Career Potential
Graduates of the program will be able to perform entry-level functions in accounting or administration in business, industry and government. They have been hired in the tourism industry, health, education and social services fields, band or settlement offices, retail businesses, and oil and gas industries.

Credential
Certificate

Admission Requirements
Grade 12 or equivalent with:

• English 30-2 
• Math 30-2 
• Students who do not meet admission requirements can contact student services regarding opportunities for placement testing. * Students will need to submit an application to the program to start the process.

Use this chart to check Provincial high school equivalencies accepted at Portage College. Note: This is just a guide.

English Language Proficiency Information

Transferability
The Business Administration Certificate is transferable to Portage College Diploma in either Accounting or Management or as a 30-credit block to many other institutions. This program has transfer options available, with up-to-date information accessible through the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) and/or the Transfer Department.

Business Administrative Certificate is transferable to many other institutions throughout Alberta including:

• NAIT
• SAIT
• Bow Valley College
• Red Deer Polytechnic
• Northern Lakes College
• Lakeland College
• Medicine Hat College
• Lethbridge College
• Northwestern Polytechnic
• Athabasca University
• Keyano College
• Norquest College
• Olds College

Domestic Student Fees
Application Fee $53.50

Fall Term
Fee payment deadline: August 15, 2025

Winter Term
Fee payment deadline: December 15, 2025

Total tuition & mandatory fees for year: $5,551.66

Part-time Fees
Tuition is calculated using “cost-per-credit” one credit is $157. Calculate the cost by multiplying the number of credits per course by $157.

Visit Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies

Tuition Deposit: $100 (non-refundable for oversubscribed programs)

Need help funding your education? Check out our funding options.

Fee Explanations

Students’ Association Fees
These fees are authorized by student referendum and the Board of Governors. They are collected by the College on behalf of the Students’ Association in accordance with the Post Secondary Learning Act.

Health & Dental Fees
You may opt-out of the Dental and Health Insurance plan if you provide proof of comparable coverage for an extended health and/or dental care benefits plan.

Any questions regarding SA Fees including the Health and Dental Insurance fees should be directed to the SA Office 780-623-5609.

Athletics & Recreation Fees
These fees are collected to provide recreation and leisure opportunities that promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being, whether online or through in person facilities. Check out your +region in the link, to see what is offered at your campus or online.

Technology Fee
This is a mandatory fee assessed to students enrolling in any credit course (except for apprenticeship programs) at Portage College. The fee supports the on-going maintenance and upgrades to administrative systems that support the entire College infrastructure.

As such, it is considered a “mandatory non-instructional fee” and, therefore, is subject to Alberta Advanced Education Public Post-Secondary Institutions’ Tuition Fees Regulations. Visa students are charged the same rate as Canadian residents for this fee.

International Student Fees
Application Fee $160.00
Tuition Deposit $5000.00 (non-refundable)

If you choose to pay the full tuition and mandatory fees, you may still be eligible for a refund of payments above the $5000 deposit, as per the Portage College refund policy.

Fall Term
Fee payment deadline: August 15, 2025

Winter Term
Fee payment deadline: December 15, 2025

Total tuition & mandatory fees for year: $16,736.71

Visit  Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies

Fee Explanations

Students’ Association Fees
These fees are authorized by student referendum and the Board of Governors. They are collected by the College on behalf of the Students’ Association in accordance with the Post Secondary Learning Act.

Health & Dental Fees
You may opt-out of the Dental and Health Insurance plan if you provide proof of comparable coverage for an extended health and/or dental care benefits plan.

Any questions regarding SA Fees including the Health and Dental Insurance fees should be directed to the SA Office 780-623-5609.

Athletics & Recreation Fees
These fees are collected to provide recreation and leisure opportunities that promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being, whether online or through in person facilities. Check out your +region in the link, to see what is offered at your campus or online.

Technology Fee
This is a mandatory fee assessed to students enrolling in any credit course (except for apprenticeship programs) at Portage College. The fee supports the on-going maintenance and upgrades to administrative systems that support the entire College infrastructure.

As such, it is considered a “mandatory non-instructional fee” and, therefore, is subject to Alberta Advanced Education Public Post-Secondary Institutions’ Tuition Fees Regulations. Visa students are charged the same rate as Canadian residents for this fee.

Click here to view Other Fees for Service

• COMMUNICATIONS I

  Course ID: COMM121

  Name: COMMUNICATIONS I

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  Exceptional communication skills are vital to success in business. In this course, students will learn to apply effective business writing techniques and strategies. These include critical thinking, problem determination, scholarly research, and proper documentation. Students will produce a formal, informational research report and deliver an engaging oral presentation based on their report. Students will use business productivity software to create professional reports and presentations.

