, socially responsible organizations.
11. Lifelong Learning: Recognize the value of lifelong-learning and community engagement.
12. Indigenous: Contribute to the advancement of reconciliation and apply principles of Indigenous knowledge including identifying and describing Indigenous cultural protocols, worldviews, and learning approaches in both a business and societal context.
Year one:
Year two:
Two of:
RDP Business Certificate courses provide credit towards the Business Diploma.
RDP Business Diploma courses provide credit towards the (proposed) RDP Bachelor of Business Administration.
ELA 30-2 65% or higher, or ELA 30-1 60% or higher, or equivalent
and MATH 30-2 65% or higher, or MATH 30-1 60% or higher, or equivalent
Completion of 20 courses with a minimum grade of "D" and a minimum GPA of 2.00 (62%).
Completion of 20 courses - consisting of 15 core business courses, 2 business options, COMM 250, CREA 2AAA, and 1 experiential learning course.
Local business owners have indicated that a diploma is the minimum requirement for leadership positions within a franchise (lower/middle management, location/office manager), while leadership at the corporate level requires a degree. Employment opportunities from the Business Diploma also include: marketing assistant, program assistant, accounting technician, payroll administrator, bookkeeper, financial services assistant, personal banking associate, human resources assistant, client care coordinator, operations coordinator, and facility management.
Graduates have the ability to pursue work in human resources, financial services, and accounting before returning to complete a degree, which is necessary for positions that require a designation in the discipline.
To learn about the employment outlook, average salary, and additional information about the occupations listed here, refer to the Government of Alberta ALIS website.