Bachelor of Arts (Major) in Economics

at Thompson Rivers University - Kamloops Campus Canada

Post-baccalaureate diploma will be of interest to students who have a non-business degree, and who want to return to university for one or two years to acquire a specialty in a functional area of business in order to enhance their employment opportunities. Students with a first degree in business, but who want to change their area of focus, may complete a post-baccalaureate diploma as well.

Post-baccalaureate diplomas are also valuable to international students who wish to come to Canada to learn English, gain exposure to the culture, and study in a compressed format. Many who do so have already studied business in their own country and have received transfer credit that reduces the length of the program

Develop marketable expertise in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment, distribution, re-use and disposal facilities and in monitoring source water quality. This state-of-the art program encompasses chemistry, microbiology, mathematics, mechanical and electrical systems, instrumentation and treatment technologies as they are applied in the increasingly vital water industry.

Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, actions, perceptions, physiological and neurological responses, and other behaviours in animals and humans. As both a scientific discipline and a profession, psychology relates to virtually every aspect of people's lives. Through research, psychology plays an integral role in understanding and predicting human behaviour. Through clinical practice, psychology strives to help people live more productive and fulfilling lives.

The Department of Psychology offers a variety of courses and the option of obtaining a (Major, Minor or Honours) in psychology as part of the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Why take psychology at TRU
Experience small class sizes and engaging opportunities! To better understand the fascinating field of psychology, first year students participate in research studies conducted by upper-year students and faculty. Upper year students have the opportunitiy to conduct research in the Honours program, by taking Directed studies courses or getting involved in faculty reserach, as research assistants and volunteers. Our students enjoy intimate classroom settings with dedicated, knowledgable, caring professors who have an exciting range of research interest. 

The Master of Science in Data Science (MScDS) is normally a 2-year program. The goal of the program is to provide students with solid knowledge, techniques, and experience in the research and application of data science, and to prepare students to become researchers and leaders in the emerging area of data science at the regional, national, and global levels.

The program is unique in that it can be an application-orientated or a research-orientated master’s program depending on whether students choose the Graduate Project option or the Graduate Thesis option. Regardless of their choice, graduates will develop the strong data analytics, critical-thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills required for success as a data scientist in big data or to pursue further advances in research.

Students in the Visual Arts at Thompson Rivers University can have the best of two worlds: courses can be counted toward a Diploma and toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts with a Minor in Visual Arts, or other university degrees at the same time. The Diploma allows students to sample a diverse selection of different media, such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and multi-media to gain an introduction to contemporary art practices along with art history and theory. The Diploma is useful in a resume for job applications or entrance to academic programs that require some background theory and practice in visual arts.

Worldwide economic growth is rapid and there is an urgent demand for management practices that balance financial gains with sustainability. Businesses across the public and private sectors are increasingly incorporating these considerations into their planning. Managers who understand them will be at the forefront of leading change, and TRU’s master’s degrees in environmental economics and management prepare graduates to make major contributions to this growing field.

Thompson Rivers University's new master's degrees in environmental economics and management prepare graduates to make major contributions to the field of economic sustainable management.

Two program options: same core content, choose your specialization
Both two-year programs provide graduates with a broad knowledge of the business environment and specialized environmental economics and sustainability knowledge. In addition to the shared core content, each program offers a specialization:

• Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM)
• Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM)

Program structure

• Both degrees are divided into two parts:
  • Year One: Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA)
  • Year Two: MEEM or MScEEM degree

Year 1 Graduate Diploma in Business Administration - two semesters
The purpose of the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) is to ensure all students, regardless of their educational backgrounds, have the business knowledge and skills to successfully apply the economic sustainable management principles learned. Students must complete the six courses in the GDBA to be admitted to the masters degree, but may receive a course waiver for some or all of the GDBA courses based on their previous academic record. Applicants with a four-year business degree from an acceptable institution may be eligible to proceed directly to the masters degree.

Year 2 Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM)
Prepares graduates to make major contributions to the field of economic sustainable management. They acquire management skills, specialized knowledge in the emerging area of sustainability as well as important academic and applied research expertise through the completion of a graduate thesis or project. Completion of a thesis or project can serve as a stepping stone to a PhD program and an eventual career in academia and/or consulting.

One-year option

• If you’ve recently graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor of Commerce, you may be eligible to enter directly into the second year of the program and complete your graduate degree in 12 months.

Designed for those wishing to enter a career in the technology industry, or for those wishing to pursue graduate studies, this degree consists of two years of general study, followed by two years of concentrated computing studies.

The Management Diploma is a two-year program that helps graduates develop key employment skills in areas such as oral and written communications, problem-solving, accounting, marketing, human relations, economics, law, information systems, and business ethics and readies them for entry-level general administration and sales positions.

Those who complete just the first year will be awarded a Business Foundations Certificate. This qualifies graduates for some entry-level positions, but they are encouraged to continue their education part-time or online if possible.

If you enjoy working with people and are a creative person with good communication skills, this program could be for you.

The accounting major is a rigorous program that prepares students to become an integral part of an organization's financial management team or to enter public practice as an auditor, tax specialist, or consultant. Governments, non-profits, major corporations, small businesses, and high-worth individuals all need accountants to manage their financial affairs.

The two main focusses of accounting are public and management accounting. Public accountants provide audit, tax, and consulting services to the organizations that engage their services. Management accountants work for an organization providing professional service to that same organization like a corporation or government entity.

Upon graduation, most students choose to pursue the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. With the Accounting Major, students will receive all Exemptions from the CPA Prerequisite Education Program (PREP) and move directly to the CPA Professional Educational Program (PEP) if they meet the Grade Requirement. Here they engage in advanced study and learn how to integrate material relating to the six CPA core competency areas of financial reporting, strategy and governance, management accounting, audit and assurance, finance, and taxation. PEP consists of five modules and an exam preparation course and culminates in students writing the rigorous Common Final Exam. After completing the 30-month work experience requirement, students are awarded the CPA designation.

Once they are established in the profession, many accountants go on to earn a second, more specialized designation. Some also complete graduate degrees and pursue careers in education or research at the college or university level. No matter what they choose, accountants are professionals who make a life-long commitment to remaining current in the discipline. The CPA society enforces this through its professional development requirements.

For those students wanting only an exposure to accounting, an accounting minor is also available.

Associate diplomas recognize the achievements of students who have completed two years of academic work. They are of particular value to students who want to save money by completing the lower level requirements of a business degree in their local community before transferring to another university such as Simon Fraser University or University of British Columbia for third and fourth year. Associate diplomas are also intended to recognize the accomplishments of student who for financial, family, work or academic reasons are not able to complete a full four-year business degree.

The Associate of Commerce and Business Administration Diploma is awarded to students who have completed the lower level requirements of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Students may substitute General Education Electives for MATH 1170 – Calculus for Business and Economics and ECON 2330 – Economics and Business Statistics 2.

Graduates of the Associate of Commerce and Business Administration Diploma may return to TRU in the future to complete the Bachelor of Business Administration and receive full credit for courses taken in the associate diploma.