GDBA program structure

The course-based graduate diploma in business administration requires the completion of five courses for a total of 15 credit hours.

Students must complete three core (required) courses and two elective courses.

Core (required) courses:

BUSI 8104 - Organizations: Behaviour and Structure
BUSI 8106 - Marketing
BUSI 8109 - Accounting for Management

Elective courses may include (but are not limited to):

BUSI 8108 - Economics for Business
BUSI 8204 - Human Resource Management
BUSI 8205 - Information Systems
BUSI 8210 - Labour Relations

Note: Other electives may be approved by the Faculty of Business Administration.

8104 – Organizations: Behaviour and Structure

Both micro- and macro-levels of organizational analysis are considered in this course. It moves from individual and group processes within organizations, through discussions of organizational structure and design, culture, power and change, to considerations of organizational effectiveness and the role of external environments. Readings, cases and experiential exercises are used to develop students’ understanding and applied skills in several broad areas: understanding yourself and other people at work, developing and managing effective work groups, leadership and management, contemporary organization design and organizations in the future.

8106 – Marketing

An introduction to the fundamentals of marketing is provided with specific emphasis on such topics as analyzing the market, examining the four key areas of marketing decision-making: product, price, channels of distribution and promotion, and planning and controlling the marketing effort.

8108 – Economics for Business

This course provides a framework for the analysis of major influences and policies that affect business conditions and decisions. Emphasis is placed on understanding and interpreting the indicators of economic performance and the dynamics of forecasting in a national and international environment.

8109 – Accounting for Management

This course provides a framework for the analysis of financial and managerial accounting information. Emphasis is on the uses and limitations of such information by both internal and external users, and the role of management in interpreting and presenting necessary information.

8204 – Human Resource Management

This course aims to improve general management competency in the effective use of human resources within any organization. It emphasizes an applied orientation and content includes the examination of topics such as traditional and contemporary approaches to employee empowerment; the development of reward systems; managing the movement of employees into, through and out of organizations; and the development and maintenance of human resource networking and support systems that are responsive to task complexity and competition.

8205 – Information Systems

A survey of topics in information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) from a managerial perspective is provided. Topic areas include: IS roles in decision making, IS/IT-enabled competitive advantage, approaches to data management, software for end-user productivity, telecommunications, information processing technology, systems and applications software, systems design techniques and systems development methodologies.

8210 – Labour Relations

The origins of the Canadian labour movement, labour legislation and the major substantive elements of collective bargaining are studied in this course.