Minors and Professional Designations

For more information about each minor, please refer to the Academic Calendar: Minor in Business

For more information about each minor, please refer to the Academic Calendar: Minor in Accounting and Financial Management Services

To apply for a Specialty Minor, please complete this form.

The form will be open from March 20 (9am) to April 30 (11:59pm).

For more information about each minor, please refer to the Academic Calendar: Minor in Finance

To apply for a Specialty Minor, please complete this form.

The form will be open from March 20 (9am) to April 30 (11:59pm).

For more information about each minor, please refer to the Academic Calendar: Minor in Information Systems

To apply for a Specialty Minor, please complete this form.

The form will be open from March 20 (9 am) to April 30 (11:59 pm).

The Specialized Minor in Commerce for Humanities students completing a single Honours B.A. in Humanities is administered by the DeGroote School of Business. For more information about each minor, please refer to the Academic Calendar: Specialized Minor in Commerce for Students Completing a Single Honours B.A. in Humanities

DeGroote is recognized by the CFA Institute for membership in its University Affiliation Program. You can obtain a solid grounding in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and be well prepared for the CFA exams.

The DeGroote Commerce program offers all the courses required to fulfill the academic requirements of the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. These courses have been accredited by the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario. Students who satisfactorily complete the courses are qualified to write the National Knowledge Exam (NKE).

Required Courses

For further details on the CHRP, please refer to the Certified Human Resources Professional website.

Specific courses in McMaster’s Honours Commerce program are recognized as equivalents in the CPA Prerequisite Education Program (PREP). Graduates who have successfully completed these courses will be eligible to enter Core 1 of the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). 

McMaster’s Honours Commerce program (with specific courses) and the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy program (when combined) constitute a CPA Accredited program. 

DeGroote graduates who have completed all the CPA accredited courses (including the graduate diploma program) with a minimum of 60% in each and an average of 70% will gain direct entry into CPA PEP at the Capstone 1 (Integrative) Module. Candidates then complete the Capstone 2 (Preparatory) Module and write the Common Final Evaluation (CFE) to complete the CPA program requirements. Visit the CPA website for more information. 

To succeed in your CPA journey, we encourage you to:

1. Attend a CPA Information Session
2. Book a One-on-One Consultation: Following the session, students are invited to book a one-on-one consultation with campus lead Sean Mullin from CPA Ontario or our Student Rep Kevin Ball.
3. Attend a free CPA Ontario event.
4. Join the Post-Secondary Ambassador Program. It is a $10 annual membership that gives students exclusive access to networking, workshops, micro-credentials, conferences, competitions, and employer connections.
5. Graduating Students: Submit transcripts to CPA or Apply to GDPA.

CPA Ontario offers Professional Education Program (PEP) Core and Elective modules up to four times per year.

Questions about the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy (GDPA) at DeGroote? Contact dpainfo@mcmaster.ca

Equivalent PREP courses for the CPA Professional Education Program.

Level I

Commerce 1AA3 – Introductory Financial Accounting
Commerce 1DA3 – Business Data Analytics (or Commerce 2QA3 – Applied Statistics for Business)
Econ 1B03 – Introductory Microeconomics
Econ 1BB3 – Introductory Macroeconomics

Level II

Commerce 2AB3 – Managerial Accounting I
Commerce 2DA3 – Decision-Making with Analytics
Commerce 2FA3 – Introduction to Finance
Commerce 2FB3 – Managerial Finance (or Commerce 3FA3 – Managerial Finance)
Commerce 2KA3 – Information Systems in Management

Level III

Commerce 3AB3 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I
Commerce 3AC3 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II
Commerce 4AA3 – Managerial Accounting II
Commerce 4SD3 – Commercial Law

Level IV

Commerce 4AC3 – Advanced Financial Accounting
Commerce 4AD3 – Introduction to Auditing
Commerce 4AF3 – Accounting Theory
Commerce 4PA3 – Business Policy: Strategic Management
Commerce 4SB3 – Introduction to Canadian Taxation
Commerce 4SC3 – Advanced Canadian Taxation

The CFP certification is the world’s most recognized financial planning designation and is offered only by FP Canada. CFP professionals have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience, and ethics to examine their client’s entire financial picture at the highest level of complexity required of the profession and work with their clients to build a financial plan. 

The following courses, offered through McMaster’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Commerce program, meet FP Canada’s technical education (Core and Advanced Curriculum) requirements on the path to both QAFP certification and CFP certification.

1. Introductory Microeconomics (Econ 1B03)
2. Introductory Macroeconomics (Econ 1BB3)
3. Personal Financial Management (Commerce 4FL3)
4. Security Analysis (Commerce 3FB3)
5. Introduction to Canadian Taxation (Commerce 4SB3)
6. Advanced Canadian Taxation (Commerce 4SC3)
7. Insurance and Risk Management (Commerce 4FR3)
8. Pension, Retirement, and Estate Planning (Commerce 4FS3)
9. Personal Financial Planning and Advising (Commerce 4FM3)
10. Business Law (Commerce 4SD3)

Please note that due to enrollment levels, not every CFP-required course will be offered each year. The following courses will be offered once every two years.

Commerce 4FM3: Winter 2025, Winter 2026, Winter 2028
Commerce 4FR3: Fall 2024, Fall 2026, Fall 2028
Commerce 4FS3: Winter 2025, Winter 2027, Winter 2029

As Commerce 4FL3 is a prerequisite for Commerce 4FM3 we recommend you enroll in it during the Fall of your third year.