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BCom program structure

Program overview

There are many reasons to do your Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) at Gustavson. Our unique program structure is just one of those.

Our 2+2 structure begins with building knowledge and skills unique to your own interests. You’ll then layer in business acumen and real-world experience. This structure allows you to gain the perspective, experience and knowledge to launch your career with confidence!

Years 1 and 2

Years 1 and 2 are known as your pre-core years and take place before entering the BCom core (year 3). 

Within your pre-core years, you’ll broaden your knowledge through a diverse selection of topics in social sciences, science and humanities. You will also take a select number of business courses to connect with fellow BCom students and gain the building blocks for BCom core.

This breadth of study means you’ll gain skills and perspective from a number of disciplines. This helps you better understand business issues in the real world.

Find detailed information on course and grade requirements in our current students section. You can use the pre-core course guide to help build your schedule.

Years 3 and 4

Year 3

Year 3 is known as the BCom core. You’ll gain knowledge in:

  • accounting
  • corporate sustainability and social responsibility
  • finance
  • international business
  • managing people and systems
  • marketing

You’ll learn how to tackle business problems with an innovative and holistic approach, while gaining valuable experience as part of a project team.

Year 4

In year 4, you’ll have the option to pursue a specialization and go on an international exchange for 1 academic term.

You’ll gain professional exposure and experience through co-op work terms and you’ll gear up to launch your career through a customized career preparation course (COM 405).

You can also participate in the Applied Portfolio Management Program (after completing the Applied Investment Management Course in 3rd year).

Find detailed information about the curriculum and courses for years 3 and 4 in our current student section.

International exchange

As part of the BCom program, you will spend 4 months on an academic exchange studying at one of our many partner universities across the world.

You'll take business courses unavailable anywhere else, immerse yourself in rich cultures and, along the way, discover new things about yourself and your place in the world.

With partnerships in 40 countries, the hardest part will be deciding where to go!

Note: Exchange is available to BCom students in year 4 with a minimum GPA of 4.0 who have successfully completed all 300-level core courses.

Are you a current BCom student?

Everything you need to know about the application process, important dates, partner information, forms and support can be found on Brightspace.

You may also contact one of our outgoing exchange advisors for more information.

Careers

Starting from your first term on campus, Gustavson's mentorship program is available to guide practical career exploration and personal growth. In year 2, you'll start your career prep in earnest with a course dedicated to interviewing, resume building and career planning.

In year 4, you’ll take a self-directed course with one-on-one coaching, dedicated to helping you further develop your career skills. You'll also get to take part in a multi-day BCom event designed to prepare you for the workplace. You'll have access to career coaching, alumni panels, corporate crawls to introduce various industries and more.

BCom students gain knowledge and skills applicable to a range of careers, including:

  • accountant (CPA)
  • brand manager
  • business development manager
  • customer experience design specialist
  • entrepreneur
  • environmental consultant
  • human resources manager
  • international sales and marketing manager
  • investment banking analyst

Alumni career stories

Curious to see what our alumni have done with their careers? Check out our alumni stories archive to read more.