Elective requirements
Electives allow you to explore interests outside of the core BCom program. You can select courses to complement your choice of option/career or to develop expertise in a specific subject area.
What are my elective requirements?
Elective requirements differ slightly depending on which year you entered the program, which option you choose to complete, and whether you entered as a direct entry student in Year 1 or as a transfer student in Year 2 or Year 3.
To see your elective requirements, select the tab with the year level and session that you entered the programYour specific elective requirements will depend on when you were admitted. Be sure to refer to the correct requirements that apply to you by selecting the year level and session in which you entered the program. For example, if you are currently a Year 2, 3, or 4 BCom student, please select the second tab labelled 'Entry in 2021W and earlier tab'. The 'Entry in 2022W and onwards' tab is only for direct entry Year 1 students starting the BCom program for the first time in 2022W. |
- Entry in 2022W and onwards
- Entry in 2021W and earlier
Entry in 2022W and onwards
If you entered the BCom program before 2022W, please select the 'Entry in 2021W and earlier' tab.
The following elective requirements apply to students who entered the program in 2022W and onwards.
New elective requirement for BCom program
Starting 2022W for Year 1 (direct entry) students, non-Commerce electives must include at least 3 credits in the humanities, and at least 3 credits in science or social science. These elective credits may be completed during any year of your program. Language courses are not eligible for the humanities requirement, but literature courses are. See below for a list of eligible departments and/or courses. BUCS students are exempt and do not have to fulfil the new elective requirements.
Note: COHR courses cannot be counted as non-Commerce electives.
Who will need to fulfill the new elective requirements?
This new requirement applies to students who entered directly to Year 1 in 2022 and onwards, transferred to Year 2 in 2023 and onwards, or transferred to Year 3 in 2024 and onwards. BUCS students are exempt and do not need to fulfill the new elective requirements.
What are the new elective requirements?
Effective 2022W, the non-Commerce electives must include at least 3 credits in the humanities, and at least 3 credits in science or social science. Language courses are not eligible for the humanities requirement, but literature courses are. These elective credits may be completed during any year of your program. This means that you do not have to complete the new elective requirements in your first year, but can complete them in Year 2 or Year 3 or even in Year 4.
What courses fulfill the humanities elective requirement?
Starting 2022W, you will need to take one course totaling 3 credits of a humanities elective. This is a non-scientific and non-technical course that is generally found in the Faculty of Arts. If you are intending to pursue a minor or concentration, consider taking courses that might be applicable to the minor or concentration program.
Language courses are not eligible for the humanities requirement, but literature courses are. This includes literature courses taught in a different language.
Review eligible courses
If you are unsure if the course you want to take is eligible to fulfill the humanities elective requirement, please email bcomquestions@sauder.ubc.ca.
What courses fulfill the science or social science elective requirement?
Starting 2022W, you will need to take one course totaling 3 credits of a science or social science elective. This is a scientific and technical course that is generally found in the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Arts. If you are intending to pursue a minor or concentration, consider taking courses that might be applicable to the minor or concentration program.
If you are interested in a Science elective, please check the Credit Exclusion Lists before choosing. The Faculty of Science has compiled a list of courses in which there is sufficient overlap that credit may be obtained for only one selection.
Review eligible courses
If you are unsure if the course you want to take is eligible to fulfill the science or social science elective requirement, please email bcomquestions@sauder.ubc.ca.
Can I use transfer credits to fulfill the new electives requirement?
In some cases, you may use transfer credit toward your humanities and social science or science elective requirements.
If you received specific transfer credit for a UBC course, please refer to the spreadsheet. If you have unassigned transfer credit, see below for examples of eligible transfer credit.
Transfer credits that fulfill the humanities elective requirements:
- ENGL 1st-year level
- HIST 1st-year level
- MUSC 1st-year level
- PHIL 1st-year level
- RELG 1st-year level
- THTR 1st-year level
Transfer credits that fulfill the social science or science elective requirements:
- ANTH 1st-year level
- BIOL 1st-year level
- CPSC 1st-year level
- ECON 1st-year level
- EOSC 1st-year level
- GEOG 1st-year level
- POLI 1st-year level
- PSYC 1st-year level
- SCIE 1st-year level
NOTE: COMM 1st-year level is not for credit in the BCom program and cannot be used to fulfill the elective requirements.
If your transfer credit is not listed in the spreadsheet or in the list above and you would like to inquire whether it is eligible to fulfill the electives requirement, please email bcomquestions@sauder.ubc.ca.
Entry in 2021W and earlier
The following elective requirements apply to students who entered the program in 2021W and earlier.
1 For students who took COMM 186E in 2020W and 2021W, the course will count toward Commerce lower-level elective requirements.
2 For students who selected the General Business Management option in or prior to 2021W will have the choice to follow either the previous requirements or the new requirements to complete the option. See General Business Management option for more details.
Note: COHR courses cannot be counted as non-Commerce electives.
Plan your electives early and carefully
When you're planning which electives to take and when to take them, be mindful of prerequisites, co-requisites, and course restrictions. Some senior-level electives (300 or 400-level) may only be taken in Year 3 or 4 and require junior-level prerequisites (100 or 200-level). There are also some courses which do not count for credit in the BCom program (see below).
What are non-Commerce electives?
Non-Commerce electives include courses in subject areas other than Commerce. Psychology, political science, international relations, economics, science, languages, or any other areas that interest you, are all excellent choices.
Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources courses with a prefix of COHR cannot be counted as non-Commerce electives.
Which electives don't count for credit in the BCom program?
The following are courses that do not count for credit in the BCom program because they duplicate other Commerce courses that you are required to take.