Rhodes University Commerce Courses Offered
The structure of a Commerce degree
Given below are examples of standard curricula. It should be noted that subject choices may be limited by the lecture timetable. Courses may however be taken in different year order to those set out below in order to avoid timetable clashes where they occur.
1. BACHELOR OF BUSINESS SCIENCE
The degree of Bachelor of Business Science is a four year career-focused degree premised on the application of quantitative methods. The curriculum for this degree aims to provide a thorough grounding in the principles of the candidate’s chosen field of expertise to the postgraduate level, supported by ancillary subjects which will equip candidates for the professional and managerial requirements of their chosen field at the highest level.
Five specialised curricula are offered are: Economics, Information Systems, Management, Quantitative Management, and Computer Science.
Entry into the second and fourth years of study for the degree is by permission of the Faculty Board.
The curriculum for the degree consists of compulsory courses in Accounting, Commercial Law, Communication, Computing, Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics, together with courses in subjects comprising fields in which the student has a special interest. In-depth specialisation takes place in the fourth academic year during which the student will generally be taking honours courses. The degree can be taken with specialisation in any one of the following fields, or jointly in two of these fields:
Economics Computer Science Quantitative Management
Information Systems Management
An example of a curriculum in each of these fields of specialisation is given below. Note that other subject combinations are possible.
Curriculum 1: (Economics)
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year |
| Computer Science 112
Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1C Statistics 1D Accounting 1
|
Economics 2
Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 orMathematical Statistics 2 Professional Communication |
Economics 3 and 3 B
Management 3 |
Economics Honours with an optional paper in Strategic Management.
|
Curriculum 2 (Information Systems)
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year |
| Accounting 1
Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1C Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Information Systems 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 orMathematical Statistics 2
|
Economics 3
Information Systems 3 Professional Communication
|
Information Systems Honours or Joint Honours with an optional paper in Strategic Management. |
Curriculum 3 (Management)
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year |
| Accounting 1
Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1C Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Information Systems 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 orMathematical Statistics 2 |
Information Systems 3
Management 3 Professional Communication
|
Management Honours or Joint Honours (including Strategic Management 4 paper). |
Curriculum 4 (Quantitative Management)
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year |
| Accounting 1
Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1C Statistics 1D |
Commercial Law 1
Economics 2 Management 2 Mathematical Statistics 2 Information Systems 2 |
Mathematical Statistics 3
Management 3 Professional Communication
|
Mathematical Statistics Honours or Joint Honours with an optional paper in Strategic Management. |
Curriculum 5 (Computer Science)
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year |
| Accounting 1
Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1C
|
Computer Science 2
Commercial Law 1 Economics 2 Management 2 Mathematics 2 orMathematical Statistics 2 Statistics 1D |
Computer Science 3
Management 3 Professional Communication
|
Computer Science Honours or Joint Honours with an optional paper in Strategic Management. |
2. BACHELOR OF COMMERCE
This is a three-year degree aimed at providing the graduate with a good academic grounding in the major subject areas of Commerce. The curricula provide for specialisation up to third year level in two or more of any of the following fields: Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, Law, Management, Science, Social Science and Statistics, in any of four curricula as follows:
The General Curriculum allows for a wide combination of subjects in second and third year including at least two major subjects. Provided the appropriate combination of courses is chosen, the curriculum enables students to qualify as members of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators with the minimum of additional examinations. Further particulars are available from the Student Adviser. Extensive exemption is also available from the examinations for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
The Accounting Curriculum is intended for students wishing to enter the accounting profession or to take the BCom degree with an accounting emphasis. If this curriculum is followed, the Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy (PGDip(Accounting)) can be completed in one further year of study after credit is also obtained for Auditing 1, Management Accounting and Finance 1, and Taxation 1. Students who obtain a BCom degree with this curriculum will qualify for exemption from the entire Foundation Stage of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) examinations together with papers 5 and 8 in the Certificate stage. Extensive exemption is also available from the examinations for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Further particulars may be obtained from the Head of the Department of Accounting.
