Accounting – Business Administration (Co-op option available)

Program Overview

Whether it’s a small business or a large publicly traded corporation, accounting professionals are needed in all areas of the economy, in both the public and private sectors. Our program is taught by industry-connected professors who will give you the skills and knowledge to excel in the field. You will be exposed to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50 and Profile. You will also have the opportunity to earn Microsoft Office specialist certifications, making you instantly valuable to an employer.

You will hone your skills and gain valuable work experience through a co-operative education (co-op) option or field placement. This program gives you a powerful combination of knowledge, skills and real-life work experience.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)

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Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CAD)
Year one international: $13,322 (CAD)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Co-operative Education

Field Placement

Management /Budgeting

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2021	Open	Open
January 2022	Open

Co-operative Education (co-op)

The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Accounting administrator
Accounts payable/receivable clerk
Bank teller
Billing analyst
Bookkeeper/payroll clerk
Budget co-ordinator
Collections officer
Entrepreneur
Financial analyst
Junior accountant

View all Career Options

Program Details

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific hardware and software requirements for this program click here.

Used in a variety of organizations, accounting involves measuring business activities; processing information into financial reports and statements; and communicating information to the appropriate decision-makers. To meet the wide range of accounting employment opportunities, Durham College incorporates a variety of simulations into the courses to help prepare students for the workplace. Students will be exposed to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50, and Profile. Courses include:

Auditing
Business mathematics
Communication
Computerized accounting and Excel
Managerial accounting
Finance
Financial accounting
Taxation

Students can also earn the following globally recognized certificates by taking Microsoft Office Specialist exams as part of their computer courses:

Microsoft Office Specialist: Word Associate (COMP1209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (COMP1209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (COMP2209)
Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (if applicable currently will be offered in Accounting and Supply Chain programs)

Students who successfully pass all three exams can earn an extra certificate that recognizes their accomplishment with the Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 365 and Office 2019) certificate. DC students are provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the college’s Microsoft Office account. See more details about this opportunity.

Please note:

This program can be completed in three years and provides entry-level training in accounting with a four-week field placement.
Students can transfer to any other first-year business program at Durham College (DC) after the first semester or leave after second year with a Business - Accounting diploma.
Pathways are available to the third year of the Business Commerce degree at Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech), the Bachelor of Business Administration at Trent University, and other pathway agreements. For more information visit www.durhamcollege.ca/transferguide.
Subject to additional education and training requirements, you may be eligible to apply your credits towards other related certifications, including:
- Certified Bookkeeper (CB)
- Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP)

Program Learning Outcomes

Record financial transactions in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships, private enterprises, publicly accountable enterprises and non-profit organizations.
Prepare and present financial statements, reports and other documents in compliance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships, partnerships and private enterprises.
Contribute to strategic decision-making by applying advanced management accounting concepts.
Prepare individuals' and Canadian-controlled private corporations' income tax returns and individuals' basic tax planning in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
Analyze and evaluate organizational structures and the interdependence of functional areas, and contribute to the development of strategies which positively impact financial performance.
Analyze and evaluate, within a Canadian context, the impact of economic variables, legislation, ethics, technological advances and the environment on an organization’s operations.
Analyze and evaluate an organization's internal control system, taking risk management into account.
Contribute to strategic decision-making by applying advanced financial management concepts.
Co-ordinate the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of team projects by applying project management principles.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)
Grade 11 mathematics (C, M or U)

September or January Start:

You may enter Year 1 of the Business or Business Administration program in September or January
If you begin classes in January, you will complete semesters 1 and 2 from January to August and start Year 2, Semester 3 immediately (in September).

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyCampus.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2020-21 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes. Students should refer to their timetable for the most up-to-date course information.

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Accounting administrator
Accounts payable/receivable clerk
Bank teller
Billing analyst
Bookkeeper/payroll clerk
Budget co-ordinator
Collections officer
Entrepreneur
Financial analyst
Junior accountant

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Accounting firms
Accounting department in any industry
Banks and finance companies
Colleges and universities
Insurance companies
Municipal, provincial and federal governments
Small and large owner-managed businesses

Field Placement

Students completing a field placement will participate in a four-week component in their final semester, giving them practical accounting experience and the opportunity to apply the theories and concepts they have learned. Students who have field placement in the third year of the program, historically, have found it valuable in gaining practical experience. We also believe it gives them a competitive edge in seeking full-time employment.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

You will have the opportunity to obtain the technical course requirement to pursue an Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (www.gocpaontario.ca). Subject to additional education and training requirements, you may also be eligible to apply your credits towards other related certificates, including:

Graduates with a minimum of cumulative grade point average of 3.5, can apply directly to the third year of the Bachelor of Commerce program at the Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) or the Bachelor of Business Administration program at Trent University.

You may also be eligible to apply your academic credits towards further study through Durham College’s graduate certificate programs or through the college’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities, including:

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Laptop Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

Laptop: Personal computer (PC). A Mac is not recommended – see notes below*
Operating System: Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only) and later
Processor: Intel Core i5 or better
Memory: 4 GB of RAM (8 GB preferred)
Hard Drive: 250 GB or larger (Solid State Drive (SSD) preferred)
Warranty: 3 years parts and labour (On-site preferred)
2 USB ports
Webcam
Microphone (headset preferred)

*Mac Computers

Some required software applications are not available for Mac.
Students who choose a Mac may need to purchase additional software to complete assessments and class exercises at their own cost.

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Windows 10 Professional (64-bit only)
Microsoft Office 2019 or 365 (Students will be provided access to Microsoft Office 365 through the College’s Microsoft Office account)
Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Acrobat Reader
Real Player
Windows Media Player
Adobe Flash Player and Browser Plug-in
K-Lite Codec Pack

OPTIONAL

AVG
Avira

Co-operative education (co-op)

Students in the Business Administration – Accounting Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first year of study. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third years of their program.

Supports are available through the Co-op office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Co-op office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters to the program before graduating.

Program sequence

September intake:

	Fall (September to December)	Winter (January to April)	Summer (May to August)
Year 1	Academic semester 1	Academic semester 2	Summer break
Year 2	Academic semester 3	Academic semester 4	Co-op work term 1
Year 3	Academic semester 5	Academic semester 6

January intake:

	Fall (September to December)	Winter (January to April)	Summer (May to August)
Year 1		Academic semester 1	Academic semester 2
Year 2	Academic semester 3	Academic semester 4	Co-op work term 1
Year 3	Academic semester 5	Academic semester 6

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

CO-OP WORK TERM

Co-op Work Term 1 (BACC 1000)
The co-op work term will provide students with work experience in accounting industries. The co-op work term expands students’ learning environment to real work settings where they will be challenged to apply their academic knowledge and then return to campus with a deepened understanding of industry demands and required skills.

SEMESTER 5

SEMESTER 6

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Co-op administrative fee

Once transferred to the co-op option of a program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts. The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students. These services are dedicated to support student success.

Learn more

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.

Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.

Accounting – Business Administration (Co-op option available)

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Intakes and Availability

Co-operative Education (co-op)

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes

Admission Requirements

September or January Start:

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Laptop Requirements

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED HARDWARE

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

OPTIONAL

Co-operative education (co-op)

January intake:

Courses

CO-OP Option

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

SEMESTER 3

SEMESTER 4

CO-OP WORK TERM

SEMESTER 5

SEMESTER 6

Co-op administrative fee

Learn more

Helpful Resources

Durham College Viewbook

2021-22 Program Guide

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]