Honors Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Services)
Toronto, Canada
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2025
TUITION FEES
CAD 20,915 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The Honors Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Services) is a four-year business degree in Toronto that was developed with employers to create graduates who can thrive in today's financial services industry. After the first year of studies, students can choose from either the Accounting or Financial Planning specialization.
Whether you are seeking a career as a professional accountant or a financial planner, this program provides the skills, knowledge and real-world experience to help you succeed.
The program includes:
- Work-integrated learning experiences that amount to no less than 14 weeks of full-time equivalent work (420 hours), either in one block or in multiple cumulative blocks appropriate to achieving the program learning outcomes.
- Accounting, banking management, administration, and financial planning theory, as well as the practice of applying concepts in the real world.
- A state-of-the-art facility that includes network-ready wireless classrooms and study areas.
- Curriculum that is current and has been developed with input from our industry partners, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and the Financial Planners Standards Council.
This Centre for Business program is part of our School of Accounting and Finance.
Your Field Education Options
Work experience is required as part of this program.
Work Experience
The Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Services) degree includes co-op experience(s) that amounts to no less than 14 weeks of full-time equivalent work (420 hours), either in one block or in multiple cumulative blocks appropriate to achieving the learning outcomes.
The co-op experience usually occurs between your sixth and seventh semesters if taken in one block and all 420 hours must be completed before the seventh semester. This work experience provides you with the practical experience employers value. Organizations in the following categories are engaged as field education partners for the Financial Services degree:
- financial institutions
- accounting and accounting-related organizations
- small businesses
- not-for-profit organizations
- government offices
- major corporations
George Brown works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed industry work experience opportunities they believe will provide the learning experiences they value and meet the learning outcomes of the program. This valuable work experience can, in turn, be added to your resumé.
In addition to on-the-job work experience, George Brown College endeavors to provide field education opportunities with real-world challenges and clients.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships for international students at George Brown College are generally in-program awards based on students’ academic performance (and other criteria) at George Brown College after the beginning of the academic program.
Curriculum
Required Courses
The following is a guide for the courses in the B302 and B322 programs Honours, Bachelor of Commerce degree, for semesters 1 to 8. All courses in the first year are common to all majors. You will choose your major (Personal Financial Planning or Accounting) after you successfully complete your first year.
Students must successfully complete 41 courses and 1 Integrated Work Experience in order to complete their degree. This includes 33 mandatory courses and 8 Liberal Arts courses of your choice from the Arts and Humanities, Social Science, or Science & Technology.
Common Degree Courses
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Select One Liberal Studies Elective |
Select One Liberal Studies Elective |
At the end of year one, students select their major. You can access the Curriculum Planner and course outline for each major online.
Financial Planning Major (B302)
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Integrated Work Experience or Academic Work Term (14 weeks)
- BCOP 1101 – Work Experience (CO-OP)
- BCOP 2001 – Work Experience (CO-OP)
- BDWT 1101 – Academic Work Term
- BDWT 2001 – Academic Work Term
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Accounting Major (B322)
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Integrated Work Experience or Academic Work Term (14 weeks)
- BCOP 1101 – Work Experience (CO-OP)
- BCOP 2001 – Work Experience (CO-OP)
- BDWT 1101 – Academic Work Term
- BDWT 2001 – Academic Work Term
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Liberal Studies Elective |
Program Outcome
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Communicate information and concepts clearly and concisely using the most appropriate methods for the message, its purpose, and its audience.
- Work effectively in teams to achieve desired goals and outcomes by managing projects, resolving conflicts, addressing differing points of view, and demonstrating self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-management.
- Solve business problems by interpreting data from primary and secondary sources in qualitative and quantitative analyses.
- Evaluate risk, economics, environmental, ethical, legal, political, sociological, and technical factors to support strategic decisions.
- Formulate and communicate sound arguments using critical evaluation of research, personal and societal contexts.
- Develop solutions to financial problems using relevant business and statistical models.
- Assess the overall financial performance of an individual or organization and prepare appropriate financial reports.
- Adhere to appropriate professional, legal, and ethical codes of conduct and comply with government and industry regulations.
- Use appropriate business software to manage data, analyze financial information and create business reports.
- Demonstrate awareness of uncertainty, ambiguity, and limits of knowledge and how these might influence analysis and decisions.
- Gather and evaluate data, formulate arguments and solve problems using appropriate methods of research and inquiry.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Services) degree are prepared for careers in a wide range of business sectors and organizations including banks, other financial institutions, federal, provincial, and municipal government offices, and service organizations.
Graduates of the program have found employment as:
- analyst, International Tax
- supervisor, accounts payable
- senior accounting clerk
- client portfolio analyst
- senior financial analyst
- financial officer
- assistant portfolio manager
Future Study Options
Designations
Graduates of this program may wish to pursue other designations or credentials in accounting. For information on the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, please visit cpaontario.ca.
Graduates of this program (Financial Planning Specialization) may wish to pursue other credentials or certifications in the financial services sector.
Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation – may be obtained through FP Canada.
Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP®) – may be obtained through FP Canada.
Canadian Securities Course (CSC) – may be obtained through the Canadian Securities Institute.
Life License Qualification Program (LLQP) – may be obtained through Oliver’s Learning (or another approved provider) followed by the provincial licensing exam.
Note: The requirements for each designation/certification are set by the granting body, not George Brown College. In order to qualify for any of these designations/certifications, you need to follow the process listed on its website and meet all the requirements applicable to you.