Bachelor of Commerce

Purpose

The Bachelor of Commerce (B Com) intends to develop skilled graduates who are able to engage critically with the world and apply disciplinary content to the resolution of problems. The intention is that students will be able to advance disciplinary knowledge in chosen fields of specialisation through postgraduate study and advance their careers if they wish in various professional options. There is a strong focus offered in this Degree in core functional areas of business management with majors offered in business management and other disciplines.

The aims of this qualification include

• To familiarise learners with the content and basic theories of a number of disciplines in the commerce field with additional offerings in statistics. The traditional disciplines of commerce are offered at the basic, intermediate level and advanced level dependent on the combination of subjects that the learners take. The intention is to provide a deeper grasp of three of these disciplines taken at exit level (Level 7), as well as to enable them to place new knowledge in context and to use appropriate methods for seeking resolution of problems.
• To provide learners with a variety of basic scholarly and intellectual competencies, including the ability to question critically the assumptions of a limited range of theories and authorities, and to develop an understanding of elementary research methods used within one or more disciplines.
• To provide qualifiers with graduate-level knowledge, specific skills, applied competence and the necessary attitudes in the fields associated with commerce and industry that prepare them to be lifelong learners, employable workers/entrepreneurs and contributors to society and the business community.
• To develop functional managers at the middle management level with specialisation in some of the core functional areas of management.
• To provide learners with an understanding of the process whereby productive resources are mobilised and utilised with a view to being gainfully employed in serving the needs of society in a globalised world.
• To prepare learners for post learner study either in a professional field or the deepening of discipline knowledge.
• To provide learners with a well-rounded and broad education across a number of disciplines, thus preparing them for a wide range of professions crucial to the welfare of society.
• To produce learners who are able to think laterally, critically and creatively.
• To produce learners who are prepared for life-long learning.
• To produce learners who understand the principles of, and are capable of critical citizenship.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Commerce (B Com) is a three-year qualification that focuses on the development of academically versatile and flexible learners who will be able to analyse, solve and deal with current problems in South Africa and globally in a wide variety of professions in the fields of Business management and affiliated disciplines. It is envisaged that articulation into Postgraduate qualifications will enable further development of the majors and/or in selected professional fields. Based on a needs analysis, it has been determined that a generic B Com Degree will be offered at our institution. The subjects offered are in line with current expertise at the institution as well as taking into account key areas of relevance for the region.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Admission via RPL is possible in limited cases (up to a maximum of 10% of intake). Learners for RPL admission will be required to demonstrate suitability either through work experience and/or other prior learning that has taken place. The institution makes provision for RPL admission up to a maximum of 10% of its intake, in line with the policies of the institution.

Entry Requirements

Learners must be in position of either of the following to gain entry for this qualification

• Senior Certificate (SC) with endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate (NSC) passed with Bachelors' Degree admission.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational (NCV) passed with Bachelors' Degree admission.

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 416 Credits.

Modules at NQF Level 5

• Business Management, 1A 16 Credits.
• Communication 1A, 16 Credits.
• Computer skills, 0 Credits.

Elective modules (select 2)

• Accounting 1A, 16 Credits.
• Information Systems 1A, 16 Credits.
• Economics 1A, 16 Credits.
• Industrial Psychology 1A, 16 Credits.
• Stats 1A, 16 Credits.

Total Credits: 64.

Modules at NQF Level 6

• SCOR, 8 Credits.
• Business Management 1B, 16 Credits.
• Communication 1B, 16 Credits.
• Business Management 2A, 16 Credits.
• Business Law 1A, 16 Credits.
• Business Management 2B, 16 Credits.
• Business Law 1B, 16 Credits.

Total Credits: 88.

Elective modules (select 7)

• Accounting 1B, 16 Credits.
• Stats 1B, 16 Credits.
• Economics 1B, 16 Credits.
• Industrial Psychology 1B, 16 Credits.
• Information Systems 1 B, 16 Credits.
• Accounting 2A, 16 Credits.
• Accounting 2B, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management 2A, 16 Credits.
• Marketing Management 2B, 16 Credits.
• HRM 2A, 16 Credits.
• HRM 2B, 16 Credits.
• Stats 2A, 16 Credits.
• Stats 2B, 16 Credits.
• Economics 2A, 16 Credits.
• Economics 2B, 16 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship, 16 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship 2B, 16 Credits.
• Financial Management 2A, 16 Credits.
• Financial Management 2B, 16 Credits.

