Program description

You believe in capitalism with a conscience. In doing business in a way that does good for the environment, the community and society.

In the BBA in Innovation and Sustainability, you'll earn a solid business education that will sharpen your vision for social and environmental change.

You’ll learn skills to make you a valuable — and valued — employee: problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability and digital literacy.

And, throughout this degree-completion program, you'll complete years three and four of your undergraduate degree and channel your passion for sustainability into project-based experiences as you work with clients in the community and build a portfolio of work that showcases your creativity, work ethic and potential.

Whether you dream of starting your own venture or leading change at a global company, you'll be ready to advance business solutions that are as good for the bottom line as they are for the planet.

Who it's for

This program is right for you if you:

  • want to impact the local and global community through social innovation
  • are committed to enterprises that are financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable
  • believe in responsible management practices
  • wish to create value for stakeholders
  • are looking for ways to discover, challenge, and maximize your personal potential
  • are curious about the relationships between individuals, organizations, society and the environment
  • want to develop career-ready knowledge, skills and a portfolio of hands-on experience
     

Want to learn more? Watch The BBA Experience webinar series, where we talk to current students about what makes the program different from other BBA's.

Program outcomes

Once you've completed this program, you'll:

  • have the innovation- and sustainability-focused experience employers want and that global leaders are calling for
  • be equipped to tackle the social and environmental issues you care about

Awards

2024 AACSB Innovations That Inspire Award

AACSB recognizes institutions around the world that are innovating to create relevant, equitable, and impactful business education.

2023 Green Gown International Awards - Benefitting Society Finalist 

The Green Gown Awards recognizes international universities and colleges' exceptional sustainability initiatives.

Program delivery

Program options

There are two program options for the Bachelor of Business Administration:

1. First-year entry (four-year undergraduate degree)

Coming September 2025. Please check regularly for updates.

A new undergraduate experience for students coming from high school is on the way.

2. Third-year entry (two-year undergraduate degree completion)

You’ll complete the third and fourth year of your Bachelor of Business Administration on campus.

Studying on campus brings you together with your class colleagues and instructors. Expect the program to be rigorous. You’ll do homework, readings and team assignments outside of your full-time class hours.

You'll start your program with a non-credit, but required, course about academic integrity.

Program completion options

For the final component of your BBA, you'll choose between three options:

  1. Capstone option
  2. Internship option
  3. International semester option

Project-based learning

With 100% project-based courses, the BBA program will prepare you to launch your career. Working on teams with your classmates, you'll use your skills and knowledge to support the work of organizations and businesses — your project clients — in the community.

Through these projects, you'll learn to:

  • engage in client and stakeholder meetings, fieldwork and workshops
  • identify, design, prototype and develop concrete solutions
  • apply subject-specific knowledge and build the skills you need for a career in business and social innovation
  • anticipate opportunities for sustainable development

Example projects

BBA students work on projects like these:

  • developing a plan to re-engineer an organization's operations to reduce inefficiency and carbon footprint
  • creating a stakeholder engagement strategy for new product development and launch
  • developing customer service solutions based on primary and secondary research
  • conducting a feasibility study and making recommendations for a proposed for-profit/not-for-profit partnership aimed at increasing employment opportunities for youth
  • designing a marketing plan for an eco-conscious brand
  • updating a company’s annual reporting process and documents to give a transparent account of sustainability and community impact metrics as well as financial performance
  • producing a case study of an exemplary sustainability initiative to submit to the government

Courses

Year 3 & 4 - Degree completion

The following program is for those students who have already completed years one and two of their studies (60 credits) and will be taking the Degree Completion Option. In each term students will be exploring a number of subjects while working on an applied project and as each term progresses they will continue to explore new subject areas.  

Students will complete four terms over 16-months, each comprising of applied Business Projects – A, B and C have a 15-credit value, while Business Project D in Term 4 has a 9-credit value and runs concurrent with a Capstone Project (6-credits), or a choice of other completion options that extend the program by another 4-months.  Each of these four terms will include work on 2-4 projects, with each projects’ length being determined by their individual complexity. 

Projects may take on one of four styles:  client-based, simulation, venture or challenge, and will be sourced from organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors.  In following a program comprised of a range of projects, students will build a portfolio of work that will directly demonstrate the skills acquired in business related subject areas throughout the program to their potential employers. 

Below is the list of subjects you will be exploring as you progress through the program.

Year 3 & 4 - Degree completion 0ptions

Students select ONE of the following options below OR to do an International Semester.

BBAP490

Capstone

6.0 Credits

Online

BBAP491

Internship

6.0 Credits

Directed, Field, Lab or Major Project

Faculty

Sorry, there are no results that match your search.
Search suggestions:
-Check your spelling
-Try more general words
-Try using the available filters

Transfer agreements

Refine results

Sorry, there are no results that match your search.
Search suggestions:
-Check your spelling
-Try more general words
-Try using the available filters

First-year entry (4-year undergraduate degree)

First-year entry is for students coming from high school (or equivalent). Please review the first-year admission and application requirements for more information. 

Third-year entry (degree completion - 3rd & 4th year)

If you've completed some university or college courses, you may be eligible for the degree completion option, comprising of years 3 & 4 of this program.

Standard admission

Students who have completed a minimum of 60 college or university credits (including 24 second-year level credits) in any discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution with a minimum overall GPA of 'B' (3.00/4.33) are eligible for admission.

Flexible admission

  • For applicants who bring a wealth of work and life experience but do not meet standard admission requirements, your application may be considered based on a combination of your education, informal learning, and the real-world experiences, as per our flexible admission policy.
  • For applicants with fewer than 15 college or university credits, a minimum five years of full-time work experience (with at least three years at a supervisory, management, or project lead level) is required.

