Administrative Studies (now Commerce)

Are you passionate about management and business professions such as accounting, marketing or logistics? Majoring in Commerce at York will expose you to the fundamentals of the corporate and private world and the different professions that support organizations. Offered by the School of Administrative Studies within the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, you can follow both the Ordinary (90 Cr) or one of the seven Honour streams (120 Cr) degree options. You will be able to have a generalist degree or focus your studies on one of the different areas of business specialization (Accounting, Business Research, Finance, Marketing, Management, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, or ITEC). More than just a degree from one of the largest business programs in Canada, a degree in Commerce at York will expose you to professional skills and be eligible to participate in a paid internship through the York Internship Program.

Career Options in Administrative Studies

This list is not exhaustive but it provides a solid idea of what fellow graduates have gone on to do and what potential careers an Administrative Studies degree can offer. Some options are more directly associated with specific areas of Administrative Studies than others.

Account manager
Actuary
Accountant (CPA)
Advertising Manager
Auditor (CPA, CIA, CISA)
Banker (CFP, CFA)
Benefits coordinator
Business analyst
Brand Manager
Broker
Cost accountant (CPA)
Database administrator
Digital Marketing Specialist
Disaster response coordinator

Entrepreneur
Financial analyst (CFA)
Financial planner (CFP)
Market Researcher/Analyst
Operations manager
Personnel manager
Planning/budget analyst
Policy adviser
Politician
Recruiter
Risk Analyst
Strategic planner
Supply chain coordinator/manager
Tax auditor

Some of these career choices may require additional education or preparation in the form of graduate studies, experiential education or professional formative courses and exams. For a more in-depth description of some of the careers mentioned above visit Career Cruising (login information can be found on the home page of the Career Centre's online system) or the National Occupational Classification website.

Skills Developed through an Administrative Studies Degree

A background in Administrative Studies ensures that you develop the skills and mindset to tackle many different professional challenges.

Core Skills

A solid understanding of business and management theory and how this knowledge applies to real life settings and circumstances
An ability to think critically about administrative challenges and to identify the necessary steps to solving them
Specialization (Honours) in one of the following fields: accounting, business research, finance, human resources management, management and marketing
A clear understanding of requirements and expectations to become a certified professional (CPA, CIA, CFP, CFA, etc) as well as the relationship between theory and business reality

Communication, Data Gathering and Organizational Skills

The ability to present your thoughts clearly and intelligently in written statements and written opinion pieces
Deduction of information from various sources and the ability to concentrate on relevant resources
The ability to organize, understand and analyze sources of information and to apply novel forms of technology or new information to different professional settings and tasks
The capacity to critically analyze problems, think creatively and make sound decisions while considering different sides of an argument
The skills to collect various types of information, assess them, analyze and incorporate potential linkages from different fields, put them into writing and efficiently convey your message and the goal of your work

Management and Teamwork

The ability to interpret and analyze information presented by peers and efficiently and constructively support or challenge their proposals, theories, ideas and reports in order to achieve a project's intended end result
Skills enabling you to work effectively in group situations, partaking in decision-making, leading and contributing in various capacities to the ultimate success of the team and task
The ability to debate, persuade, mediate and present your thoughts and opinions to others, as well as the capacity to recognize and incorporate other potential solutions or applications to given problems
The capability to identify priorities and proper courses of action, to plan the execution of tasks and to determine and delegate responsibilities to group members to most effectively carry out projects

Professional Associations and Organizations

Knowing the industry and how to excel in it after receiving a degree are key elements of future success. University study sets up the building blocks you will need to develop and enhance your understanding and knowledge in your career. Being part of a professional organization or network and gaining further insight through training are excellent ways of increasing your knowledge of the field.

The following is a selection of organizations related to the field of commerce and management that you may want to visit as you research career options for Commerce graduates.