Location/Delivery Modes & Dates
- Online - Asynchronous - September 2026
A study in being irreplaceable.
The successful business administrator is an effective leader, communicator and problem solver – one who can integrate rapidly emerging technology with diverse business functions such as accounting, marketing and human resource management. These movers and shakers are found in multiple industries including manufacturing, retail, hospitality, health care, education, finance and private and public service, among many others.
CNA’s Business Administration program provides core business, office and technology skills to develop an employee that can complete many different tasks across departments. You'll learn every angle of running a successful business – marketing, tech, finance, and communicating and working with diverse individuals in a challenging environment. This is an absolute must for future business leaders, no matter what industry you choose. Once equipped with the aptitudes and problem-solving skills of a business professional, you can seek out wide-ranging employment opportunities or even start your own business.
You will develop interpersonal and organizational skills, use the latest computer technology in business decision making and attain practical tools that fit the bill for building a solid knowledge base that will work for you your entire business career.
Make it your business to succeed!
- A six-week work placement to hone your skills
- Graduate after year one with a Business Administration certificate or continue on for the two-year diploma
- Accredited under the National Committee for Management Accreditation (NCMA) Professional Accreditation
- Transfer credits to institutions such as Athabasca University, Grenfell Campus of Memorial University, and Cape Breton University
- Just about every kind of organization needs professionals who can effectively manage business resources and practices.
- Business advisors in Canada can earn an average of $44.00/hr.1
- Many companies offer comprehensive health insurance, retirement plans, paid vacation and other perks to attract and retain top talent. 2
- Some 41,700 new administrative jobs are expected to become available in Canada between now and 2028.3
Upon successful completion of the Business Administration diploma program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate expertise in foundational concepts of business, office management, and information technology.
- Display ethical decision-making, exhibit a deep understanding of organizational behavior, demonstrate effective leadership skills, and communicate proficiently in diverse contexts.
- Demonstrate the capability to transition seamlessly between organizational areas, effectively prioritize tasks, and skillfully manage projects.
- Utilize modern tools and technologies designed for overall business operations, showcasing skillful management of office tasks, the effective use of technology applications, and proficient utilization of software systems.
- Exhibit the application of employability skills defined by the Conference Board of Canada to facilitate successful entry into the workplace and work collaboratively with team members from diverse backgrounds and skill sets to achieve common business goals.
The Business Administration program is currently undergoing accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) in all campus locations. ACBSP is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence.
Business Administration is accredited under the NCMA Professional Accreditation, which recognizes alignment with the academic requirements established in the Chartered Management Program (CMP). NCMA Professional Accreditation is a distinguished standard that supports, validates, and promotes excellence in management education and professional readiness.
- Graduates of College of the North Atlantic's Business Administration diploma program may transfer up to 60 credits towards Athabasca University's Bachelor of Commerce (Post Diploma), Bachelor of Commerce with Major (Post Diploma), Bachelor of Management (Post Diploma), or Bachelor of Human Resources Labour Relations (Post Diploma) programs.
CNA Graduates from this area - 5 year trending
Eligibility for admission to Business Administration/Business Management programs requires the applicant to meet one of the following four academic criteria:
1. High School
Provincial High School Graduation Certificate with a 60% overall average in the following (or equivalent):
i. English 3201
ii. Mathematics (4 credits) chosen from:
Advanced: 2200, 3200 (50% minimum in each course)
Academic: 2201 (50% minimum), 3201 (60% minimum)
iii. Five credits at the 3000 Level
2. College Transition (prior to 2024, students would have completed Comprehensive Arts and Science (CAS) Transition)
College Transition Certificate with the following courses:
i. English (minimum 60%): CM1060, CM1061
ii. Math (minimum 60%): MA1040, MA1041
3. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with Business-Related College Profile including the following courses (or equivalent):
i. English 3101A, 3101B, 3101C or 3102A, 3102B, 3102C
ii. Mathematics 1101A, 1101B, 1101C, 2101A, 2101B, 2101C, 3101A, 3101B, 3101C
Applicants with Adult Basic Education (Level III) Graduation with a different Profile may be eligible for admission to the program provided the appropriate selection of courses including those outlined above have been completed.
4. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program, must be 19 years at the time of application and out of school for at least one year may be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
COURSES
| CODE |
TITLE |
Hrs/wk |
| Semester 1 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC1260 |
Financial Accounting I |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| CM1240 |
Business Communications I |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| HN1230 |
Human Resource Management I |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| FN1140 |
Introduction to Finance |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| MC1260 |
Integrated Software Applications |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| MR1100 |
Marketing I |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 2 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC2260 |
Financial Accounting II |
5 |
4 |
3 |
| CM1241 |
Business Communications II |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| HN1240 |
Human Resource Management II |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| LW1230 |
Business Law |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| MR2100 |
Marketing II |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| MC1242 |
Spreadsheet Essentials |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 3 |
Intersession I |
Cr |
Le |
La |
| AC2230 |
Computerized Accounting I |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| CM2200 |
Oral Communications |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 4 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| EP1190 |
Business Solutions |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| OF1305 |
Digital Tools for the Office |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| LD1220 |
Effective Leadership |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| CP1060 |
Excel: Visual Data Analysis |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| CP1011 |
File Management and Security |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| PS2340 |
Organizational Behavior |
4 |
4 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 5 |
|
Cr |
Le |
La |
| CP2640 |
Desktop Publishing |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| CP2070 |
Social Media Management |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| CP1070 |
Emerging Innovations |
4 |
3 |
2 |
| MN3100 |
Business Ethics |
3 |
3 |
1 |
| PR2170 |
Project Management |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| SD2200 |
Work Exposure Orientation |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Semester 6 |
Intersession II |
Cr |
Le |
La |
| OJ1590 |
Work Experience-Business Administration |
0 |
0 |
6 wks |
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates may find entry level job opportunities in a wide spectrum of organizations such as public institutions, small and/or large businesses, and financial institutions.
