Finance

General information

The Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree prepares graduates with strong employability skills and the foundations for excellence in managing business corporations.

Organizations are examined from a number of perspectives, including how they are managed and the changing environments in which they operate. National and international contexts of business are explored, along with relevant issues facing managers in business, labour and the public sector.

Students receive extensive practice in applying theory to the processes of decision-making and problem solving through computer-based exercises and simulations, case study analyses, problem-based learning activities and field-based projects.

Year 2, the core year, is an introduction to each of the functional areas of business – accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, organizational behaviour and human resources – and an examination of the ways in which these are integrated within an operation. In Years 3 and 4, students may apply to major or major and minor in one or more functional areas.

In Year 4, students benefit from the Pre-Capstone Workshop, Capstone Study Project and Strategic Management courses. Students in the Pre-Capstone Workshop prepare their proposals and project outlines for completion in Capstone Study Project. These unique courses provide an opportunity to consolidate learning from earlier years of the program on the site of a partnering organization and under the supervision of both university faculty and the organization’s management team. In lieu of Capstone Study Project, qualified students may also enrol in the Internship program (details below).

Finance major

The Finance major is offered to students seeking careers in corporate and government finance, banking, financial planning and investments. Finance graduates pursue a career with jobs such as financial analysts, loan officers, traders (in markets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, futures, options and swaps), portfolio managers, security analysts, credit managers, budget directors, investment advisors, treasurers, financial planners, insurance representatives, and investment bankers. The Finance major curriculum offers a variety of courses with topic coverage in equity analysis, derivative securities, portfolio management, fixed income security analysis, working capital management, advanced corporate finance applications and mergers and acquisitions, international finance, financial modelling, and personal finance to name a few. The Finance major helps prepare students for the professional designations of Chartered Financial Analyst and to attempt the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) Global Education Inc. exam.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U) with a recommended minimum average of 60 per cent and one of Advanced Functions (MHF4U) or Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) or Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U) with a recommended minimum average of 60 per cent. All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Internship program

This program offers students who have successfully completed two years of study, including having achieved a cumulative 3.0 GPA (B average on a 4.3 scale), an opportunity to engage in a contracted learning partnership with businesses locally and globally. Faculty members may provide links to various internship placement opportunities or a student may secure an employer who meets the criteria as prescribed by the Faculty of Business and Information Technology.

The internship program not only gives students an opportunity to apply classroom concepts to the challenges of organizational life, but also helps them to gain valuable and relevant work experience to promote networking and life-long career success. Participating employers are given the opportunity to bring the motivated learners, thinkers, and doers of tomorrow into their workplaces, as well as provide valuable mentoring to students.

The internship program placement equates to a minimum of 280 hours of progressive business and management experience. The intern’s wages (stipulated in a contract) are paid by the sponsoring business over a contracted period. Successful work placement completion and both a verbal and written final report will result in the intern receiving a mark and three credits toward the honours Bachelor of Commerce degree requirements. Students who have successfully completed the Internship program are not required to take the Capstone Study Project.

Admission to the internship program is competitive. While students are participating in an internship program, they may enrol in one course (3 credits) per semester. This course must not interfere with the internship schedule outlined by the employer.

Academic requirements to major/minor in a Bachelor of Commerce program

In order to register for third- and fourth-year major or minor courses, students must hold a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (or 2.3 for the Accounting or Entrepreneurship major or minor), with completion of 19/20 first- and second-year Bachelor of Commerce courses, and meet the following individual major requirements:

Accounting – minimum 2.3 (C+ grade) in each of: BUSI 1130U , BUSI 2130U and BUSI 2180U .

Entrepreneurship – minimum 2.3 (C+ grade) in each of: BUSI 1130U , BUSI 2200U and BUSI 2402U .

Finance – minimum 2.0 (C grade) in each of: BUSI 2401U  and BUSI 2402U .

Marketing – minimum 2.0 (C grade) in BUSI 2200U.

Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management – minimum 2.0 (C grade) in each of: BUSI 2311U  and BUSI 2312U .

Technology Management – minimum 2.3 (C+ grade) and C+ in BUSI 1520U .

Operations Management minor – minimum 2.0 (C grade) in BUSI 2603U .

Standing policy for Bachelor of Commerce majors/minors

Students will be placed on probation in the major or minor if they receive a grade of D in any major or minor course. Students will be removed from the major or minor if they receive a grade of D in two or more major or minor courses; or a grade of F in any major or minor course; or a grade of D in any major or minor course while on probation in the major or minor; or fail to remain with a CGPA of 2.0 or higher. Failing to meet the major or minor standing requirements will result in removal from the major or minor, and continuance in the general concentration will be required.

Program details and degree requirements

To be eligible for the honours Bachelor of Commerce degree, students must successfully complete 120 credit hours, including all courses outlined in the following program map.

Students may apply to major in one or two (double major) of the following six areas: Accounting , Entrepreneurship , Finance , Marketing , Technology Management , or Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management . Students who choose to double major must complete all the requirements for both majors and depending on the combination it could require up to three additional courses (129 credit hours in total) during a four-year period. 

As an option, students may also complete a minor in one of the following: Accounting minor , Entrepreneurship minor , Finance minor , Marketing minor , Technology Management minor , Operations and Supply Chain Management minor , or Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management minor . 

Although reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the following program map, course requirements and term offerings may change. For the most up-to-date list of course offerings, please visit the faculty website at businessandit.uoit.ca.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Electives

A total of 27 credit hours (9 electives), which must consist of:

• A minimum of 9 credit hours (3 electives), but no more than 12 credit hours (4 electives) in BUSI courses which are NOT one’s major.
• No more than 6 credit hours (2 electives) in additional BUSI courses from one’s own major.
• At least 9 credit hours (3 electives) in the area outside business (BUSI prefix).

Finance major requirements

The Finance major in the Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in finance courses. Students must complete six required finance courses and a minimum of four finance elective courses.