UNBC Commerce....whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

The Question?

What is missing from the Commerce program at UNBC?

Currently, UNBC offers the very general areas of specifications (sounds like an oxymoron) for the undergraduate Commerce program. For those that are not familiar with it, here they are:

• Accounting
• Finance
• General Business
• Human Resources
• International Business
• Marketing

How many are there? Only six. Other major schools have ten or even twelve! Well, considering that UNBC is a relatively new university, it is not bad. However! It would be great, even awesome, for UNBC to start considering new degrees that can be added to the BComm program. Now, some may be thinking what more can there be to to a Bcomm?!?!?! *Sarcasm off* In all seriousness, UNBC only covers the basic, broad categories. After graduating, many times there would be more studying in specific areas. This may be the case for many graduates; for instance, the accountant majors. The next step after an accounting BComm? CFA, CGA, or even CA.

It is realized that incorporating these certified designations in a BComm is close or is impossible. But, what about specializations such as transportation and logistics, or real estate. Some might say real estate is so closely related to finance, that it can be considered the same degree. However, at UNBC, what differentiates a marketing degree from a finance degree? Five courses, given that one degree is already completed. Don't believe me? Here's enlightenment. So even if there's a specialization of a specialization, the Monkey Chicklets think that's just the thing to do.

Adding more onto the real estate part, what extra courses might be needed? Also, one thing that needs to be added in, is that the foundations are all completed in the first and second year (following program requirements); therefore, all specialization occurs in the latter part of the degree. So, the extra courses might be about the following:

• Urban Land Economics
• Real Estate Investment

• Real Estate Finance
• Real Estate Development
• Perhaps some required electives in geography

For all business students, with the exception of economic majors, the urban land economics might be a downside.

Transportation and logistics: "The flow of goods, information and money throughout an organization. It encompasses aspects of Finance, Marketing, and Accounting while giving you a broad picture of companies’ operations. You will learn about the efficiency and effectiveness of various transportation alternatives, warehousing and distribution, supply chain management and performance and inventory measurement techniques." This is taken from the UBC's website, but at UNBC, we are only briefly introduced to logistics in Comm 251 and Comm 350.

This is just something to think about. Taking information from other universities, York offers 16 BComm degrees, UoA offers an exceptional 17 BComm degrees, and Guelph has 9. All of these universities offer the six programs that UNBC offers; the difference is the specialization of specialization degrees (retailing, tourism, hotel related). With all this said, although we realize that it might be difficult for UNBC to gather the necessary resources, UNBC should push for higher specializations in their programs.

What is one business CLASS missing from the BComm program at UNBC?

Business Writing. How many times have different teachers demanded different formatting, or just didn't demand any formatting at all. UNBC needs a format that's constant within the business program. MLA style, Chicago style, New York Style, Toronto Style.....blaaaah. We made up the last two styles, but who knows. We have all felt the annoyance, and frustration at term papers. Losing 10% or more for a simple formatting mistake because your previous teacher told you one thing, but the current teacher wanted another.