The Law Curriculum is intended for students wishing to enter the legal profession, or to take a BCom degree with a legal emphasis. Following this curriculum, a candidate can obtain enough exemptions from the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree subjects to complete the LLB requirements in two further years of study.
The Inter-Faculty Curriculum enables students to include a major subject in the Social Sciences in their BCom degree, and, depending on the subjects chosen, is suitable for candidates interested in personnel management or industrial relations. This curriculum also enables students to include a Science major or any Humanities major in their degree.
Curriculum 1: (General)
This curriculum is designed for those who wish to specialise in one or more of the following fields: Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, Management or Statistics.
Various combinations of subjects are possible, and it must be stressed that the following is just one example of a number of general curricula that can be followed:
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Accounting 1
Commercial Law 1 Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Theory of Finance and Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Two of: Accounting 2 Management 2 Information Systems 2 One further approved course from list eg. Psychology 1 Professional Communication |
Two of:
Management 3 Economics 3 Information Systems 3 Accounting 3 |
* Computer Science 101 is a pre-requisite for Information Systems 2
Curriculum 2: (Accounting)
Students who wish to enter the Accountancy profession are advised to follow this curriculum, which will enable them to register for the DipAcc(PG) in their fourth year of study and also entitle them to be registered with the Institute of Accounting Technicians. They are also exempted from the Foundation stage and two papers in the Certificate stage of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) examinations. Entry into the DipAcc (PG) is subject to the approval of the Faculty Board which only admits candidates with a good academic record. Accounting Honours is also an option for selected students.
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Accounting 1
Commercial Law 1 Computer Science 112 Economics 1 Management 1 Theory of Finance and Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Accounting 2 Information Systems 2 (Accounting) Introduction to Professional Accounting Introduction to Taxation Professional Communication for Accountants
|
Accounting 3
Auditing 1 Management Accounting and Finance 1 Tax 1
|
Curriculum 3 (Law)
This curriculum is designed to enable students to complete the LLB degree in two further years of study. A number of different subject combinations are possible, the following being one example:
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Accounting 1
Economics 1 Legal Theory 1 Management 1 Theory of Finance and Statistics 1D ora modern language |
Economics 2
Management 2 Legal Theory 2 English 1 Professional Communication |
Economics 3
Legal Theory 3 |
Curriculum 4: (Inter-faculty)
This curriculum is designed for students who wish to combine a study of commerce subjects with subjects in Science, Social Science or Humanities. A number of different subject combinations are possible, the following being one example:
| First year | Second year | Third year |
| Accounting 1
Economics 1 Management 1 Psychology 1 Commercial Law 1 or [Theory of Finance + Staistics 1D] orMathematics 1C |
Economics 2
Organisational Psychology 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 (if not taken in 1st year or any other course) Professional Communication
|
Organisational Psychology 3 Management 3 |
Bachelor of Economics (BEco)
This is a three-year degree which is designed for students who wish to include the maximum number of Economics courses and related subjects in their curriculum. The BEcon degree offers a suitable preparation for candidates interested in economic forecasting and analysis and economic planning, in both the public and private sectors. The following specialized curricula are offered:
The Bachelor of Economics (Environmental Science) is intended for students wishing to pursue careers in the economic aspects of environmental studies. The curriculum is designed to train students in the application of economic principles to environmental studies, and combines courses from the Faculties of Science and Commerce.
The Bachelor of Economics (Mineral Economics) is intended for students who wish to become economists with a geological background. The curriculum is designed to apply economic principles to the exploitation of mineral resources, and combines courses from the Faculties of Science and Commerce. Because of timetable constraints this degree cannot be completed in the minimum period of three years.
Commerce Extended Studies Programme
This programme is intended to supplement the instruction of major subjects within the Commerce Faculty. Students enrolled in the Commerce Extended Studies Programme receive additional literacy and numerical instruction via extended, augmented or developmental courses. Successful completion of the programme is recognized with the awarding of a certificate. Students, after successfully completing the two years of the programme, are awarded with 165 SAQA credits and may proceed to the regular degree streams – BCom, BEco – offered by the Faculty.
