Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

Where do I find my program requirements, regulations, and other important information?

Where do I find my program requirements, regulations, and other important information?

Below you will find a list of important links to aid you in staying on track with your academics:

Academic Schedule of Dates (2024-2025)

Lakehead University Academic Calendar (2024-2025) | Previous Calendars

University Regulations

Faculty of Business Administration Regulations

Where do I find the Timetable?

Where do I find the Timetable?

You can find the Timetable here.

Where do I find the Exam Schedule?

Where do I find the Exam Schedule?

You can find the Exam Schedule here.

Programs and Registration FAQs

What are the differences between the HBComm program and the BAdmin program?

What are the differences between the HBComm program and the BAdmin program?

All students joining the Faculty of Business Administration are initially admitted to the HBComm program. The HBComm program is a four-year undergraduate program that allow students to choose a major area of specialization.

Students have the option to transfer to the BAdmin program, a one-year program, after completion of the second year of the HBComm program. Therefore, the combination of the first two years of the HBComm program and the BAdmin program will typically take three years to complete. The BAdmin program serves students who are interested in obtaining a broad-based business education without a major area of specialization.

What is an open non-Business elective?

What is an open non-Business elective?

An open non-Business elective is any course that is offered by a department or faculty other than the Faculty of Business Administration.

What is an open Business elective?

What is an open Business elective?

An open Business elective is any course that is offered by the Faculty of Business Administration that is not part of the program requirements of your chosen major.

What is an open elective?

What is an open elective?

An open elective can be any course offered by Lakehead University (business or non-business).

If you are in the third year of the BAdmin program or the fourth year of the HBComm program, please be aware of the University Regulation stating that you cannot use a first year course in your graduating year.

Are there restrictions on the year level of an open non-Business elective or an open Business elective?

Are there restrictions on the year level of an open non-Business elective or an open Business elective?

You cannot take a first-year course in the final year of the program (i.e., the fourth year of the HBComm program or the third year of the BAdmin program).

Do I have to take BUSI 1036?

Do I have to take BUSI 1036?

Students without Grade 12 U Math are required to take BUSI 1036 - Quantitative Foundations for Business. Please refer to your letter of acceptance for more information.

What is a normal course load?

What is a normal course load?

For all majors (except Accounting and Business Economics): Students normally take 5.0 FCEs in an academic year (from September to April), with the exception of the third year when students take 5.5 FCEs.

For Accounting and Business Economics majors: Students normally take 5.0 FCEs in an academic year (from September to April), with the exception of the second year when students take 5.5 FCEs.

Can I take more than the normal course load?

Can I take more than the normal course load?

Students who wish to carry more than the normal course load may apply for a special permission to overload. Overload requests are reviewed by your Chair and the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration based on your academic performance and on a case-by-case basis.

Which major should I choose?

Which major should I choose?

The choice of major is largely dependent on your personal interest, preference, and career goals. It is a good idea to explore the different options and discuss them with your professors and instructors.

Am I allowed to change my major during the HBComm program? If so, how do I change my major?

Am I allowed to change my major during the HBComm program? If so, how do I change my major?

Yes, after you declare your major, you are still allowed to change your major during the HBComm program; however, you are strongly encouraged to seek academic advising before doing so. Changing your major may have implications on your progress in the HBComm program, as the required courses for your third and fourth years are largely specific to the choice of your major.

For all majors, except for Accounting and Business Economics, if you want to change your major, you should do so by the end of your second year. For Accounting and Business Economics majors, any changes should be done by the end of your first year. This is done to minimize the impact on the progress of your studies.

How Can I Change my Major?

How Can I Change my Major?

Complete the Business Undergraduate Declaration of Program Form and submit it to Morna Toderash at business@lakeheadu.ca.

 

Program Requirement FAQs

What are the continuation and graduation requirements of the HBComm program?

What are the continuation and graduation requirements of the HBComm program?

From Year 1 of HBComm to Year 2 of HBComm

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for Year 1 of HBComm with an overall average of at least 60%.

From Year 2 of HBComm to Year 3 of HBComm

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for Year 2 of HBComm with an overall average of at least 70% based on all second-year courses.

From Year 3 of HBComm to Year 4 of HBComm

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for Year 3 of HBComm for your chosen major with an overall average of at least 70% based on all third-year courses.

Graduation requirement of HBComm

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for Year 4 of HBComm for your chosen major with an overall average of at least 70% based on all fourth-year courses.

What are the transfer requirements to the BAdmin program and the graduation requirements of the BAdmin?

What are the transfer requirements to the BAdmin program and the graduation requirements of the BAdmin?

Transfer requirements from HBComm to BAdmin

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for Year 2 of HBComm with an overall average of at least 60% based on all second-year courses.

Graduation requirements of BAdmin

  • Satisfactory completion of all courses required for BAdmin with an overall average of at least 60% based on all courses required for BAdmin.

What are my options if I do not meet the continuation or graduation requirements?

What are my options if I do not meet the continuation or graduation requirements?

Students are required to retake course(s) to increase their average until they meet the continuation or graduation requirements.

Students who do not have the 70% average based on all second-year courses to move on to Year 3 of HBComm but have at least a 60% average can choose to transfer to the BAdmin program.

What are my options if I failed a course?

What are my options if I failed a course?

If you failed a core course that is required by your program, you are required to retake and pass the course.

If you failed an open elective, you could choose to retake and pass the same elective course or choose to take another elective course that meets the program requirements.

Is there a limit on the number of times a course can be repeated?

Is there a limit on the number of times a course can be repeated?

Students are allowed to repeat the same course only twice; that is, the same course can only be taken three times.

What happens if I cannot pass a required course after taking it three times?

What happens if I cannot pass a required course after taking it three times?

You will be required to withdraw from the HBComm program or the BAdmin program if you do not successfully pass a required course after taking it three times.

Do all course repeats appear on my transcript? How does the calculation of averages work for repeating courses?

Do all course repeats appear on my transcript? How does the calculation of averages work for repeating courses?

All attempts will appear on your transcript. Only the last attempt will be included in the average calculation, regardless of whether the mark obtained in the last attempt is higher or lower than the previous attempt.

What does it mean if I have a failed year?

What does it mean if I have a failed year?

A student is deemed to have failed the year if:
(a) the student has failed more than two full courses or their equivalent; or
(b) the student has failed more than one full course or equivalent with marks of less than 40%; or
(c) the student attains an overall average of less than 50% in all courses; or
(d) the student has a failure of more than one full course or its equivalent after special examinations have been given, whether the student writes them or not.

In a failed year, course credit is retained for only those courses in which a minimum mark of 60% has been attained. Students who have failed a year are eligible to apply for re-admission to the University. Students will normally be granted the privilege of repeating one year only.