Getting a francophone degree in business can now be as simple as two plus two.
Sudbury’s Laurentian University, Collège Boréal and La Cité are collaborating to offer the colleges’ graduates the option to complete a business degree over two years through Laurentian.
“This is a testament to the strong relationship between our institutions,” said Laurentian president Dominic Giroux on Jan. 26.
The collaboration marks another step Laurentian is taking to solidify its designation as the first bilingual university under the French-Language Services Act. Boréal and La Cité service a range of communities across Ontario.
“This collaboration really covers the whole province,” said Giroux.
“It was important for our students to benefit from an articulation,” said Tina Montgomery, Boréal’s dean of business and community services. “Laurentian was always open, and now was the time.”
While credit transfers or post-diploma programming existed prior to the agreement, the two-plus-two program offers specific benefits.
Students who have a two-year business diploma will be required to complete two years of tailored classes, plus a statistics course, in order to receive their degree. Giroux said the three institutions carefully mapped out the curriculum, which is designed to avoid redundant lessons.
The degree program is also uniquely designed to qualify students for Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA) designation, which requires an undergraduate degree and a specific course background.
The program is also an online-campus hybrid and students can choose to complete their degree through distance education.
“The beauty of this agreement is that they can do it online and stay in their communities and work,” said Lyne Michaud, La Cité school of business director. Many college graduates find employment with their diploma and want to retain it while furthering their education.
Michaud said about one third of her students pursue further education at the university level, and this agreement will make it even easier. She thinks college graduates make ideal students, and pointed out that college graduates entering university have some of the highest graduation levels.
“College teaches them how to study, they come at 17 or 18 years old, but when they get to university, they’re well prepared,” she said. “They’re serious, and they know what to expect.”
The program will see its first intake of students next September.