Total Credits 208.

Modules at NQF Level 7

• Business Management 3A, 24 Credits.
• Business Management 3B, 24 Credits.

Elective modules (select 4)

• Accounting 3A, 24 Credits.
• Accounting 3 B, 24 Credits.
• Financial Management 3B, 24 Credits.
• Marketing Management 3 B, 24 Credits.
• HRM 3A, 24 Credits.
• HRM 3B, 24 Credits.
• Stats 3A, 24 Credits.
• Stats 3B, 24 Credits.
• Economics 3A, 24 Credits.
• Economics 3B, 24 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship 3A, 24 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship 3B, 24 Credits.
• Financial Management 3A, 24 Credits.
• Marketing Management 3A, 24 Credits.

Total Credits 144.

1. Demonstrate awareness of relevant conventions and guidelines to their academic and personal purposes.
2. Formulate, implement and evaluate business strategies based on discipline-specific concepts, principles and business analysis.
3. Analyse and locate own work in contemporary contexts (such as the South African and African contexts) regarding specific issues and/or problems in the business setting that needs attention.
4. Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of the fundamentals and basics of the different areas of the business management.
5. Apply accounting systems and processes in the business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Familiarity with and knowledge of the content, theories, and scholarly positions of the critical core of a number of disciplines at a basic and intermediate level is demonstrated.
• A systematic and well-rounded knowledge and the ability to critically question the basic assumptions of the most important theories, scholarly positions and basic methodologies of one or more disciplines in the functional areas of business is demonstrated.
• Competence with the basic and elementary modes of inquiry of at least three core disciplines to specified, less complex problems is shown.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of business management and strategies through the application of the concepts, facts and theories of business management is demonstrated.
• Marketing management and strategies are applied through the application of the concepts, facts and theories of marketing and marketing management.
• A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of financial management and strategies through the application of the concepts, facts and theories of financial management is demonstrated.
• Competitive strategies are applied to create competitive advantage within the broader business environment.
• Structured and systematic processes are developed and applied to support the economic and financial well-being of the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Topical issues using different perspectives in the disciplines are interpreted.
• A range of methods to resolve problems or introduce change within a business environment are applied.
• Data to assess business problems and challenges is collected and appropriate methods to resolve the problem or meet the challenge are identified.
• Concrete and abstract problems are identified and solved by drawing upon the theoretical knowledge and experiential base of individual disciplines in the fields of business, commerce and management.
• Basic research is conducted to resolve a problem in the business environment through collecting, analysing and organising data and writing a research report.
• Research results are used to inform business decisions related to business opportunities and propositions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The theory of micro- and macroeconomics applicable to medium and small enterprises is explained.
• Various types and forms of companies are compared and contrasted.
• The role of each of the functions in achieving organisational effectiveness is explained and the key function issues of a specific enterprise are applied.
• A comprehensive analysis of the different tools and processes used to analyse the market opportunities and threats are presented and understanding of the factors that influence consumer buying decisions is demonstrated.
• Primary and secondary markets are compared and contrasted and the trading places of the three major types of securities bonds, equities, and derivatives are described.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The basic concepts and principles of financial accounting as applied in a business are analysed.
• The different source documents used in a business are analysed in order to determine the purpose of each.
• Basic financial transactions are performed within a business environment.
• Financial statements are analysed using ratio analysis.
• Applicable financial software is selected for use in a business context.

Integrated Assessment

Quality assessment is central to credible certification and recognition of student achievement. The institution will ensure credibility in assessment through the application of clear and rigorous procedures and practices, in keeping with the principles of fairness, validity, reliability and practicability.

Integrated assessment is used extensively across the qualification. Self- and peer assessment takes place in various ways in the face to face context, including through classroom activities, assignments, and written work. Summative assessments are integrated into the learning.