Earn a Versatile Business Degree
The BBA – General program provides a broad foundation in business principles, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a variety of industries. You’ll gain expertise in:
- Strategic Decision-Making – Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex business challenges and implement effective solutions.
- Financial & Managerial Accounting – Learn how to interpret financial statements, manage budgets, and assess business performance using tools such as QuickBooks and Excel for financial modeling.
- Marketing & Brand Strategy – Explore customer engagement, digital marketing, and brand positioning while working with industry tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, and Adobe Creative Suite.
- Human Resource Management – Understand workforce planning, talent development, and leadership strategies using platforms such as BambooHR and SAP SuccessFactors.
- Business Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making – Use industry-standard tools like Tableau and Power BI to analyze business data, identify trends, and support strategic decisions.
- Operations & Supply Chain Management – Gain insights into logistics, procurement, and inventory management with tools like SAP ERP and Oracle NetSuite.
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Learn how to develop, launch, and grow a business, applying real-world case studies and using tools such as Canva for business planning, Shopify for e-commerce, and Lean Canvas for startup modeling.
With a flexible curriculum, the General BBA allows you to customize your learning experience to align with your career goals, giving you a well-rounded business education in today’s fast-paced and technology-driven business environment.
Program schedule
Our course delivery is flexible, allowing you to take your classes in the daytime, evening or online to suit your schedule. We also have transfer credit and prior learning assessments for those who have done prior post-secondary or other formal training experience.
You can expect to spend on average:
- 20 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester.
- 20 hours per week studying and completing class assignments.
Common first year
In the first year of the BBA degree program, all business students take common foundational courses in order to gain core business knowledge. This allows students to experience a variety of business fields in order to decide which is the best fit. In the second, third and fourth years in the BBA General studies, you will have the flexibility to take advance studies in a variety of business courses.
BBA degree with concentration
In the BBA career path for General Business studies, you will not earn a concentration on your transcript showing that you graduated in a specialized field of studies. Concentrations do not appear on your graduation parchment, but will be noted on your official student transcripts. Your graduation parchment will note you have earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Apply in APAS
Students applying to any business administration diploma program will choose Bachelor of Business Administration when selecting the program on the Alberta Post-Secondary Application System (APAS). More information can be found under How to Apply.
BBA Co-op
Students in this BBA concentration are also eligible to participate in NAIT's BBA Co-op program. Jumpstart your career by spending 3 semesters gaining valuable hands-on experience in real workplaces.
More information on the Co-op option can be found on the BBA Co-op page.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the BBA General concentration are equipped with versatile business skills, preparing them for a wide range of roles across industries. Career paths may include business analyst, operations coordinator, sales manager or entrepreneurial ventures, with opportunities to grow into leadership and management positions. This concentration is ideal for those seeking flexibility and a strong foundation in business principles
Take your career planning to the next level
This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.
Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.
Work Experience Placements
Students in this program gain valuable work experience with Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. The WIL placement in this program is a Co-op.
Co-op
A Co-op provides experience in a workplace setting related to the student's field of study. The number of required work terms varies by program; however, the time spent in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over 2 years in length, and 25% of time for programs 2 years and shorter in length.
| Duration |
45 weeks |
| Compensation |
Yes |
| International Students |
Co-op Work Permit required |
| Placement Identified By |
Student - Submits resume to employers to apply for WIL positions. |
| Student Interview Required |
Yes |
Benefits of a Co-op
- Understand more about career opportunities, expectations and requirements of the professional field
- Gain the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world environment
- Create networking opportunities in your chosen industry
- Develop and improve communication, interpersonal and employment skills
- Gain confidence in your professional skills
- Practice job placement skills including job search, resume preparation, interviewing
- Explore career options and program specialization within the industry
- Improve application for future positions by gaining industry experience and increasing your employability
- Possibility of employment after graduation
- Potential financial benefits if the placement is paid
Finding a placement
- Create a profile on NAIT's job board, Career Connect
- Create and maintain a current resume, cover letter and list of references
- Apply for positions on Career Connect
- Prepare for, and attend, employer interviews
- Coordinate and communicate with your WIL Coordinator
- Be flexible, professional, and participate fully in the recruitment process
- Be aware of the anticipated outcomes of the placement
- Notify the coordinator for your program once you have an employment offer and sign a WIL Agreement
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 10 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of D in the course(s) or program
Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR)
Please see below for the list of courses that available for PLAR credits in this program. Please click on the specific course for more information on the evidence that is required for each course.