  PREREQUISITES: ENGL 30-2

   

  Note: Students taking a reduced course load should take this course as one of their first courses. The concepts and skills you will learn in this course are required in all of your other business courses.
• BUSINESS MATHEMATICS

  Course ID: MATH117

  Name: BUSINESS MATHEMATICS

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of the fundamental principles and concepts of business mathematics and to develop their abilities to apply these principles and concepts to solve practical business problems, particularly in marketing and finance. This course includes a lab component to analyze business math problems with spreadsheets. Prerequisites – Math 30-2

• BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE

  Course ID: CMIS101

  Name: BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  This course introduces business productivity software programs required to develop skills in word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, and databases. The project-based course allows students to create, maintain, and enhance their skills using office productivity software programs. These skills are required by all other business courses and by industry to support information sharing and enhance decision making.

  Prerequisites – Math 30-2, English 30-2

• MICROECONOMICS

  Course ID: ECON186

  Name: MICROECONOMICS

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  The question of how individuals and firms use their resources to attain certain economic goals is examined. The central problem of scarcity is introduced. A brief study of how different economic systems try to solve this problem is undertaken. The market system is investigated as to how supply, demand, and price determine what and how much is produced. Effective decision-making in the marketplace is also examined. Prerequisites: Math 30-2

• PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

  Course ID: MGMT120

  Name: PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  Learners will develop a solid foundation for best management practices within an organization. The four fundamental principles of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling) are examined.  Learners will be exposed to the process of strategic analysis and learn ways to integrate these principles. This course incorporates various learning activities, discussions, and case studies.

  Prerequisites – English 30-2

• BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS II

  Course ID: COMM131

  Name: BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS II

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  Students will build on skills, concepts, and techniques introduced and practiced in COMM 121. Students will create a variety of business documents and presentations by researching, examining, and analyzing common business issues and problems. Emphasis will be placed on research skills, problem determination, critical thinking, source documentation, and audience. Students will prepare a formal analytical report and a persuasive presentation based on the report. Job search skills will include competitive strategies for finding work, with a focus on how to produce a targeted resume and cover letter and preparing for a job interview. Students will use advanced functions of current business software applications to create business documents, an analytical report, and a presentation. Prerequisites: COMM 121

• INTRODUCTORY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

  Course ID: ACCT115

  Name: INTRODUCTORY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  This introductory course in financial accounting will expose students to how transactions are reported by business and how this information is presented to users outside the organization. The first part of the course focuses on the accounting cycle for a business. Concepts of revenue recognition and inventory valuation for a merchandising type of organization are analyzed. Various assets, liabilities, and equity accounts presented on the balance sheet are thoroughly examined to determine what values should be presented on the financial statements. Finally, financial statement analysis is carried out to help students understand the overall health of a business.

  Prerequisites – Math 30-2

• MACROECONOMICS

  Course ID: ECON187

  Name: MACROECONOMICS

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  The overall health of the economy as measured by gross domestic product, unemployment rates, inflation rates, interest rates, the balance of payments exchange rates and the money supply is the prime focus of this course . Keynesian and monetarist theories of income and employment are used as a framework for analyzing government monetary and fiscal policies. The role of the Bank of Canada and the chartered banks in determining the money supply and interest rates is described. Current debate relating to public debt and supply-side economics is evaluated. International economic issues including free trade and the balance of payments are also examined. Where appropriate, applications to current events are introduced and topics are enhanced wherever possible. PREREQUISITES: MATH 30 (Not Math 30-3) or 60% on the Business Math test and ENG 30, strongly recommended ECON 186

• MARKETING

  Course ID: MARK166

  Name: MARKETING

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  This is an introductory course covering the fundamental principles and concepts of marketing. Major emphasis is placed on the marketing mix and its strategic application to an increasingly complex business environment. In particular, the areas of product, promotion, price, and distribution are examined as they relate to the achievement of company objectives.

  Prerequisites: ELA 30-2 or COMM 121

• ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

  Course ID: ORGB193

  Name: ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

  Hours: 64

  Credits: 3

  Organizational Behaviour is the study of what people think, feel and do in and around organizations. Organizational Behaviour is not just for managers; the concepts explored in this course are useful to anyone who works. This course builds student knowledge starting at an individual level, moving on to a team level, and finally finishing at the organizational level. Students will develop an understanding of how Organizational Behaviour concepts affect themselves and others, and how those impact the organization's bottom line.

  Prerequisites: ELA 30-2