Please note:
To view the Fall 2026 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2026/fall.
Business Administration - Executive Cohort
The graduate diploma in business administration - executive cohort provides core business skills through a structured program designed for working professionals participating in employer-sponsored cohorts. Delivered through flexible formats, including in-person, online, or blended learning, the program offers a practical and accessible alternative to traditional classroom-based study while maintaining graduate-level academic standards.
The program builds curriculum in business fundamentals, including accounting, economics, marketing, organizational behaviour, and special topics such as business law, and business, community, and government. The program integrates applied learning aligned with organizational and industry contexts. Designed to support leadership development and cross-functional business capability, the program enables participants to apply learning directly within their professional environments and may serve as a pathway into further graduate study.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the university admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. Candidates must be computer literate and familiar with the internet. The program requires a strong command of the English language.
Applicants should also refer to the program website located at https://www.sfu.ca/beedie/programs.html.
Program Requirements
This program consists of course work for a minimum of 24 units. Courses may be substituted from other graduate business programs or special topic courses at the discretion of the dean and vice-provost of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Students complete 24 units from
An examination and review of contemporary thinking on the changing role of business and business persons in the operations of society. This course examines how we make good ethical decisions, how we act on those decisions, and the impact of our ethical decisions on the reputational capital of individuals and firms. Students with credit for BUS 650 or BUS 707 or BUS 753 may not take this course for further credit.
Applications of economic theory to business problems. Students with credit for BUS 651 or BUS 703 or BUS 751 may not take this course for further credit.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| G300 |
Mar 10 – Mar 12, 2027: Wed, Thu, Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Apr 7 – Apr 9, 2027: Wed, Thu, Fri, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
SEGAL SEGAL |
|
| G400 |
Jan 21 – Jan 23, 2027: Thu, Fri, Sat, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Mar 4 – Mar 6, 2027: Thu, Fri, Sat, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
The use of quantitative or statistical techniques in managerial decision making. Students with credit for BUS 706 may not take this course for further credit.
Issues in the behaviour of people in organizations, and human resource management practices that influence employee behaviour. Students with credit for BUS 719 may not take this course for further credit.
The following courses may also be used towards the GDBA course requirements with permission of the academic director
Developing and maintaining a good understanding of the relationship between IT and organizational performance is important to your career. You will be expected to adopt a broader perspective that includes IS managers, business and executive managers, senior bureaucrats and top level strategists. The focus is to create knowledge / primary understanding of how management information systems can be effectively and efficiently applied by managers. Students with credit for BUS 621 or BUS 709 or BUS 739 or BUS 756 may not take this course for further credit.
Prerequisite: Requires prior permission of the academic director.
Being able to manage projects is a critical skill for all leaders, since it gives you the knowledge to deliver strategic change to the organization. Project Management is a combination of technical skills and soft skills, both of which will be discussed and practiced in this course. This course is the educational preparation needed to qualify to write the Certified Associate in Project Management exam offered by PMI. Students with credit for BUS 762 may not take this course for further credit.
Laddered Pathway
The graduate diploma in business administration - executive cohort can be applied as a laddered pathway in accordance with GGR 1.7.7c. Students who successfully complete this credential may apply the course work taken as part of this credential to meet the requirements for the executive master of business administration.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements within nine terms. Due to the nature of the employer-sponsored offerings of this program, there may be provisions to extend the normal time limits for completion and re-entry into the program upon agreement between the dean and vice-provost of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the dean of Beedie School of Business.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.