Faculty of Economics and Commerce : Guide to courses

14. Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

Table of Contents

 14. Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

Students who have reached the required standard must make a formal application to the general manager for admission to fourth year honours. Those who seek entry to fourth-year honours must ascertain from the head of the relevant department whether any additional work or special subjects will be required at third year level. If planning to change specialisation, students should consult the head of the appropriate department for advice on any required additional work.

To be eligible for consideration applicants must have:

• completed the requirements of the pass degree (combined course students see Combined course students and eligibility for honours also)

• achieved an average mark of H2B in at least four subjects at level-300 in the intended area of specialisation (including subjects nominated by the department as relevant to the discipline).

• achieved a mark of H2B or better in three of the four subjects.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the relevant head of department. Some departments will impose a quota on the number of places available in their respective honours programs. In these instances the criteria listed below refers to the minimum level of achievement required to be considered for entry.

Intending honours students should lodge a formal application with the general manager, using the form obtainable from the faculty office, no later than the last Friday of November.

 14.1. Combined course students and eligibility for honours

To be eligible for entry to a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) students undertaking a BA/BCom, BCom/AgrSc, BE/BCom, BCom/BForSc, BCom/BIS, BCom/BSc or BPC/BCom must have either completed the requirements for the combined degree (i.e. completed 500 points and satisfied the minimum requirements of the BCom and the other component of the combined degree) or completed at least 300 points within which the normal BCom requirements are met. That is:

• at least 200 points of Economics and Commerce subjects have been completed;

• between 87.5 and 125 level-100 points have been completed, of which at least 50 points are Economics and Commerce;

• at least 75 level-300 points have been completed, of which at least 50 points are Economics and Commerce.

Commerce/law students intending to undertake Commerce (Honours) must complete 75 level-300 commerce points if they wish to gain entry to honours in their fourth year of study. Commerce/law students should consult a commerce course adviser if they intending varying the standard course structure for the Combined Law/Commerce degree.

In addition combined course students must have:

• achieved an average mark of H2B in at least four subjects at level-300 in the intended area of specialisation (including subjects nominated by the department as relevant to the discipline);

• achieved a mark of H2B or better in three of the four subjects.

 14.2. Accounting

 14.2.1. Third year

To be eligible for admission to honours in accounting, students must have satisfied the requirements of the pass degree and must have achieved a grade average of H2B in at least four level-300 subjects offered within the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. In addition, three of the four subjects must be from the Department of Accounting, at least two of them core, with a mark of H2B or better.

Core subjects

• 306-301 Financial Accounting;

• 306-302 Enterprise Performance Management (previously titled Managerial Accounting);

• 306-304 Auditing and Assurance Services;

• 306-317 Strategic Enterprise Systems (306-307 Management Information Systems).

Electives

• 306-303 International Accounting;

• 306-313 Management Control Systems;

• 306-315 Analysis of Financial Statements;

• 306-320 Knowledge Management Systems.

In addition students should complete either 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the head of the department of Accounting.

 14.2.2. Fourth year (honours year)

Students are required to study the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must take the following subjects:

• 306-466 Research Methods In Accounting;

• 306-467 Research Essay in Accounting.

plus three of the following four subjects:

• 306-461 Issues in Corporate Reporting;

• 306-462 Strategic Management Accounting;

• 306-464 Managing Information Technology;

• 306-465 Issues in Audit and Assurance Services.

In addition students must take two other level-400 optional subjects or one level-300 and one level-400 subject as approved by the head of the Department of Accounting. Transitional students with prerequisites affected by changes to the structure of the honours in accounting program in 2001 will not be disadvantaged. Students in this situation are advised to see the head of department.

 14.3. Actuarial studies

 14.3.1. Third year

To be eligible for admission to honours in actuarial studies students must have:

• satisfied the requirements for the pass degree;

• achieved a grade average of at least H2B over 4 relevant subjects at level-300 (a list of relevant subjects is available from the Centre for Actuarial Studies);

• achieved a grade of at least H2B in three of these subjects of which at least two must be level-300 actuarial studies subjects.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the director of the Centre for Actuarial Studies.

