Master of Commerce

This qualification includes the various specialisations in Commerce. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide Master of Commerce graduates with post-graduate level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields associated with Business, Commerce and Management that prepare them to be lifelong learners, employable researchers, entrepreneurs and contributors to society and the business community.

A second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates in the field of business, commerce and management in order to ensure that the leadership base of innovative and knowledge-base economic and scholarly activity is widened.

A third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can understand the constructive role they need to play as intellectual economic leaders in their society and who are empowered to play that role.

Learners who register for this qualification can

• Learn from predominantly published material with virtually no guidance;
• Communicate what they have learnt logically and coherently in the medium of instruction;
• Conduct independent research in fields related to business, commerce and management.

Recognition of prior learning

This qualification recognises

• Formal prior learning

The MCom programmes expect students to have a postgraduate qualification in the field/discipline in which they register for Masters.

• Informal learning

A Master's degree, which comprises a dissertation, only cannot be awarded in part through RPL. A Master's degree, which contains course work, could be awarded in part through RPL. The university is investigating an RPL policy, which will be debated by Faculties and Senate.

Critical Cross-field outcomes

All critical cross-field outcomes will be embedded appropriately in the dissertation, which leads up to the qualification. The distance education context has particular challenges, which we try to meet below.

1. The Master of Commerce graduate can identify, analyse, formulate, and solve convergent and divergent problems in fields related to business, commerce and management creatively and responsibly.
2. The Master of Commerce graduate can work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community, and contribute to the group output in the fields related to business, commerce and management.
3. The Master of Commerce graduate can manage and organise her or his activities and life responsibly and effectively, including her or his studies and career.
4. The Master of Commerce graduate can collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information as required in pursuit of the Master of Commerce.
5. The Master of Commerce graduate can communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation, in sustained discourse.
6. The Master of Commerce graduate can use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and well being of others, in community, national and global contexts.
7. The Master of Commerce graduate can demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those in the local and broader business community.

Developmental

In order to contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, it must be the intention underlying any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of the following developmental outcomes:

1. The Master of Commerce graduate can reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to conduct research.
2. The Master of Commerce graduate can participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities.
3. The Master of Commerce graduate can be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts.
4. The Master of Commerce graduate can explore education and career opportunities by drawing on the various knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired in the accomplishment of this qualification.
5. The Master of Commerce graduate can develop entrepreneurial opportunities by drawing on the various research skills and attitudes acquired in the accomplishment of this qualification.

Specific outcomes

A Master of Commerce student is actively engaged in becoming an expert in her or his field and in preparing for further, more specific study or the work environment. As such she or he develops and holds certain values and integrates knowledge and skills to achieve her or his purposes. The specific outcomes show how knowledge, skills and values are integrated in the qualification variously in the SAQA fields of Business, Commerce and Management Studies (03), Human and Social Studies (07), Law, Military Science and Security (08), Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences (10) and Services (11).

1. The Master of Commerce graduate can conduct research in the fields related to business, commerce and management under supervision.
2. The Master of Commerce graduate can contextualise existing knowledge in the fields of business, commerce and management.
3. The Master of Commerce graduate can report research findings in a scientific manner.

Critical Cross-field

Evidence generated in the form of a dissertation will show that graduates

1.

• Identify and define non-routine complex problems.
• Apply appropriate knowledge and competent research skills to solving complex, non-routine problems.
• Identify, analyse and solve concrete and abstract problems in the business, commerce and management fields by drawing upon theoretical knowledge and research skills.
• Identify, analyse and solve complex concrete and abstract problems in the business, commerce and management fields by drawing upon their own experience.
• Use their knowledge to offer suggestions for solving problems at the community, national and international levels.

2.

• Apply people skills (tolerance, empathy, listening skills and leadership) in liasing with other professionals, clients and colleagues.
• Demonstrate respect for the opinion of others through written reporting without bias.
• Demonstrate tolerance of diversity through written reporting without bias.
• Co-ordinate projects and provides evidence of successful interaction with others.
• Use effective communication skills within a group situation.
• Demonstrate leadership skills.

3.

• Demonstrate the research skills to conduct research independently.
• Cope with the self-discipline necessary for independent research.
• Think independently and offer evidence to support their decisions.
• Identify needs and opportunities for applying economic and management principles to the local, national and international business community.

4.

