Teck Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
About the Program
Teck is working with Simon Fraser University to deliver a business education program for professional staff from its operations in Western Canada.
Participants who successfully complete 24 credits of coursework will be awarded a Graduate Diploma from SFU. The courses are:
- Managerial and Financial Accounting
- Organizational and Leadership Effectiveness
- Managerial Economics
- Industrial Marketing Management
- Business, Community & Government
- Commercial Law
Applicants are normally expected to have an undergraduate degree but your application will be considered if you have a two-year diploma from a college or technical institute, significant managerial experience, and a strong recommendation from your manager.
All applicants are strongly recommended to have the equivalent of one University level math course. If you do not, and wish to apply, we will help you get some upgrading in math before the program starts.
All of SFU's normal academic requirements and expectations will apply. The main difference between this program and similar programs operated at SFU campuses is that the courses are chosen to be relevant to Teck's business and each course will be tailored to address Teck's specific issues. All of these courses are regular graduate level business courses and will be recognized by any other university. If you have specific questions about how they would be recognized by another institution, please contact Dr. Mark Selman at selman@sfu.ca. Alternatively, please contact Holly Sandulo at cmba@sfu.ca or 778-782-9537, if you have any questions about the application process.
Courses
Bus 550/551 - Managerial and Financial Accounting
The course assumes no prior knowledge of accounting or exposure to accounting courses. Two purposes are served. First, participants are provided with the theoretical and practical knowledge to interpret and use accounting reports as they are normally found in a business setting. This involves understanding how they are prepared including the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) governing their content. The related underlying structure and assumptions are examined. Secondly, the range of accounting information which can be generated, both financial and managerial, is examined in order to prepare participants to effectively communicate realistic information requirements to and from those who formulate accounting budgets, prepare analyses and interpret reports.
In short, class participants should develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to interpret and communicate accounting matters with senior corporate management. This course relies on the financial reports of public (traded) companies operating in the private sector. Government and not-for-profit accounting are not studied. For examples of corporate reports and for explanations of key accounting concepts, this course concentrates on companies involved in the extractive industries.
Bus 552 - Managerial Economics
The aim of this course is to give you an understanding of how economics can help in managerial decision-making. Basically, the course is all about ideas. These ideas or economic models are, we believe, useful in understanding real-life business situations. (Of course, we're biased!)
Managerial economics emphasizes the practical application of these economic models through discussion problems, practice problems and graded problem sets. These often involve articles taken from the business press. If you think you've found a great article that illustrates some idea from the course, by all means send it to me (extra participation grade points for really good articles!!)
Although the course material will be relatively non-technical, familiarity with basic algebra and functions is assumed. For those familiar with calculus, you may find the "calculus alternative" explanations in the text useful.
Bus 556 - Industrial Marketing
This course deals with the marketing of goods and services among businesses, governments and consumers. Particular attention will be given to the subjects of demand estimation and the development of marketing plans as they relate to industrial, commodities, business and consumer markets.
Bus 557 - Leadership
The purpose of the course is to help students understand organizations and to take effective action in them. Attempts to improve organizations without adequate understanding can make things worse instead of better. Each year, students provide ample and eloquent testimony to the difficulties of trying to manage and change organizations. Whether you are trying to introduce a new idea, restructuring a department, terminate a program, or cope effectively with transition in management, better understanding helps to reduce surprise, confusion, and catastrophe. Sound intuition, valid theory, and management skills are all helpful and needed. This course seeks to develop an understanding of issues in the management of people and work as well as the design and functioning of organizations.
Bus 559 - Business, Community & Government (Special Topic)
Today’s leaders and managers are increasingly recognizing that their effectiveness in dealing with interactions among diverse interests- both within the organization and external to it – will be critical to their success. Understanding and managing the interactions along the interface between business, community, and government is becoming an increasingly critical component of managerial competency and organizational success.
The focus of the course will be on understanding the nature and dynamics of interactions among multiple players with different goals and concerns –across divisons and units within the corporations, and between and among communities, First Nations, interest groups, unions, governments – and the development of perspectives, tools, and strategies that today’s leaders and managers can put to use in the field, on the floor, and in the boardroom. Examples of the topics to be touched on over the course include:
- Managing the internal organizational relationships while building external relationships
- Creating clear expectations as a foundation for effective working relationships
- Understanding how to frame discussions when talking to external players
- Recognizing and Valuing Relationships as an asset
- Exploring “What” ( Purpose and goals) and “How” ( the ways to achieve them”) and the Interface
- Developing the capacity to anticipate issues and putting in place proactive structures to deal with disputes when they arise
- Understanding Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility and the special qualities they add to managing complex interactions
BUS 559 - Commercial Law (Special Topic)
This course introduces those elements of law and the legal system that are most relevant to managerial decision-making in the mineral processing industry. The course will be based on mining examples and cases; it will not provide authoritative advice on legal issues in any specific jurisdiction.
By the end of the course participants will have a basic understanding of:
- Contract Law: How is a contract formed? What are its limits? How may it be interpreted? What are its consequences?
- Types of business association: proprietorship, partnerships, corporations, joint ventures;
- The legal obligations of a firm: labor law, health and safety, environmental regulation, negligence, fiduciary duties, jurisdiction.
Typical Schedule
| Spring Semester (January - June) | Fall Semester (September - December) | |||||
| Year 1 | Course 1 | Course 2 | Course 3 | Course 4 | ||
| Year 2 | Course 5 | Course 6 | ||||
Each course is offered approximately once every two years. However, on average, it can take up to three years to complete the Graduate Diploma Program.
Courses are not scheduled in July and August and typically are scheduled in two three-day blocks or three two-day blocks with at least four weeks between each block.
Courses:
- Managerial and Financial Accounting
- Managerial Economics
- Industrial Marketing
- Leadership
- Business, Community, and Government
- Commercial Law
Current Schedule:
Contact Information
For Program Specific Questions Please Contact:
Mark Selman
Director, Teck Graduate Programs
Beedie School of Business
778-782-5070
selman@sfu.ca
Holly Sandulo
Program Assistant, Teck Graduate Programs
Beedie School of Business
778-782-9537
cmba@sfu.ca
Teck Contacts:
Stephanie Shaw
Teck Resources Ltd
604-699-4155
stephanie.shaw@teck.com
Sara Beeskau
Teck Resources Ltd
604-699-4435
sara.beeskau@teck.com
Heidi Philipchuk
Teck Coal Ltd
403-767-8678
heidi.philipchuk@teck.com