 14.3.2. Fourth year (honours year)

Students are required to study the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must complete the following subjects:

• 300-400 Actuarial Studies Research Essay;

• 37.5 points of level-400 actuarial atudies subjects;

• 12.5 points of level-400 subjects taught by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce;

• 25 points of approved level-300 or level-400 subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Economics and Commerce.

 14.4. Economics

 14.4.1. Third year

To be eligible for admission to honours in economics in 2002 students must have satisfied the requirements of the pass degree and they should complete:

• 316-312 Macroeconomics;

• 316-313 Microeconomics;

• 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics;

• another level-300 economics subject (prefix 316) or other approved subject.

Normally students should have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four economics subjects at level-300 and have achieved a grade average of H2B or better in three of the four subjects.

Students are strongly advised to give early consideration to a topic for their fourth year research essay. They should obtain approval for it from an adviser by the start of fourth year.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the head of the Department of Economics.

 14.4.2. Fourth year (honours year)

Students are required to study the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours. Students must undertake the following subjects:

• 316-468 General Equilibrium & Welfare Economics;

• 316-475 Economics Research Essay;

• Three level-400 Economics subjects;

• Two approved level-300 or level-400 subjects taught in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce or an approved outside subject. Students who have not taken International Economics, Macroeconomics and either Basic Econometrics or Econometrics should ensure that they are included in their fourth year.

Note the structure of the honours in economics program will be amended for 2002. Please see the faculty office for more detail of the revised program.

 14.5. Finance

 14.5.1. Third year

To be eligible for admission to honours in finance students must have completed the requirements of the pass degree, must have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four subjects offered within the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and must have achieved an H2B in at least three of the four subjects. These subjects must include:

• 333-301 Investments;

• 333-302 Corporate Finance.

Students must also have passed 316-316 Basic Econometrics or 316-317 Econometrics.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the director of the Centre of Financial Studies. Students should note that a quota will be applied to the number of places available for honours in finance.

 14.5.2. Fourth year (honours year)

Students are required to complete the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) Students must complete the following:

• 333-402 Advanced Finance;

• 333-404 Research Methods in Finance;

• 333-410 Finance Research Essay;

• 25 points of subjects taught by the Centre of Financial Studies;

• 25 points of subjects taught within or outside the Faculty of Economics and Commerce as approved by the director of the Centre of Financial Studies.

Level-300 subjects may not be taken with the exception of 316-350 Time Series Analysis and Forecasting and normally no more than 12.5 points can be taken from level-300 or level-800 subjects.

 14.6. Management

 14.6.1. Third year

To be eligible for honours in management students must have completed the requirements of the pass degree, must have achieved an average grade of H2B in at least four level-300 management subjects and must have achieved an H2B in at least three of the four subjects.

Selection into honours is at the discretion of the head of the Department of Management. Students should note that a quota will be applied to the number of places available for honours in management.

 14.6.2. Fourth year (honours year)

Students are required to study the equivalent of eight subjects (100 points) in fourth year honours year. Students are required to take the following:

• 325-408 Management Research Essay;

• 325-407 Advanced Management Theory.

The remaining five subjects may be selected from the list of level-400 subjects taught by the Department of Management.

Students may also include up to two subjects taught by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce or other faculty as approved by the head of department. No more than two level-300 subjects can be included in the program of study.

If students wish to specialise they will be advised regarding a customised program of study in their particular area of interest.

 14.7. Combined honours programs

Students may undertake a combined honours program across two disciplines within the Faculty. For example honours in economics/finance or accounting/management. The eligibility criteria for entry to a combined honours program and the structure of all combined honours programs are currently under review by the Faculty. Students who are considering undertaking a combined honours program should consult the faculty office for further details.

Status:                   Official 2001
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