Get down to business and grow your career in management
Developed in collaboration with the renown DeGroote School of Business, the Business Administration program offers the skills, knowledge and credentials employers are looking for.
Our courses will help you build the essential skills that range from business process, strategic and leadership thinking to key business areas accounting, human resources and marketing.
Choose from 3 flexible program options:
Online; Virtual Classroom; Online Self-study
Approx. 6-8 hours per week, per course
Diploma with concentration: 1+ years Certificate or diploma: 8+ months
Schedule and fees
Open enrolment
Our Business Administration program and its designation preparation courses can enhance each of these areas of practice.
Upon completion of the program, students will: Business Administration (Core courses):
Many McMaster Continuing Education Business Administration courses satisfy program requirements of the below professional associations. Students should contact the professional association for detailed information concerning their program. In all cases, students must register with McMaster Continuing Education for individual courses and in most cases students must also register at the program level with the association.
Students who wish to pursue a Diploma in Business Administration or Certificate in Business Administration, in conjunction with an external designation should contact businessadministration@mcmaster.ca.
Professional Associations:
Association of Administrative Professionals (AAP)
Canadian Institute of Management | Chartered Management Program (CMP)
Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
McMaster’s three Risk Management courses will prepare you to earn the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) Designation issued by the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS). Information on eligibility and requirements can be found here.
Credit Union Institute of Canada (CUIC)
Credit union staff please contact CUIC for further information: email CUIC
In all cases, students register with MCE for individual courses. In most cases, students must also register at the program level with the association.
It is the responsibility of the students to comply with the program admission and course requirements of the professional association or institute. Each organization has its own requirements regarding application, admission, program and membership. Students should contact the organization for detailed information concerning their program.
Students who wish to pursue a McMaster University Certificate or Diploma, in conjunction with their external designation, should contact McMaster Continuing Education.
Are you a current McMaster University undergraduate student?
Explore the ElevateYourSkills option to learn how you can earn a Business Administration certificate or diploma as part of your degree.
Learn more here.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career.
I feel very strongly that McMaster Continuing Education can really help you reinvent your career. I found that the Business Administration program was really the best fit for me, because the learning that I was able to take in through this program was really cutting edge and current to the labour market. The learning that I took on is something I use every day.
The MCE program on sustainability studies has introduced me to a different phase of continuous learning of self-development especially in a world dominated by a centric mindset of over-consumption.
What is sustainability?
The importance of sustainability is structured on understanding the dangers of how anthropocentrism and consumerism is taking over the world and combating this.
This program was well drafted and taught, and has enabled me become more aware of my environment and better ways of not only protecting it, but creating a better society using different methodologies based on a circular economy.
Sustainability is not a curve process but a journey which we all must embrace.
This microcredential was very informative, interesting and engaging. The instructors were well knowledgeable of the subject matter.
I encourage everyone to take this program.
It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context.
Sustainability seems to be a buzz word these days. I hear it mentioned on the news, in advertisements, in general conversations, and in other unexpected facets of life. I would argue that the concept of Sustainability is vital in today’s world and to our future happiness. As a Global community we are dealing with big social and environmental issues. It is important to understand the interconnectedness of these and other issues so that the implications of our everyday household and business decisions are understood in the right context. What we do and don’t do matters.
Enrolling in the McMaster Continuing Education Sustainability program has been a wonderful way to develop an understanding of the practices of Sustainability, and what we can do to support real change. I encourage everyone to look into this program and to join the conversations being held all around you. Even if you don’t decide to take this program, look into the UN Sustainable Development Goals to start understanding the interconnectedness of things and how we as individuals and businesses can make a difference.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas in a future class!
Explore the requirements below and register today!
Earn the Certificate in Business Administration by completing all five core courses listed
Academic Credit: 15 units
Students who complete the Business Administration Certificate may continue their studies to pursue a Diploma in Business Administration.
Note: Upon completion of the certificate, students may be able to apply up to 15 units toward degree studies depending on the Faculty. Please contact the Faculty for further information.
3.0 UNITS
$812.88
$857.68
Earn your Diploma in Business Administration by successfully completing all five core courses plus any three elective courses listed below.
Academic Credit: 24 units
Note: Upon completion of the Diploma, students may be able to apply for up to 24 units toward degree studies depending on the Faculty. Please contact the Faculty for further information.
My OWN McMaster is a pathway that combines McMaster Continuing Education and McMaster undergraduate courses to earn a McMaster diploma and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History or Sociology.
Please note: DAT and RCM courses cannot be used as electives toward the Business Administration Diploma (Generalist).
(Currently Not Available)
$820.40
$858.78
$789.73
$944.48
Explore concentrations below and register today!
Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March. Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab. Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone. Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses. There is no tax on courses unless indicated at the bottom of the schedule chart. Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course. Not every program or course requires textbooks. Learn more about textbooks. Learning Formats: Each course is offered in Online, Online Self-Study, or Virtual Classroom formats, as shown below. Visit Learning Formats for details.
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
Find the complete list of electives for the Business Administration Diploma here. These include the electives for the Finance, Human Resources, Management, Marketing, Risk Management, and Creative, Critical & Design Thinking concentrations.
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test. You will not need to provide proof of meeting this English requirement prior to registration. If you demonstrate English proficiency below the required standard, you will be asked to provide proof or to withdraw.
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.