The Professional Development Series is a co-requisite to the two introductory courses, BUS 201 and BUS 202, of the BBA program. This program acclimatizes students to the culture, calling, vision and overall structure of the Beedie School of Business.

BUS 100 introduces students to the mission and values of the Beedie School of Business through an experiential learning experience. This course prepares students for success through development and integration of academic skills and mindsets while building a network necessary for success in academic, social, and career related pursuits

In this middle checkpoint of the BBA program, students will develop an academic plan by expanding their understanding of the relationship between business courses and the three themes (Social Responsibility, Innovation and Global Perspective). Through a series of learning activities, students will begin to understand where they are on their personal academic journey and reflect upon the opportunities they would like to pursue as part of their upper division course work and co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities.

This final checkpoint in the BBA program asks students to reflect on what they have learned and experienced on their academic journey. This course helps students identify and explain their transformation as learners and how that applies to their future career.

An introduction to key innovation concepts and processes, and how innovation is practiced in established organizations and start-ups. Students will learn to understand their opportunities as agents of innovation. Drawing on examples from a variety of industries and markets, the sources, types and patterns of innovation are described, along with how such innovations are adopted and diffused throughout socioeconomic systems. Students will practice techniques that help them anticipate opportunities and generate innovative concepts and receive guidance on how they can implement innovation in established organizations, entrepreneurial ventures and in society.

Tackling the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality has become imperative. Businesses and their leaders have a key role to play in supporting a sustainable future. In this course, students will examine what it means to be a responsible business and how businesses can be a catalyst for system change. Students will also consider their own roles in supporting the necessary transition to a more regenerative and reconciled economy. Beginning by exploring the resilience of ecological and social systems and how this knowledge shapes what it means to be a responsible business. Students then address the social and environmental lifecycle of products and services; understanding the implications for organizational practices and strategies; managing sustainable operations and supply chains; assessing environmental and social performance; and responsible investment. Finally, students will reflect on how this knowledge can shape their own career trajectory and how they can play a part in contributing to positive systems change.

Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) examines organizations’ business processes and continuously improves them. Today, large-scale globalization and shortened product life cycles make successful OSCM even more critical for the survival of any company. OSCM is a highly dynamic and expanding field of management. Students will examine the role of operations and supply management in an organization by exploring several concepts and models. The interaction of operations with other business areas and environmental factors and how operations management can contribute to the achievement of organizational goals, will also be discussed.