Bachelor of Commerce Honours

The purpose of the Bachelor of Commerce Honours is to enhance the employability of the learner in the commerce sector in the area of field studied. These areas include finance, human resources, insurance, management, marketing, economics, applied development economics, and information systems.

The qualification aims to introduce learners to more advanced concepts relating to the area of field, in addition to introducing the conventions and processes related to academic research.

On completion of the qualification, graduates will be able to

• Demonstrate knowledge of a major discipline with a wide overview of the academic reach of that discipline.
• Undertake and complete a substantial piece of work integrating knowledge and make use of research methods.
• Operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and to respond effectively to uncertainties.
• Access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
• Work effectively as an individual, in multicultural teams and in multidisciplinary environments.
• Engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
• Display ethical behaviour and awareness of the code of conduct adopted by the University and of the necessity to carry this code into the world of work.

Rationale

The rationale for offering the Bachelor of Commerce Honours is to afford learners opportunities to articulate to postgraduate studies, with an honours level qualification generally being required for admission to Master's level qualifications. Consequently, the qualification enables upward progression for learners, which benefits both their employability and their personal growth as responsible citizens of society.

The qualifying learner, with a field in Accounting and other related subjects (such as Tax, Internal Auditing and Managerial Accounting) is equipped to sit a further specialist examination and apply for registration with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to become an Associate General Accountant.

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regards to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted for modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Economic Science, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules (per field) at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 150 credits:

Select one specialisation field from the following.

1. Finance field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Theory of Corporate Finance, 30 credits.
• Theory of Investment, 30 credits.
• Research paper in Finance, 30 credits.
• Research Methodology and Techniques, 15 credits.
• Advanced Financial Risk Management, 15 credits

And

Elective Modules, 30 Credits (select two modules from the following)

• Financial Economics: Capital Markets, Investments and International Finance, 15 credits.
• International Finance, 15 credits.
• Advanced Financial Modelling in Excel, 15 credits.

Subject to the approval, an elective course from a related discipline may be taken.

Or

2. Business Sciences (Human Resources) field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 150 Credits

• Advanced Labour Studies, 30 credits.
• Research paper in Business Sciences, 30 credits.
• Advanced Studies in Organisational Theory, 15 credits.
• Advanced Studies in Strategic Human Resource Management, 15 credits.
• Research Methods for the Management Sciences, 30 credits.
• Statistical Research Design and Analysis (Coursework), 15 credits.
• Statistical Research Design and Analysis (Project), 15 credits.

Or

3. Business Sciences (Insurance) field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 60 Credits

• Advanced Insurance and Risk Management, 30 credits.
• Research paper in Business Sciences, 30 credits.

And

Elective Modules, 90 Credits (select combinations from the following that equals 90 credits)

• Advanced Specialised Insurance, 30 credits.
• Re-insurance, 30 credits.
• Advanced Liability Insurance and Risk Management, 30 credits.

Or both of

• Advanced Financial Modelling in Excel, 15 credits.
• Advanced Financial Risk Management, 15 credits.

Subject to the approval, an elective course from a related discipline may be taken.

Or

4. Business Sciences (Management) field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 150 Credits

• Research paper in Business Sciences, 30 credits
• Advanced Studies in Entrepreneurship, 15 credits
• Advanced Studies in Managerial Decision Making and Business Behaviour, 15 credits
• Advanced Studies in Organisational Theory, 15 credits
• Advanced Studies in Strategic Management, 15 credits
• Research Methods for the Management Sciences, 30 credits
• Statistical Research Design and Analysis (Coursework), 15 credits
• Statistical Research Design and Analysis (Project) , 15 credits

5. Business Sciences (Marketing) field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 150 Credits

• Advanced Consumer Behaviour, 24 credits
• Research paper in Business Sciences, 30 credits
• Brand Management, 24 credits
• Contemporary Issues in Marketing, 24 credits
• Advanced Research Statistics, 24 credits
• International Marketing, 24 credits

Or

6. Economics field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Research Paper in Economics, 30 credits
• Advanced Microeconomics, 30 credits
• Advanced Macroeconomics, 30 credits
• Research Methods, 15 credits
• Advanced Econometrics, 15 credits

