2 + 2 = business degree.

• Author: Myers, Ella
• Position: NEWS - Laurentian University Is offering degrees to students

Getting a francophone degree in business can now be as simple as two plus two.

Sudbury's Laurentian University, College Boreal and La Cite are collaborating to offer the colleges' graduates the option to complete a business degree over two years through Laurentian.

"This is a testament to the strong relationship between our institutions," said Laurentian president Dominic Giroux on Jan. 26.

The collaboration marks another step Laurentian is taking to solidify its designation as the first bilingual university under the French-Language Services Act. Boreal and La Cite service a range of communities across Ontario.

"This collaboration really covers the whole province," said Giroux.

"It was important for our students to benefit from an articulation," said Tina Montgomery, Boreal's dean of business and community services. "Laurentian was always open, and now was the time."

While credit transfers or post-diploma programming existed prior to the agreement, the two-plus-two program offers specific benefits.

Students who have a two-year business diploma will be required to complete two years of tailored classes, plus a statistics course, in order to receive their degree. Giroux said the three institutions carefully mapped out the curriculum, which is designed to avoid redundant lessons.

The degree program is also uniquely designed to qualify students for Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA) designation, which requires an undergraduate degree and a specific course...