Even if you’re just entering the faculty, it’s never a bad idea to start learning about the different majors offered at Asper!
What is a major?
Every Asper student will have to declare at least one major throughout the course of their degree. A major is a specialization of knowledge in an area of business that correlates to the interest and career aspirations of each student. Students also have the choose a second major (more commonly referred to as “double majoring”), where the student’s business option slots would be filled with courses correlating to their second major.
How do you complete a major?
So, what does it mean to major in a subject area? Every major has a different assortment of courses that need to be successfully completed in order to achieve the major. Typically majors are composed of 12 – 18 credit hours (4 – 6 courses) in the subject area, and there may be different grade requirements in the courses for them to qualify towards your major. Another component to keep in mind is that there are cases when a course required for a major has prerequisites (courses that must be completed before you can enroll in the course at hand), which is helpful to consider when registering for courses in earlier years.
When do I declare my major?
There is no set timeline for when your major must be declared! Typically, students declare their major in their 2nd or 3rd year, after completing most, if not all, required intro courses. However, you can declare a major at any time and always have the option to change it later down the road. To see the requirements of each major, check out Asper’s Majors and Required Courses page.
Accounting
Those who pursue an accounting major may value their excellent quantitative and analytical skills. An accounting major is the first step for many in pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Actuarial Mathematics
Actuarial Mathematics majors are interested in applying certain mathematical disciplines to real-life financial scenarios. If you value how calculations can help to plan and reduce the risk for a variety of business-related areas, actuarial studies may interest you!
Entrepreneurship/Innovation
Creative and driven, entrepreneurship/innovation students are full of passion. Many who pursue an entrepreneurship major are interested in learning how to cultivate their own business or professional venture post-graduation.
Finance
Interested in how financial institutions and markets work? With a variety of career options and applications, finance majors often have a keen interest in investing and financing.
Generalist
Generalists are a jack of all trades! If you aren’t quite sure which career is right for you, a generalist degree is a great foundation for a career in management in the discipline of your choice.
Human Resources/Industrial Relations
HRM focuses on the people that make up organizations. If you are empathetic and strategic you may find an Industrial Relations major will be the perfect way to enhance your skills.
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Supply Chain has to do with the flow of products from the supplier, through operations, and onto the final consumer. Analytical and strategic, supply chain majors have a variety of different avenues to pursue post-graduation.
Indigenous Business Studies
Introduced in 2017, the Indigenous Business Studies major is the only major of its kind in Canada. Open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, this major is a one-of-a-kind way to gain a unique perspective through your commerce degree.
Marketing
If you are interested in consumers and why they make the choices they do, marketing may be the perfect major for you. Marketing majors use a combination of creativity and analytics to determine the most effective ways to communicate with consumers.
Business Analytics
For a quick introduction to business analytics, check out this video.
Technology is a core function of all facets of life, and business is no exception. With a major in BA, you will gain valuable knowledge about the technological tools essential to all organizations and gain a degree that is in high demand in the employment market.
Strategy and Global Management
Business is a global affair, and this degree provides context for commerce from an international perspective. Gain a worldly education from various perspectives and fields of study all right here in Asper!