Abd

Elective Modules, 30 Credits (select two modules from the following)

• History of Economic Thought, 15 credits
• Advanced Mathematical Economics, 15 credits
• Development Economics, 15 credits
• Financial Economics: Capital Markets, Investments and International Finance, 15 credits
• Topics in Labour Economics, 15 credits
• The Organisation of Industry, 15 credits
• Public Finance and Public Choice, 15 credits
• International Trade, 15 credits
• International Finance for Lesser Developed Countries, 15 credits
• Environmental Economics, 15 credits
• Game Theory, 15 credits
• Economic Change and Comparative Development, 15 credits
• International Finance, 15 credits

Subject to the approval, an elective course from a related discipline may be taken.

Or

7. Applied Development Economics field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 90 Credits

• Research Report in Applied Development Economics, 30 credits.
• Macroeconomics for Development, 20 credits.
• Microeconomics for Development, 20 credits.
• Research Methods for Development, 20 credits.

Abd

Elective Modules, 15 Credits (select one module from the following)

• Development Economics, 15 credits.
• Development Theory and Policy, 15 credits.

Elective Modules, 15 Credits (select one module from the following)

• Advanced Econometrics, 15 credits.
• Econometrics for Development, 15 credits.

Elective Modules, 30 Credits (select two modules from the following)

• History of Economic Thought, 15 credits.
• Financial Economics: Capital Markets, Investments and International Finance, 15 credits.
• Topics in Labour Economics, 15 credits.
• The Organisation of Industry, 15 credits.
• Environmental Economics, 15 credits.
• Economic Change and Comparative Development, 15 credits.

Subject to the approval, an elective course from a related discipline may be taken.

Or

8. Information Systems field, 150 credits

Compulsory Modules, 150 Credits

• Advanced Systems Development Practice, 30 credits.
• Information Systems Management, 30 credits.
• Research Methods, 30 credits.
• Research Paper in Information Systems, 30 credits.
• Selected Topics in Information Systems, 30 credits.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of a major discipline with a wide overview of the academic reach of that discipline.
2. Undertake and complete a substantial piece of work integrating knowledge and make use of research methods.
3. Operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and to respond effectively to uncertainties.
4. Access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
5. Work effectively as an individual, in multicultural teams and in multidisciplinary environments.
6. Engage in life-long learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
7. Display ethical behaviour and awareness of the code of conduct adopted by the University and of the necessity to carry this code into the world of work.

The Associated Assessment Criteria may be applied in an integrated manner across all Exit Level Outcomes

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of a major discipline.
• Plan and execute a research project.
• Interpret the nature and functioning of diverse forms of enterprise and economic systems and perform tasks necessary for the effective functioning of enterprises in varying circumstances.
• Formulate and propose potential solutions to various economic, organisational, business and social problems.
• Use multi-disciplinary approaches to conceptual thinking and problem-solving.
• Access information using a spectrum of technologies, ranging from hand-written and auto-generated business records to electronic data bases.
• Process and communicate information using technologies ranging from written reports to visual presentations.
• Access, use and organise information and knowledge in an ever-changing context.
• Use skills to manage him/herself and exercise self-discipline.
• Plan and initiate the successful completion and management of administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.
• Formulate, solve, and propose potential solutions to convergent and divergent economic, organisational, business and/or social problems.
• Show in her/his behaviour/value system and in the conduct of her/his studies, that the importance of ethical behaviour is understood and applied.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Assignments, examinations, and research reports serve as the integrated formative and summative assessments. Formative assessment is undertaken on a continuous basis, incorporating seminar presentations and papers, coursework assignments and tasks, as well as reports on research plans. Such methods assess students' progress towards the professional and academic competencies set out in the exit level outcomes listed above.

The summative assessment instruments are designed to integrate practical, theoretical, and reflexive competence in research or in the academic discipline being assessed. Furthermore, to pass a course, and, finally, to qualify, the learner must demonstrate the specialised knowledge acquired. These assessment practices, aligned with intended learning outcomes, will take diverse forms, including inter alia, diagnostic, formative, summative, and continuous assessment.

In order to promote, monitor and measure student learning throughout a course, no single assessment may count for more than 40% of the final mark unless there are special circumstances, in which case the permission of the Dean is required.