How to get the business skills employers want

There is a growing market for employees with training in areas like accounting, marketing and finance. With its Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA), Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB) aims to meet that demand.

The program imparts fundamental concepts of commerce to graduates without business-related degrees, as well as the practical skills that are essential to managers and administrators in any field.

We spoke with Marie Lyster, the student recruitment officer for JMSB’s graduate programs, to find out more about what the GDBA has to offer.

What is the GDBA, and what kinds of students does it attract?

Marie Lyster: The GDBA is a graduate program specifically designed to allow students from non-business backgrounds gain a new set of valuable and practical skills. It’s a 30-credit program — that’s 10 courses — covering all aspects of business administration.

Students in the GDBA program come from a wide range of educational backgrounds, from social and hard sciences to law and engineering. There is no work experience required to enter the program, but on average, GDBA students have spent five years in the workplace.
 

Can GDBA students carry on working full-time while they complete the program?

ML: Yes, certainly. Students can choose to complete the program either on a full-time or a part-time basis, and they can change their status along the way if their circumstances change. Typically, a full-time student takes one academic year to complete the GDBA, while a part-time student takes two years.

We now have two admission periods for the program; students can start either in the fall or the winter. For September admission, the application deadline is June 1. For January admission, it’s October1.

How does completing this program help students’ careers?

ML: The GDBA can lead to a wide range of career options, depending on a student’s field of expertise from her or his previous degree — or degrees — and on prior work experience.

Some students choose to change careers, and may start with a junior role in a new industry, like banking or marketing. Others may get opportunities for promotions in their current fields. Some students have chosen to start their own businesses.

Can you tell us about one of these success stories?

ML: One of our GDBA alums, who had a BA in history, started a career in consulting after completing the program.

He had part-time work experience in hospitality prior to enrolling, and wasn't sure where his BA would take him. In the GDBA, he discovered a passion for consulting.

He participated in a boot camp conducted by the JMSB's Career Management Services office, and secured a position as a consultant upon graduation.

Are you keen to learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration? Register for an online information session today.