Academic Credit – 33 Units

• The McMaster Accounting Diploma program is divided into three areas: core, specialist and basic.
• To qualify for the diploma, students must complete five (5) core courses and any six (6) specialist courses.
• Students who do not have post-secondary education must also complete Business Communications and Organizational Behaviour courses in order to qualify for the Diploma.
• Students pursuing an external designation may take any number of basic courses to satisfy their external program requirements.

Future Degree Studies

Students who successfully graduate from the Accounting Diploma program and wish to pursue degree studies at McMaster University may be eligible to receive up to 33 units of undergraduate academic credit, as determined by the Faculty to which they are applying. The student must be accepted into the Faculty before this advanced standing is granted.

For application information for degree studies, visit the Registrar’s website: http://registrar.mcmaster.ca.

Students applying to the Bachelor of Commerce program after completing their diploma must be aware of the following criteria for advanced credit:

• The diploma must be completed with an overall average of B- or better
• A mark of B- or better must be obtained in each course that is to be used for advanced standing
• Only courses completed within the last 5 years will be considered for advanced standing
• Students will be permitted up to 6 units of failure
• Students who receive advanced standing for ACC 925 Introductory Financial Accounting and MKT 819 Marketing may be required to complete Economics 1BB3 and Economics 1B03
• The DeGroote School of Business requires the completion of two of the following math courses to be considered for admission: Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Introductory, Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U) and Mathematics of Data Management (MDM4U)

The DeGroote School of Business does not accept students who have previously earned a degree.

Students intending to pursue this option are strongly encouraged to contact us for detailed information.

Microsoft Excel 

Accounting requires varying degrees of proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel is recommended to be successful in the courses. Excel course modules are available through LinkedIn Learning, free of charge, to all active McMaster University students. Please visit LinkedIn Learning for more information.