In addition to meeting the admissions requirements above, successful flexible admission applicants will also:

1. Demonstrate strengths gained through work, previous studies, volunteer service and/or personal development in two or more of the following areas:

  • Business
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Social entrepreneurship and social impact
  • Environmental protection or conservation
  • Social, cultural and/or environmental sustainability
  • Civic leadership and/or community engagement

2. Demonstrate through their statement of intent a clear alignment of personal goals and vision with the goals, values, and processes of the program.

English language proficiency

Additional recommendations for all applicants

  • Solid academic writing skills are required for success in this program; therefore an English composition course focused on academic writing and critical thinking is strongly recommended. APA style citation is used in this program. Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University offers an Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course.

First-year entry (4-year undergraduate degree)

First-year entry is for students coming from high school (or equivalent). Please review the First-year admission and application requirements for more information. 

Third-year entry (degree completion - 3rd & 4th year)

If you've completed some university or college courses, you may be eligible for the degree completion option, comprising of years 3 & 4 of this program. 

All applications to this third-year program require submission of the following information and supporting documents before your file can be assessed for admission:

Application form

In order to apply online, you will be required to create a log-in account using your email address. You will be required to list all credit courses and/or programs you have completed or are currently enrolled in. An application fee will be required. If your application fees are being paid by a third party, review sponsored student information. Once submitted, you may check the status of your application at any time.

Missed your application deadline? While we can’t make any guarantees, we may be able to accommodate late applications if there's still space and enough time to process. If you're interested in an intake that is now closed to applications, apply for the next available intake and email Admissions with your preferred start date. Make sure you’re prepared to submit your program's required documents right away. We can't make an admissions decision without them. 

Official transcripts

Applicants are responsible for arranging for the submission of official transcripts from ALL post-secondary (higher education) institutions currently or previously attended, for all credit courses and/or programs. Transcripts are not required for non-credit programs or courses, though some programs may require proof of professional certifications or designations.

Transcripts are considered official only if submitted directly by the Registrar or other recognized authority of the providing institution in the institution's original, sealed envelope. If the envelope has been opened, the transcripts are no longer official and new (official) transcripts will be required to complete your application.

All international transcripts or credentials are subject to an international transcript and/or credential evaluation.

Additional requirements for flexible admission

For applicants who will be reviewed under the flexible admission process, the following additional supporting documents will be required:

Letter of reference

Typically, applicants will provide one professional, or academic or community service letter.

The letter should confirm suitable candidacy for the program. For example, a reference should describe why they believe you will succeed in the program and why they believe the program will benefit you. The context in which the writer has come to know you should also be mentioned. There is no set standard for formatting, length or level of detail.

Statement of intent

The statement of intent should consist of (but is not limited to) a two to three page essay, addressing the following three points:

  • the reason for selecting the BBA program; and
  • how the BBA program will support, develop or enhance the applicant’s sense of purpose or personal and professional goals; and
  • why the applicant believes that project-based learning is the best learning style for them.

All applicants should highlight their strengths in business, entrepreneurship, sustainability, leadership and community involvement. Statements of intent should reflect a clear and realistic understanding of the program, and its goals, values and processes and should explain why the program is meaningful and relevant to the applicant.

Detailed résumé (chronological)

  • Education: List all post-secondary education, degrees, diplomas, and certificates you have achieved.
  • Work experience: Please include the name of the organization, length of service, and a brief description of duties.
  • Training and professional development: List career-related training and professional development programs completed within the past five years. Include the source of training, and the duration and year completed. List other training and personal development programs not already identified.
  • Voluntary/unpaid work experience: List and describe any voluntary/unpaid post-secondary employment and/or community service experience. Please include the name of organization, length of service and a brief description of duties.
  • Information technology training and experience: Briefly describe your level of training and experience in the use of information technology including computers, software and telecommunications networks as tools for business, education, teaching and personal use.
  • Professional memberships/affiliations: List memberships and positions you hold/have held in professional associations, service clubs, community/volunteer sector.
  • Other relevant information: Provide any other information which you believe is relevant to your application and will be of assistance to the review committee.

If applicable:

  • Applicants declaring permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada, must submit a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR card) along with their application.
  • Transcript evaluation fee or credential evaluation report, if submitting international transcripts.
  • An official English language proficiency score report or other evidence of proficiency if English is not your primary language.
  • Other information or documents may be requested to determine your eligibility.

For information on how and where to send your supporting documents, please refer to the document submission guidelines.

Financial aid and awards

Refine results

We offer three options for you to complete your Bachelor of Business Administration. 

You can choose the option that works best for your goals.  

In all completion options, you'll create a portfolio of work that documents and showcases your learning and skill development. 

Option 1: Capstone project 

The capstone project integrates your learning into a single project within your area of interest. You’ll take on a real-life challenge for an organizational client. You’ll research, develop and present an innovative business solution for social and environmental change. 

The capstone option can be completed with 16 months (four terms). 

Option 2: Internship 

Take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in the workplace through an internship at an organization. 

In order to achieve the required number of internship hours (420), the internship option can be completed within 20 months (five terms). 

We'll help you through the process of finding an internship in your preferred industry. You'll attend workshops for career development and work search skills.

Option 3: International semester 

Study abroad while continuing project-based learning in business, innovation and sustainability. You will complete at least six credits at one of our partner universities.

  • Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, Belgium.
  • Avans University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.
  • ITESO Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara, Mexico.
  • National Economics University, Vietnam.
  • Management Centre Innsbruck, Austria.
  • Singapore Management University, Singapore.

We’ll help you select courses and prepare you to study abroad.