PROGRAM TRANSFERABILITY
The Business Administration programs offer exit points after Year 1, Year 2.
* Students can graduate at the end of Year 1 with a Business Administration Certificate.
* Students graduate at the end of Year 2 with a Business Administration Diploma.
FURTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the Business Administration program may have the opportunity to transfer credits to institutions/associations such as:
• Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia
• Memorial University (Grenfell)
• Athabasca University
• Griffith University
• Northwood University
• University of New Brunswick (Saint John)
Canadian Students
The confirmation fee is due within two weeks of receipt of your Letter of Acceptance. It is required in order to hold your seat in the program.
Application Fee - $30.00 (per program)
A non-refundable fee required for each application submitted to the College | Application Page
Application fees are only refundable if the program does not go ahead, and the applicant does not want to transfer the application to another program.
Note: The following fee is non-refundable and must be paid within two (2) weeks of receiving your Letter of Acceptance for each program at the College.
Confirmation Fee - $105.00 (per program annually)
A non-refundable annual fee due upon confirming acceptance into each program. This covers registration and student association services and must be paid each academic year.
Academic Audit Fee - $50.00 (once per program)
A one-time fee assessed for auditing academic records during your program.
Technology Fee - $83.00 (per semester)
A semester-based fee to support student access to software, internet, and digital services across all campuses.
| School |
Regular Term
(15 weeks) |
Intersession
(up to 7 weeks) |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Business & Information Technology |
$1,099.00 (per semester) |
$524.00 (per semester) |
| Program Type |
Tuition Fee |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Certificate & Diploma Programs |
$320.00 (per course) |
All student fees must be paid by the date specified in each term. These dates can be found in the Academic Calendar .
- Students receiving Student Aid must present their notification of award on the first day of classes. These students may defer payment until aid is received, at which time fees must be paid in full.
- Students who do not pay fees within the prescribed time may have their registration cancelled.
- Students with outstanding balances are:
- Ineligible for future term registration
- Unable to receive diplomas, transcripts, or grade reports
- Denied access to online grades until the balance is paid in full
It is the student's responsibility to clear all balances and contact their campus Student Services office with any account inquiries.
Additional Notes
- If the College cancels a program, all tuition and fees will be fully refunded.
- Out-of-sequence students registering or withdrawing mid-term will be charged on a pro-rated basis.
- Students taking additional courses beyond a standard load must pay for each extra course.
- Senior citizens (60+) receive a 50% discount on confirmation fees and tuition.
- Students auditing a course must pay:
- 50% of tuition
- 100% of any applicable technology fees
International Students
A fee, which is applied toward program tuition and compulsory fees and includes a deposit fee, is due within two weeks of receipt of your Letter of Acceptance.
Application Fee - $100.00 (per program)
A non-refundable fee required for each application submitted to the College | Application Page
Note: The following fees are non-refundable and must be paid within two (2) weeks of receiving your Letter of Acceptance for each program at the College.
Confirmation Fee - $105.00 (per program annually)
A non-refundable annual fee due upon confirming acceptance into each program. This covers registration and student association services and must be paid each academic year.
Deposit Fee - $1,500.00 (Included in First Semester Tuition)
A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit required to secure your seat. Included in first semester tuition.
Academic Audit Fee - $50.00 (once per program)
A one-time fee assessed for auditing academic records during your program.
Technology Fee - $83.00 (per semester)
A semester-based fee to support student access to software, internet, and digital services across all campuses.
| School |
Regular Term
(15 weeks) |
Intersession
(up to 7 weeks) |
| Business & Information Technology |
$4,484.00 (per semester) |
$2,243.00 (per semester) |
| Program Type |
Tuition Fee |
Certificate & Diploma Programs:
| Certificate & Diploma Programs |
$1,046.00 (per course) |
The document below provides a summary of estimated program costs for international students applying to the 2026–2027 academic year.
Please note that all amounts are approximate and subject to change without notice. These costs apply only to international applicants.
If applying online, the application fee must be paid via credit card during the submission of your application to College of the North Atlantic.
College of the North Atlantic has partnered with PayMyTuition for all international tuition payments. All tuition payments, unless otherwise noted, can be paid via PayMyTuition.
- Payments can be made from any bank, in any country, and in any currency.
- Offers better than bank exchange rates.
- Fast, secure, and cost-effective.
Please note that you can only use PayMyTuition once you have been assigned a CNA student number.
All student fees must be paid by the date specified in each term. These dates can be found in the Academic Calendar .
- Students receiving Student Aid must present their notification of award on the first day of classes. These students may defer payment until aid is received, at which time fees must be paid in full.
- Students who do not pay fees within the prescribed time may have their registration cancelled.
- Students with outstanding balances are:
- Ineligible for future term registration
- Unable to receive diplomas, transcripts, or grade reports
- Denied access to online grades until the balance is paid in full
It is the student's responsibility to clear all balances and contact their campus Student Services office with any account inquiries.
Additional Notes
- If the College cancels a program, all tuition and fees will be fully refunded.
- Out-of-sequence students registering or withdrawing mid-term will be charged on a pro-rated basis.
- Students taking additional courses beyond a standard load must pay for each extra course.
- Senior citizens (60+) receive a 50% discount on confirmation fees and tuition.
- Students auditing a course must pay:
- 50% of tuition
- 100% of any applicable technology fees