• Demonstrate competent research and reporting skills.
• Use library and other resources effectively to suit their individual needs.
• Use library and other resources effectively to conduct an extensive research project.
• Act responsibly as a researcher (appropriate referencing, avoiding plagiarism etc.)
• Use of the conventions of researchers in the various disciplines under study.
• Critically analyse theories and other research.
• Think independently, and offer evidence to support their decisions.

5.

• Communicate their ideas and provide supporting evidence in a sustained manner.
• Responsibly use other's ideas in support of their own.
• Generate and evaluate conclusions and premises in arguments.
• Follow the literacy and numeracy conventions of written use in the disciplines related to business, commerce and management.
• Use statistical research appropriately and scientifically.
• Use the written communication form to critically analyse, evaluate and critique others' research.

6.

• Demonstrate an appropriate attitude towards technology.
• Use scientific method of investigation, testing and evaluation.
• Select appropriate technology to conduct research.
• Use other technology (computers and the Internet) where appropriate and feasible to conduct research.
• Show respect for and a responsible attitude towards science and technology.
• Use information technology and software packages to improve professional efficiency.

7.

• Apply systems thinking to solving complex business, commerce and management related research problems.
• Apply knowledge of related areas to solving problems in business, commerce and management through appropriate research.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the discipline/field of study.

Developmental

1.

• Evaluate different research methodologies.
• Select the most appropriate option to conduct their own research.
• Plan and manage their own research effectively.
• Apply what they study in different contexts, personal and public, real and simulated
• Show evidence of effective study skills (e.g. analysing and synthesis).

2.

• Help others to manage their organisations.
• Monitor and provide input into legislation regarding business, commerce and management.
• Apply and knowledge of corporate governance principles.

3.

• Manage diversity to the benefit of the individual and the group.
• Promote equity.
• Demonstrate an awareness of own business and economic culture and background.
• Illustrate the value of open-mindedness and tolerance to self and others.
• Evaluate the impact of diversity in specific b, c and m environments.

4.

• Illustrate the relationship between the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired in studying towards the Master of Commerce and those of the community at large.
• Make connection from theoretical knowledge to practical application in solving real world problems
• Use the Master of Commerce skills, which are highly valued by the business community.
• Use the skills required for efficiency in the work place; imaginative intelligence, emotional maturity, effective communication skills, interpersonal sensitivity and business acumen.
• Deal effectively with unknown problems within a variety of routine and non-routine contexts in complex, variable, unpredictable and highly specialised contexts by drawing upon the skills of the Master of Commerce (critical thinking, problem-solving, system thinking, research skills).
• Adapt to different organisational cultures.

5.

• Create job opportunities.
• Have a realistic view of their own worth and value to contribute to their local community and business organisation.
• Communicate their value as researchers to others researchers and the business world (writing of research articles, business report writing, research reports, communication skills).
• Demonstrate a healthy self-esteem and confidence in their knowledge
• Evaluate complex situations with flexibility and adaptability.
• Formulate and evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities within a variety of routine and non-routine contexts.

Specific

1.

• Demonstrate mastery of the knowledge in their area of expertise to identify areas, which requires scientific research.
• Use scientific research techniques to gather and interpret information.
• Design various types of research samples.
• Design various types of research questionnaires.
• Apply and criticise various research designs.
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of scientific research procedures, principles and methods.
• Collect and analyse primary and secondary data.
• Evaluate and interpret information showing evidence of applying appropriate principles and making sound judgements.
• Apply appropriate processes and techniques for research decision-making.
• Evaluate actual outcomes in relation to the initial hypothesis or research problems to draw conclusions about the value of the research.

2.

• Replicate other research whilst testifying to their own interpretations and reflections.
• Critically compare different opinions and research findings and arrive at own conclusions.
• Produce own assumptions that are logical and can support own research.

3.

• Demonstrate proficiency in compiling a research proposal.
• Write a scientific research report of extensive scope.
• Write publishable research articles of various depths, to the required level of detail, for relevant contexts and from various perspectives.

Integrated assessment

Integrated assessment: Assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence. There is regular and continuous personal interaction between the supervisor and the graduate to review and evaluate progress on the dissertation. Working on the dissertation entails both summative and formative assessment, since the supervisor's continuous input in the writing stage is formative, while the final evaluation of the dissertation is summative. An acceptable research proposal is required before the candidate is allowed to proceed with the research.