Honours Degree Option

The Honours Option in the BBA offers high-calibre students the opportunity to gain recognition for their superior academic performance. 

To earn this distinction, students must maintain a G.P.A. of 3.00 (B) or higher in 3rd and 4th Year while either (i) completing additional upper level courses or (ii) writing a thesis. No Upper Level grade can fall below B- (G.P.A. 2.67), although students can re-take courses once to meet the necessary grade requirement.  To be admitted, students must have a GPA of 3.00 or higher in Years 1 & 2. 

Course Route students must take four additional 3rd and 4th year courses in Business, Business Economics, or Economics or an approved related area and must graduate with at least six 4000 level BBUS, BUEC, COMP, ECON or approved related courses instead of the normal four.

Those interested in the Thesis Route must take two additional courses:

• BBUS 3980-3 - Business Research Methodology
• BBUS 4980-9 - Honours Thesis

Business Research Methodology is taken in the Winter Semester of  Year 3 and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct academic research in one of the business disciplines. Students will learn how to conduct literature reviews and prepare research proposals, and study the statistical methods that might be used in preparing an Honours Thesis.

Honours Thesis is a directed studies courses taken in Year 4 where the student, under the direction of a Thesis Supervisor, prepares a research paper. The course has no formal class schedule, instead students confer regularly with their supervisor who provides helpful advice on the direction of the research project. In addition to researching and writing the thesis, students will have to formally present it to the academic community. This will not only include their fellow classmates, but accomplished academics in the area found right here at TRU.  The availability of the Thesis Route will be dependent on sufficient student demand and funding.

The Honours Option, particularly the Thesis Route, would be an excellent choice for a student wanting to go on to graduate school after completing their BBA degree. The research skills acquired here will be developed even further at the masters and, possibly, the PhD levels and will prepare students for a research career in industry or as an academic in a college or university. 

Becoming a professor would be a rewarding career choice. Not only do you play a major role in developing the next generation's business leaders, you can also work with colleagues advancing the knowledge in your discipline. Currently, there is a major shortage of PhDs in business, so pursuing an academic career could be financially rewarding too.