Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées en
administration des affaires

Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées
Second Cycle

30 credits

Do you have a degree in a domain other than business administration and would like to develop basic management knowledge and skills? This DESS is the program of choice. By covering all business functions, it will enhance your prior education and allow you to develop the skills you will need to advance in your career toward a position of responsibility.

Any questions about this program?

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1 year Estimated duration of full-time studies
Admission Semesters Fall Winter Summer
Key features
- Certain Courses Given in English
- Distance Learning
- See all the benefits

In Brief

At the end of this program, you will have acquired basic knowledge in accounting, organizational behaviour, finance, marketing, economics, operations management and information technology. You will have gained an overview of the functions of an organization. You will thus be able to situate your company in its markets, assess the constraints and challenges of its environment, predict and exploit change, and determine how your organization can distinguish itself from and stay ahead of its competitors.

Certain courses given in hybrid delivery mode: a very flexible formula that combines the advantages of in-class and online teaching. In-class meetings are held once a month or every two weeks, depending on the course’s pedagogical approach.
Full-time* or part-time: you’re the one who decides on the pace of your progress in the program.

Watch the video (in French only) to find out more about this program.

*If you want to take all of this program’s courses in distance delivery mode, you may only be able to do so on a part-time basis, depending on how the courses are scheduled.

Objectives

General Objective

The general objective of this program is to provide training to managers who completed their undergraduate education in a domain other than business administration and who want to broaden their professional experience.

Specific Objectives

Use general business administration knowledge and skills in an appropriate manner.
Conduct a critical examination of practices specific to business administration in light of recent knowledge.
Provide a clear and coherent report, either orally or in writing, on an administrative situation of a certain degree of complexity.

Continuance of Studies

Once completed, this DESS can be incorporated, either in whole or in part, into the following programs, provided you meet their admission requirements (webpages in French only):

Program Benefits

Distance Learning

This program can be followed remotely, a formula that offers all the flexibility you want to reconcile studies with other spheres of your life. Note, however, that some distance learning courses may require your online presence at a fixed time in some cases.

Consult the distance education site to see the courses offered online.

Certain Courses Given in English

This program offers you the choice of taking certain courses in English.

For Whom Is This Program Intended?

This program is intended for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or a degree deemed equivalent in a domain other than business administration.

Have you studied outside Canada? Find out about the admission requirements based on your country of origin.

Your Future

As soon as you arrive at the Faculty, you can take advantage of the many services offered by the Service du développement professionnel (SDP) (in French only) and participate in the career activities it organizes. Refer to the SDP website to find out about all the ways this Service can help you develop your career project and make it a reality.

Financial Aspects

Scholarships and Financial Aid

At the Bureau des bourses et de l'aide financière, you will find all the information you need about the possible sources of funding for your studies, including the various government financial aid programs and the admission, excellence and mobility scholarship programs.

Program Length and Organization

Students can complete the program on a full-time or part-time basis.

The program takes one year to complete on a full-time basis.

For Whom Is This Program Intended?

This program is intended for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or a degree deemed equivalent in a domain other than business administration.

Have you studied outside Canada? Find out about the admission requirements based on your country of origin.

Quebec student

Degree and Discipline

The applicant holds a bachelor's degree or a degree deemed equivalent in a domain other than business administration.

Average

The applicant has achieved a program or graduation average of at least 3.22 out of 4.33 for overall undergraduate education or equivalent.

Applicants with an average between 2.8 and 3.21 may also submit an application. However, admission is not automatically granted. Once it has analyzed the applicant’s academic and professional background, the Program Directorate may issue an offer of admission or deny the application.

Other Prior Education

This program has basic college-level mathematics requirements (differential calculus, linear algebra and vector geometry).

Applicants who do not meet this requirement may be admitted on condition they successfully complete the course titled MAT-1950 Mathématiques pour les affaires, or equivalent, in their first semester. This course may be taken at the same time as other courses in the program, with priority given to preparatory courses, as applicable.

Language Requirements

French-language proficiency

In order to be eligible, non-Francophone students (who did not complete their elementary and high school education in French) must demonstrate, when submitting their application, a minimum level of French-language proficiency by successfully completing:

the Test de connaissance du français tout public with:

a score of at least 600 out of 699 on the compulsory tests (TCF-TP)

AND

a score of at least 14 out of 20 on the written expression test (TCF-TP/EÉ)

the course titled FRN-3003 Français avancé : grammaire et rédaction II (or a course deemed equivalent) with a grade of at least C

Applicants who meet any of the following conditions are not required to provide proof of French-language proficiency:

They have completed their elementary and high school education in French.
They have received a diplôme d'études collégiales (DEC) in French in Québec and passed the uniform test in French.
They have received a university degree from a French-language institution.

If in doubt, the Program Directorate may require that the student successfully complete a French proficiency test.

To the extent they include a writing component, results from other tests may be considered.

In all cases, the test must have been successfully completed within the previous two years and the result must be provided along with the admission application.

English-language proficiency

Although English proficiency is not an admission requirement, success in this program is dependent on the students’ ability to read and understand English texts. Given the extensive body of literature in this language, students who do not have sufficient proficiency in English may experience difficulties in their studies. Students must therefore ensure that they have a good understanding of English from the beginning of their program.

Documents to be submitted in the admission application in addition to those required by the Registrar’s Office:

resume
cover letter explaining the applicant’s reasons for wishing to undertake this program (approximately two pages)
for foreign applicants: a copy of the transcript of the secondary school baccalaureate examination (see the webpage FSA – précisions - in French only).

Skills Required

Successful completion of the program is dependent on the ability to work with basic software: word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), presentation software (PowerPoint), etc.

Selection Criteria

Meeting all the admission requirements does not automatically result in admission. The Program Directorate takes into consideration an applicant’s prior preparation, overall record as well as the available resources.

The Program Directorate analyzes every application and may issue a definitive or conditional offer of admission, or deny the application. In the latter case, it informs the applicant of the reasons the application was denied. The Registrar’s Office sends the official response.

International student

French Language Proficiency

Université Laval is an institution of French expression and culture. Courses are taught in French; assignments and exams are also written in that language. Proficiency in both spoken and written French is therefore essential. For more details, refer to the policy on the use of French and the provisions regarding the application of the policy on the use of French (both documents available in French only).

Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées en
administration des affaires

In Brief

Objectives

Continuance of Studies