Curriculum

• BUSI 293: Introduction to Financial Accounting
  Financial Accounting introduces the concepts, principles, and conventions used in preparing financial reports and interpreting financial statements. Students will develop an understanding of accounting policies, their rationale, and the implications for users of financial accounting information.
• BUSI 294: Introduction to Managerial Accounting
  Managerial Accounting focuses on the use of accounting systems in for and not-for-profit organizations to facilitate and influence decision making. The development of analytical skills pertaining to the identification and use of decision-relevant accounting information is emphasized.
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 293 (Students with a strong quantitative background can opt to complete BUSI 293 as a co-requisite to BUSI 294)

• BUSI 335: Management Information Systems
  This course examines the use, structure, principles of operation, underlying technologies and components of Transaction Processing Systems. Transaction Processing Systems are the backbone of any information-driven activity in a modern enterprise and are used to support business decision- making, regulatory oversight, intelligence and commercial transactions. Students will explore strategic considerations in information system development and gain an understanding of data capture and organization, user interface, internal controls, e-commerce technology, and risk management.

• BUSI 370: Finance
  Business Finance focuses on the theory and practice of corporate finance. Students will develop a working knowledge of financial markets and the quantitative and critical thinking skills required to analyze and evaluate individual and corporate financing and investment decisions.
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 293 (Students with a strong quantitative background can opt to complete BUSI 293 as a co-requisite to BUSI 370)
• BUSI 393: Commercial Law
  Commercial Law introduces the legal environment in which business operates. Students explore legal issues encountered in business, strategies to avoid legal problems, and develop an understanding of the legal principles used by the courts to resolve disputes.

• BUSI 353: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
  Intermediate Financial Accounting I examines the environment and conceptual framework of financial reporting; the accounting for assets; revenue and expenses; International Financial Reporting Standards by publicly accountable enterprises; and accounting standards for private enterprises. Students develop critical assessment skills for existing, competing, and proposed accounting standards in the context of investors, lenders, management, and other users/stakeholders of financial statements. 
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 293
• BUSI 354: Cost Accounting
  Cost Accounting focuses on the decision-facilitating role of management accounting and how it is used as a tool to provide information that is useful in predicting the consequences of alternative actions and in structuring the descriptions of those consequences. Students are exposed to the tools needed to find the relevant data necessary for good business decisions.
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 294 (BUSI 370 is also highly recommended as a prerequisite. Students with a strong quantitative background can opt to complete BUSI 370 as a co-requisite to BUSI 354)
• BUSI 355: Introduction to Income Tax
  This course examines Canadian tax principles for individuals and corporations in Canada. Students will gain an understanding of the general structure of the Canadian Income Tax Act and be introduced to tax planning opportunities for individual and corporate taxpayers.
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 293
• BUSI 450: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
  This course focuses on the application of the comparative treatments and presentations of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Private Enterprise Standards as they apply to liabilities, equity, and related complex measurement issues and presentations. Students will become conversant in the accounting theory and end user financial information needs which underlie the two sets of Canadian financial reporting standards and attain the technical depth required to deal with more advanced measurement and disclosure issues. 
  • Pre-requisite: BUSI 353 (BUSI 370 is also highly recommended as a prerequisite. Students with a strong quantitative background can opt to complete BUSI 370 as a co-requisite to BUSI 450)
• BUSI 453: Advanced Financial Accounting
  This course examines advanced financial accounting including inter-corporate investments, transactions and balances in foreign currencies, and accounting principles applicable to not-for-profit organizations. 
  • Pre-requisites: BUSI 353 & BUSI 450
• BUSI 455: Principles of Auditing
  This course develops the student's understanding of the importance of the auditing profession to society and the ability to apply auditing principles and concepts using real life cases and scenarios. The development and application of professional judgment in conducting an audit will be emphasized.
  • Pre-requisites: BUSI 353 & BUSI 450

In addition to the 11 core-courses, CPA Western School of Business requires applicants to complete 3 additional courses in order to qualify for entry into CPA PEP: Statistics, Economics, and Strategic Management. Students can complete these courses with UBC DAP or at another CPA-approved post-secondary institution.

• BUSI 291: Application of Statistics in Business
  This course will introduce you to the statistical concepts that are essential to modern business and commerce. You will gain an understanding of how statistics is used in decision-making. You will learn the critical thinking process that will allow you to assess data sources and quality, conduct data analysis, make statistical inferences and build models. The course uses Microsoft Excel for calculations and data visualization. 
• BUSI 295: Managerial Economics
  This course will introduce concepts and theories as they relate to microeconomics and macroeconomics. The first part of the course will focus on microeconomic principles as relevant to accounting; the second part will focus on macroeconomic principles, as relevant to accounting. 
• BUSI 414: Data Visualization and Business Analytics 
  This course is built from the premise that technology has changed the role of the accountant and other financial professionals. A heightened awareness of systems, technology, and data analysis is becoming increasingly required of individuals in the accounting and finance fields. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of data analytic thinking and terminology, as well as hands-on experience with data analytics tools and techniques. (Note: this course is a new requirement for the CPA Professional Education Program starting September 1, 2023). 
  • Pre-requisites: BUSI 291 & BUSI 335

• BUSI 493: Strategic Management
  This course is focused on the practical application of strategic management concepts. Students take a senior management perspective and consider the role of the accounting professional in strategic analysis and decision making. This is a student-centric course, providing an interactive learning experience comprised of mini-lectures, case analysis, teamwork, and discussion. Students build analytical and decision-making skills by completing individual and team assignments. 
   
  • Pre-requisites: BUSI 293 (It is recommended students complete BUSI 493 after the completion of all foundation courses, and in their last term of studies in the program)

The courses listed below are cross-listed courses (COMR) offered as optional electives to allow students without a business background to take additional business courses in topic areas outside of the CPA prerequisites, allowing them to build a comprehensive foundation in business fundamentals; limited seats are available.

• BUSI 329: Principles of Organizational Behaviour
  This course an introductory core course in Organizational Behaviour (OB). The primary objective of this course is to teach you about the effects of organizational structures and interpersonal processes on the behaviour of individuals in organizations and the wider implications for the effectiveness and success of organizations. The main goal of the course is to help you develop interpersonal skills that will allow you to succeed in your future career in business. 
• BUSI 465: Marketing Management
  This course will introduce the major components of the marketing discipline, providing you an understanding of the following topics: market research, consumer behaviour, branding, consumer segmentation and targeting, positioning, pricing, distribution strategy, retailing as a way to view all marketing as well as how its distributed, and a look into integration marketing communicationsg.