Business Administration

Overview

Prepare for an exciting career in the world of business. The Business Administration program provides you with workplace-ready business skills in a hands-on learning environment that is connected to industry.  In this program, you:

• Learn the latest business practices and technologies that employers and business owners in Nova Scotia, across Canada, and around the world are looking for.
• Learn what it is like to work in a real-world business environment through our on-campus business centres, simulations, project-based learning, applied learning, service learning, collaborative learning and mentorship activities.
• Develop the skills and professionalism you need for a career that focuses on people, organizations, strategy and leadership.
• Develop an awareness of the global economy and corporate social responsibility.
• Gain knowledge of the latest practices and technologies that employers and business owners in Nova Scotia and globally seek in their future employees and partners.
• Graduate with the fundamentals of business in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, operations, management and leadership.

First year

In the first year of this program, you learn to:

• Describe and apply marketing and sales concepts used to support business operations.
• Use accounting and financial principles to support the operations of an organization.
• Use appropriate software, web-based tools and office technology to manage information.
• Foster relationships with stakeholders by communicating effectively, building trust and valuing diversity.
• Present effectively to a range of audiences using a variety of styles and tools.

Second year

For your second year, you have the option to:

• Specialize in accounting or financial services. (Note that second-year concentrations are not available at all campus locations and are subject to change. Seating is limited for year 2 choices and will vary depending on the campus you choose. Learn more about accounting and financial services concentrations, including locations and availability.)
• Continue into the second year of the Business Administration program, where you'll have the opportunity to take courses that focus on areas such as marketing, sales, management and business in a global setting.

Work experience

• Field experience is a mandatory credit course, providing you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills outside of the classroom.
  • Opportunities are typically unpaid and last approximately 5 weeks.
• This program is eligible for a cooperative education (co-op) credit course between year one and two.
  • Co-op provides an opportunity for paid, full-time employment in a field related to your program.
  • Co-op takes place in third term between year one and two and must be a minimum of 12 weeks and 420 hours.
  • Our co-op program follows Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) guidelines.
• Transportation, accommodations and other costs related to work experience are your responsibility.
• For more information, visit work experience opportunities.

Study options

• Full-time and part-time study is available through online delivery at eCampus with classes scheduled 3 terms per year (fall, winter and summer).
• The full-time option is to be completed in 2 years, and the part-time option is to be completed in 3 years.

Other info

• This program is accredited by the National Committee for Management Accreditation (NCMA), a program run by CIM | Chartered Managers Canada, recognizing it as meeting the academic requirements of the Chartered Management Program (CMP). You graduate eligible to apply for free Associate Membership with CIM | Chartered Managers Canada and begin the pathway toward earning the Certified in Management (C.I.M.) and Chartered Manager (C.Mgr.) designations.
• Faculty maintain strong community and industry connections and use a proactive approach to prepare you for industry trends and demands.
• You have access to other exciting learning opportunities beyond your program, such as international learning programs and entrepreneurship workshops.
• Strong organizational abilities will be helpful to your success in this program.
• This program requires you to be comfortable with:
  • Punctuality and time management
  • Reading, writing and document management
  • Group work and class participation
  • Oral presentations
  • Above-average communication skills
  • Math
  • Computers and technology

September 2026

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Burridge Campus Yarmouth	Full time	Distributed Delivered in-person at one location and virtually to students at another location.	Seats available
Burridge Campus Classes at Digby Learning Centre	Full time	Distributed Delivered in-person at one location and virtually to students at another location.	Seats available
eCampus	Full time	Asynchronous online Delivered fully online with no scheduled classes.	Waitlist
eCampus	Part time	Asynchronous online Delivered fully online with no scheduled classes.	Seats available
Ivany Campus Dartmouth	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Ivany Campus Dartmouth	Full time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person.	Seats available
Ivany Campus Dartmouth	Full time	Blended Delivered through a combination of online and in-person classes. At least 50% of learning is in-person. Evenings	Seats available
Kingstec Campus Kentville	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Lunenburg Campus Bridgewater	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Pictou Campus Stellarton	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Sydney Waterfront Campus Sydney	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Truro Campus Truro	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available

January 2027

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Ivany Campus Dartmouth	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available

Admission requirements

• High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent.
  • International students – High school diploma equivalency and English language requirements vary by country. View document and language requirements by country

Program requirements

• Portfolio development – As part of your studies at NSCC, you develop a portfolio of your work; the portfolio captures your achievements and profiles your skills to employers.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2025-26 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional.

Tuition, fees and program costs

Tuition for part-time study is calculated on a per-course basis and is paid at the beginning of each term.

In addition to annual tuition, there are program costs (books, tools, etc.) and student fees for College services, health and dental plans, your student association and parking.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Business Administration
• Business Administration - Year 1 - Part-time
• Business Administration - Year 2 - Part-time
• Business Administration - Year 3 - Part-time

About the profession

A career in business administration offers a broad range of opportunities for those interested in managing and optimizing organizational operations. Working in business administration allows you to develop strategies, improve processes and contribute to the overall success of a company.

