Practical, hands-on, and accredited, our Finance program focuses on:

  • Money and credit 
  • Financial planning
  • Investing
  • Wealth building
  • Ethical and social responsibility

Practical Learning

At the JRSSB, real-life assignments make classes relevant and interesting. Students continually hone their skills through exercises that focus on teamwork and meeting client needs.

Classroom & Study Hours

Students can expect to spend on average

  • 20 hours per week attending classes over the course of a semester
  • 15-20 hours per week studying and completing assignments outside of scheduled class time

Facilities

Technology

Business and technology are inexorably linked in today's work environment. The JR Shaw School of Business prepares our students for business success by integrating mainstream technology into our teaching tools and assignments.

The JRSSB uses a variety of technologies to enhance the classroom learning experience:

  • SMART Boards (interactive whiteboards)
  • SMART Podiums (interactive desktop whiteboards for instructors)
  • iClickers (remote-control style devices to answer questions and interact during class)

A number of our courses also use web-based course tools. These include online business simulations and interactive learning environments like WebCT and Moodle, which provide:

  • discussion boards
  • chatrooms
  • student file storage
  • class calendars
  • grade summaries

Is This Program For You?

Business Administration - Finance graduates are able to enter large and small organizations at the management-trainee level. Graduates have developed quantitative financial and analytical abilities. They have enhanced their interpersonal skills. They also have a solid understanding of the importance of providing top-quality customer service. The financial services industry employs graduates in consumer lending, commercial lending and as customer service representatives, financial planners and investment assistants. Some graduates start their own businesses.

Student Experience

Business Simulations

A number of classes use online business simulations, which let students use their classroom knowledge to make decisions and analyze the results in a safe environment. Business simulations in JRSSB range from role-playing to online tools that allow student teams to compete against each other and against other schools. Simulations let students:

  • apply concepts learned in class
  • analyze situations
  • work as a team
  • see the results of decisions and use this knowledge to make future decisions 

The JR Shaw School of Business also offers:

  • Clubs – Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) NAIT is a business club that lets students put their education to use through projects that serve SIFE, NAIT and the community. These projects help students develop teamwork, entrepreneurial, financial and business skills. As SIFE is an international organization, SIFE NAIT members can take part in competitions against other colleges and universities.
  • Business Competition – SIFE NAIT runs a business plan challenge competition, in association with novaNAIT and the Youth Technopreneurship Program, for budding entrepreneurs to "hatch" their business idea into a viable business. HATCH is open to full-time or recently graduated NAIT students, between 18 and 35 years of age.
  • Awards – Students in the JR Shaw School of Business (JRSSB) have an opportunity to participate in a wide range of business competitions during their studies at NAIT. Our students have performed well and enjoyed great success and recognition in various competitions, locally, nationally and internationally.
  • Blogs – Learn more about the JR Shaw School of Business through our faculty and student blogs. Get the inside story on student life and what’s happening at the school, as well as some tips and tricks for student success.

Beyond the classroom

From the first year to the last, we want you get the most out of your educational experience. As the school year begins, a first-year orientation session prepares students for the year ahead. At this session, students

  • get their class schedules
  • learn about NAIT services
  • meet the JRSSB staff member who will be their main contact for program questions

Wall Street North

Second-year Finance students play the stock market with $500,000 in virtual funds, trying to earn more money than their classmates. Their assignment: make a minimum of 50 trades over 10 weeks in a simulation lab that provides access to markets around the world, virtually in real-time.