Pace Course Composition and Evaluation
Professional Studies (PACE)
The PACE Level allows you to focus your professional preparation in areas that support your career goals and interests. You may choose two of six different possible electives in designing your program.
All examinations at the PACE Level are written through CGA Alberta ensuring that students demonstrate the professional knowledge and competencies expected of a newly certified CGA.
National Examinations are required in two PACE Electives in addition to PA1 and PA2.
Please Note: AU2 and MU1 cannot both be used for credit in the CGA Program.
To qualify to write your national CGA exam in these courses, your course work average must be a minimum of 65%. The final grade for the course is based 100% on the final exam mark.
The assignments/online discussions are as follows:
Advanced External Auditing (AU2), Advanced Corporate Finance (FN2), Internal Auditing and Controls (MU1) and Advanced Personal and Corporate Taxation (TX2) has five assignments.
Information Systems Strategy (MS2) has four assignments and five online discussions.
Public Sector Financial Management (PF1) has three assignments, one collaborative assignment and one online discussion.
Assignments may be handed in late for assignments within Modules 1 - 7 only. Late submissions will be accepted up to, but no later than, one week after the published due date. Assignments within Modules 8 - 10 may not be submitted late.
The assignment drop box will be locked off after 12 NOON MST on the late submission due date (if within Modules 1 - 7). Please be advised that late assignments may not be marked until the current week's assignment has been marked. The late assignment procedure can be located in the CGA Student Handbook.
You will be charged a late fee if you submit any assignment after the due date (where permitted). All fees are posted to your checkout at the end of the session.
PACE Electives as Career Options
Students have the opportunity to focus the final level of their professional preparation in an area that supports career goals and interests. These options are designed to help them excel in the business area of their choice.
Corporate and small-medium enterprise
For students interested in managing the resources of corporate entities, including SMEs, with emphasis on capital investment decisions, long-term planning, and competitive analysis.
- Advanced Corporate Finance (FN2)
- Information Systems Strategy (MS2) or Internal Auditing and Controls (MU1)
Information technology
For students pursuing careers related to the analysis, design, and implementation of computer-based information systems from a management end-user perspective, or for those involved in management auditing, including IT auditing, and systems development activities.
- Information Systems Strategy (MS2)
- Internal Auditing and Controls (MU1)
Government and not-for-profit
For students pursuing careers in the public sector, association management, charitable and not-for-profit organization management, health service organizations, and education. Emphasizing public sector accounting, not-for-profit reporting issues, expenditure controls, and strategic planning.
- Public Sector Financial Management (PF1)
- Information Systems Strategy (MS2) or Internal Auditing and Controls (MU1)
Public practice
Prepares students to succeed in a public practice career providing accounting, auditing, tax planning, and business consulting services to corporate and SME clients.
- Advanced Personal and Corporate Taxation (TX2)
- Advanced External Auditing (AU2)
Other options
Students may design a personal career option different from any of the four recommended financial management career options. It must include PA1 and PA2, and two other elective courses/exams selected from the PACE level.