The profession requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams. Flexibility and adaptability are essential, as the business environment can be dynamic and fast-paced.

Starting in entry-level positions, you can gain valuable experience and move up to more specialized or managerial roles. The job often involves regular office hours, but may also require additional time for meetings and project deadlines. For those passionate about leadership, strategic planning and organizational development, a career in business administration can be incredibly rewarding and offer numerous opportunities for growth and advancement.

Career options

• Graduates are well-positioned for employment across all areas of the business sector, including accounting, financial planning, marketing, sales, project management, operations management, human resources and entrepreneurship.
• Second year program concentrations in accounting and financial services provide you with specialized skills for a career in the financial and insurance sectors and many accounting fields.
• Graduates also work for government, not-for-profit organizations, cooperatives as well as pursue their own business opportunities.

Future study options

• Graduates of this program have a strong foundation to continue their studies in the following NSCC business programs:
  • Business Analysis
  • Business Intelligence and Analytics
  • Digital Marketing
  • Human Resource Management
  • Non-profit Leadership
  • Public Relations
  • Start-up Accelerator
• Continue your studies at university – This program includes courses that count towards a university degree. Learn more about having your diploma count towards a university degree

Courses may include

These are some of the courses offered in this program. It is not a complete list and courses are subject to change in advance of the academic year.

Recognizing prior learning / transfer credits
If you have previous learning (course, employment, etc...) that's relevant to your program, you may be able to apply to earn credit. Not all programs are eligible. Learn about our recognizing prior learning (RPL) process.

ACTG 1000 - Financial Accounting I
This course introduces students to the basic principles of the accounting cycle used manually in the service industry.

BUSI 1020 - Principles of Business
This course introduces you to business concepts and factors that contribute to organizational decision making. By the end of this course, you will be able to develop your business acumen, distinguish among the different forms of business organizations, explain the four functions of management, and critically assess business activities.

COMM 1205 - Communications - Workplace Foundations
Effective communication is fundamental to career success. This course will apply the communication cycle to improve the impact of written messages, presentations, and interpersonal interactions.

COMM 2215 - Communications - Workplace Applications
This course explores the detailed and specialized messages that are part of the current workplace. The course will give students the opportunity to research, format, and write targeted messages such as reports and letters. The course also prepares students for the job search.

COMP 1050 - Business Computer Applications I
This course introduces the basics in current business computer applications – including email, collaboration tools, word processing, presentation software, and spreadsheets. By the end of this course, you will be able to manage files and business activities, schedule and facilitate meetings, create business documents and presentations, and create spreadsheets to industry standard.

COMP 2050 - Business Computer Applications II
This course expands on Business Computer Applications I by introducing new skills. By the end of the course, you will be able to design a basic database, enhance spreadsheets, create templates to increase efficiency, and collaborate to create and review shared documents.

FINA 1311 - Managing Your Personal Finances
An introduction to starting your personal financial plan exploring conventional techniques for making your money work for you, instead of the other way around! This one semester course deals with financial planning and investment on a personal scale, and is intended to be useful and understandable to people who lack a finance background.

MATH 2500 - Applied Business Mathematics
Applied Business Mathematics introduces students to a variety of math concepts applicable to the business profession. The course will emphasize the time value of money in relevant contexts, annuity applications such as investments, loans and mortgages, as well as decision-making tools such as merchandising costs analysis, break-even analysis, identifying the break-even point and areas of profit and loss.

MGMT 1010 - Organizational Behaviour
This course gives students a fundamental understanding of the factors that influence effective interactions within an organization. Individual traits, team dynamics, and organizational culture will all be examined as factors contributing to workplace success and sustainability. Topics such as perception, diversity, motivation, ethics, conflict resolution, and change will be examined to help students become better equipped to interact with others in an organization and to find career satisfaction.

MKTG 1010 - Marketing I
The primary focus of this course is marketing products and services to targeted customers. Emphasis is placed on the basic marketing premise that customer needs must be satisfied in order to achieve an organization's objectives. The strategic marketing planning process is introduced, along with the specific concepts and principles involved in the four key components of the marketing mix.

MKTG 2005 - Marketing II
This course is a continuation of MKTG 1010. Topics will include: the marketing environment including emerging technologies and global influences, elements of the marketing mix and marketing plans.

SAFE 1000 - Introduction to WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)
This course offers learners basic overview of WHMIS principles and establishes a solid foundation to support workplace-specific training on the safe storage and handling of controlled/hazardous products. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive basic WHMIS certification.

SAFE 1019 - Safety and Sustainability Basics
This course provides an overview of your rights and responsibilities as a student, as well as those in the workplace under the NS Occupational Health and Safety Act. Topics such as duties and precautions, accident reporting, as well as personal and campus safety and sustainability initiatives will be explored.

Business Administration Year 1 Prescribed elective course requirement. 4 credits.