Please refer to the Credit for Work and Life Experience page for more information on how to apply for PLAR credits.
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Tuition & Fees
This content is specific to the selected intake.
The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.
Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)
Level 1 Term 1: $950
Level 1 Term 2: $875
Level 2 Term 1: $875
Level 2 Term 2: $875
Level 3 Term 1: $875
Level 3 Term 2: $875
Level 4 Term 1: $875
Level 4 Term 2: $875
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
Admission Requirements
This content is specific to the selected May 05, 2025 intake.
Minimum entrance requirements
The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.
High School Applicants:
- Grade 12 Language Arts (English 30-2)
- Grade 12 Mathematics (Math 30-2 or Applied Math 30)
- Three additional Grade 12 courses (30-1 or 30-2 levels only), which may include any of the following Alberta Ed courses, or equivalent or higher courses: Math 31, Biology 30, Physics 30, Chemistry 30, Science 30, Social Studies 30-1 or 30-2, Aboriginal Studies 30, Physical Education 30, Francais 30-1 or 30-2, Psychology 30, Sociology 30, Law 30, any 35 level additional language course, any 30-level fine arts course, any 30-level business course, or any 30-level AP course.
- An overall minimum average of 65% in the five required high school courses.
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
Post-Secondary Applicants:
Business Diploma Graduates: (for applicants who want to start at Year 3)
If you completed a business credential at another institution and are accepted to this program, you may be eligible to receive advanced standing credits for your previous courses. Learn how to apply for advanced standing credits.
Additional requirements & considerations
Alternative entrance pathways
If you are missing one or more of the minimum entrance requirements, you may be eligible for an alternative entrance pathway. For any pathway listed below, English language proficiency is also a requirement.
*Applicants who, prior to September 2022 have completed business courses through NAIT Open Studies and who do not meet the minimum AGPA requirement, but who have a minimum AGPA of 1.7 may enroll in any three of the following four Open Studies courses. Completion of these three Open Studies courses with a minimum grade of 70% (B-) in each course will satisfy the AGPA requirement for the program:
- CMIS 3350/CMIS 3351 - Business Analytics and Data Visualization
- ETHC 3311 - Applied Business Ethics*
- ECON 3340 - Business and Its Environment
- COMM 3321 - Critical Reading and Writing*
*Applicants who, after September 2022, have completed business courses through NAIT Open Studies and who do not meet the minimum AGPA requirement, but that have a minimum AGPA of 1.7 may enroll in the three Open Studies courses listed below. Completion of these three Open Studies courses with a minimum mark of 70% (B-) in each course will satisfy the AGPA requirement for the program:
- ETHC3311 - Applied Business Ethics, and
- Any two Level 3 Courses from the map concentration that you are interested in pursuing
*Please note that acceptance into the program does not guarantee transfer credits. Transfer credits evaluation will take place after the student is accepted into the program.
Additional options
This program has courses that are available for Open Studies. Open Studies allows you to explore credit courses without applying to a program. It is an opportunity to get a feel for school and what program you want to be in.
Learn more about Open Studies
Dates & Deadlines
International
Applications Open:
Apr 01, 2024
International
Applications Deadline:
May 05, 2025
Domestic
Applications Open:
Jun 01, 2024
Application Deadline:
May 05, 2025
Term Start Date:
May 05, 2025
Seats are limited - Apply early! Applications will remain open for at least one month from the open date. If the program/waitlist fill after that date, applications will close.
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements. Students must still meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements, including full-time and in-person study requirements.
Co-Op Work Permit
Optional Co-op: Students in this program can choose to move into a co-op pathway, which includes a mandatory co-op work practicum. International students who plan to participate in this option must apply for a co-op work permit and get approval before starting the work placement.
Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.
