Bachelor of Commerce, Human Resources Management Major
This program is designed for students seeking a rigorous, technically based business degree comparable in content to most Bachelor of Commerce degrees in Canada. Courses in all core business areas are required, including marketing, statistics, financial accounting, management accounting, finance, economics, information systems, strategic management, organization behaviour, and commercial law.
All students in the Bachelor of Commerce program will complete a common set of core courses in Years 1, 2, 3, and 4. The core courses are the same for the general Bachelor of Commerce degree and the six majors: Accounting, Business Technology Management, Finance, Human Resources Management, Indigenous Business, and Marketing.
The Bachelor of Commerce degree is offered by Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business. For more information, phone 1-800-468-6531 or email.
Human Resources Management Major
The Human Resources Management Major will give you the broad-based business knowledge you need to become not only a successful HR professional, but a respected management professional who knows how to contribute to departmental and organizational goals.
Planning your program
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future.
Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Enrolment restriction
Students will not be accepted into the Bachelor of Commerce program if they have:
- a degree in administration, business, commerce or management;
- a degree with a major or concentration in administration, business, commerce, or management; or
- any equivalency programs from Athabasca University or another university.
Students are not permitted to obtain a second undergraduate degree in the same field or related field as their first undergraduate degree. Those students who hold an international undergraduate degree who wish to obtain a Canadian credential, or those students who wish to obtain another Bachelor’s degree in a major different than their first undergraduate degree, will be permitted in consultation with the Program Director and reviewed by the Office of the Registrar.
Regulations governing all Bachelor of Commerce students
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.
Students must have a weighted average of at least 1.7 (C-) across all courses taken at Athabasca University towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree in order to graduate.
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 120 |
| Required courses (Years 1 and 2) | 39 |
| Options | 21 |
| Required courses (Years 3 and 4) | 30 |
| Human Resources Management major required courses | 21 |
| Options | 9 |
| A minimum of 12 Business and Administrative Studies credits must be at the 400 level (including ADMN 405). | 12 |
| Residency requirement: A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in senior (300 or 400) level courses. These 30 credits must include ADMN 405 (3 credits) plus 12 credits from the list of required courses for Years 3 and 4. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits | 21 |
Bachelor of Commerce, years 1 and 2 (60 credits)
Required courses
(39 credits)
| ACCT 250 or ACCT 253 | Accounting for Managers or Introductory Financial Accounting* | (3) |
| *Students who are planning to pursue a professional accounting designation or further courses in Finance are advised to take ACCT 253. | ||
| ADMN 232 or ADMN 201 | Introduction to Management or Introduction to Business Studies | (3) |
| ADMN 233 | Writing in Organizations | (3) |
| COMM 243 or COMM 277 | Interpersonal Communication or Group Communication | (3) |
| CMIS 245 | Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows) | (3) |
| ECON 247 | Microeconomics | (3) |
| ECON 248 | Macroeconomics | (3) |
| LGST 369 | Commercial Law | (3) |
| MKTG 396 | Introduction to Marketing | (3) |
| MATH 244 or MATH 260 or MATH 265 or MATH 270 | Business Mathematics or Calculus for Social Sciences and Economics** or Introduction to Calculus I or Linear Algebra I | (3) |
| **Recommended for students in the Finance major. | ||
| MGSC 301 | Statistics for Business and Economics I | (3) |
| PHIL 252 | Critical Thinking | (3) |
| PHIL 333 or PHIL 337 | Professional Ethics or Business Ethics | (3) |
Options*
(21 credits)
| (3) |
| (6) |
| *A maximum of 3 credits in any area of study at the preparatory (100) level can be taken in the above 9 credits. | |
| (12) |
Human Resources Management, years 3 and 4 (60 credits)
Required courses
(30 credits)
| ACCT 355 | Cost Analysis | (3) |
| ADMN 417 or ECON 401 | International Business Management* or The Changing Global Economy* * Both of these courses should be taken if pursuing the CPHR designation. An alternative course should be planned in the Options area. Please consult with an advisor if you require assistance. | (3) |
| CMIS 351 | Management Information Systems | (3) |
| FNCE/ECON 300 or FNCE 370 | Financial Economics or Overview of Corporate Finance | (3) |
| HRMT 386 | Introduction to Human Resource Management | (3) |
| MGSC 312 | Statistics for Business and Economics II | (3) |
| MGSC 368 or MGSC 369 | Introduction to Production and Operations Management or Service Operations Management | (3) |
| ORGB 364 | Organizational Behavior | (3) |
| ADMN 404 | Capstone I: Strategic Management | (3) |
| ADMN 405 | Capstone II: Application and Integration of Contemporary Business Topics* | (3) |
| * ADMN 405 must be taken with AU. Transfer credit will not be awarded. It should be taken as the last course in the program. | ||
Human Resources Management Major required courses
(21 credits)
| BTMA 320 | Overview of e-Commerce | (3) |
| HRMT 301 | Recruitment and Selection | (3) |
| HRMT 441 | Strategic Human Resource Management | (3) |
| IDRL 215 | Introduction to Labour Relations | (3) |
| IDRL 308 | Occupational Health and Safety | (3) |
| ORGB 319 | Motivation and Productivity | (3) |
| SOCI 321 | Sociology of Work and Industry | (3) |
Options
(9 credits)
| Senior (300 or 400) level Business and Administrative Studies credits. Students are recommended to take IDRL, HRMT, and ORGB courses. | (3) |
| Senior (300 or 400) level Non "Business and Administrative Studies" credits. | (6) |
Updated October 03, 2022 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)