Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics

Purpose

The Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics is designed to equip the learners with strong analytical research skills in economics as a discipline, and provide solid insight on the relevant economic analysis that relates to the theory and policy implications. The learners will be able to respond appropriately to the economic problems that arise by identifying, analysing and resolving challenges created by external and internal factors that impact on the environmental, social and economic aspects, and be able to generate empirical findings for policy intervention.

Rationale

Challenges of the twenty-first century require the value of a highly skilled workforce that is equipped with analytical and problem-based competences. If there is a shortage in the number of such workforces, it will affect the level of economic productivity and cause a shortfall in the capacity of the country to develop a knowledgeable economy. Therefore, there is a need to address such a shortfall as witnessed in the case of South Africa's economy.

This will help the country to function correctly as a player in the global corporate environment and the economy worldwide. As such, the Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Economics will offer a strategically mixed, analytical approach through the research undertaking. This is because the qualification is tailored to achieve the national objectives of social and economic growth and also acknowledges the NDP 2030 goal relating to "building a capable and developmental state". Upon completion of the qualification, learners will gain exposure in various field of employment, including Banking, Health, Retail, Marketing, government, manufacturing, infrastructure, academic and other fields which are listed in the top 100 critical skills Report of the Department of Home Affairs.

This qualification targets learner who have completed their Bachelor of Commerce in Economics or Bachelor of Technology or Advance Diploma in Economics. Qualifying learners will have developed skills to work as consultants for firms or the government on economic matters of their choice options. They will also be empowered to proceed for higher Postgraduate studies. Currently, the Department of Economic and Business Sciences has the leaning pathway the Masters of Commerce in Economics level. There is a plan by the institution to recruit more senior academics to begin doctoral studies in the near future.

This qualification is designed to prepare learners for the deepening of their knowledge and understanding of theories, methodologies and practices in Economics, as well as the development of their ability to formulate, undertake and resolve more complex theoretical and practice-related economic problems and tasks through the selection and use of appropriate methods and techniques.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process through which the prior knowledge and skills and or work experience of a learner are made visible and assessed for alternative admission into a required qualification. RPL for access: If a learner does not meet the formal entry requirements for admission into a qualification, RPL can be applied. All RPL applications will be considered according to the following institution's RPL policy.

• Formal prior learning: Learners with formal qualifications will also be allowed admission to the institution through RPL. The learners' prior learning at higher institutions in the relevant domains, which constitute credit-bearing modules, will be considered.

Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning

• The learner must submit a written motivation of not more than two pages requesting recognition and admission as per the institutional policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Economics, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 8, 90 Credits

• Advanced Microeconomics 1, 15 Credits.
• Advanced Macroeconomics 2, 15 Credits.
• Research Methods, 15 Credits.
• Time Series Econometrics, 15 Credits.
• Research Project, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 8, 30 Credits: Choose Two Modules.

• Agricultural Development Economics, 15 Credits.
• Advanced International Economics, 15 Credits.
• Labour Economics, 15 Credits.

1. Develop the applied competence in the acquisition, analysis, interpretation and application of economic principles and methods.
2. Conduct research in economic, development and related areas.
3. Apply theories and models for economic analysis.
4. Apply statistical analysis in economics in both core disciplines (micro and macroeconomics).

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be assessed in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes.

• Reflect on the economic applications to assess the effect thereof in the context of economics as a social science.
• Evaluate current micro and macro-economic policies, theories and analytical methods of knowledge production and economic modelling.
• Demonstrate the skills of operationalising the link between the classroom teaching and real-world problem.
• Implement the strategies for the processing and management of information and purposes of review and insight.
• Utilise the statistical and mathematical techniques to verify or disprove economic theories.
• Analyse the impact of policies and events on a household, firms, government and or the economy.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will be assessed through formative and summative procedures in both coursework modules and the mini-dissertation.

Research Paper/Project Assessment

Successful learners for the qualification, in addition to being examined in different subjects in the coursework are also required to write a mini dissertation. In this mini-dissertation, the learner will identify a suitable research topic and explore it independently, demonstrating its relevance to either the advancement of academic knowledge or to the resolution of a problem in an area of practical concern. The mini dissertation entails a piece of supervised research work. This mini-dissertation will be published in an academic journal.

• Formatively, the dissertation will be presented in seminars (both Departmental and Faculty level) for approval of topics and also in local and national conferences.
• Summative, the project will be sent to one external supervisor for marking and grading.

Coursework/module Assessment

Formatively, there will be three or more compulsory semester tasks completed which will count towards the semester mark. Depending on the nature of the modules, the tasks may include one written test, submission of an assignment and a class presentation. Only the best 2 out of 3 or more tasks will be recognised in consideration for the learner's semester mark.

Summatively, the coursework examination mark will contribute 60% towards the final mark. The final mark is obtained by adding the examination mark and semester mark and dividing the figure by two.

Each module requires the submission of written assignments, one or two class tests during the semester plus a formal class presentation followed by a three-hour examination at the end of the semester, subject to the institution's normal rules for postgraduate module examinations. The treatise will entail a mini-dissertation which requires integration of the theoretical knowledge and skills embodied in the selected modules with the research work. The dissertation is reviewed by external examination following the institution's Postgraduate policy.