Rhodes University Commerce Degree Structure
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 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 101
Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1 Statistics 1D Accounting 1
|
Economics 2
Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 or Mathematical Statistics 2
|
Economics 3 and 3 B
Management 3 Professional Communication
|
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 101 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1 Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Information Systems 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 or Mathematical 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 101 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1 Statistics 1D |
Economics 2
Information Systems 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Mathematics 2 or Mathematical 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 101 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1 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 101 Economics 1 Management 1 Mathematics 1 Statistics 1D |
Computer Science 2
Commercial Law 1 Economics 2 Management 2 Mathematics 2 or Mathematical Statistics 2 |
Computer Science 3
Management 3 Professional Communication
|
Computer Science Honours or Joint Honours with an optional paper in Strategic Management. |
2. BACHELOR OF COMMERCE
The curricula generally require candidates to specialise up to third year level in two chosen fields.
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 101* Economics 1 Management 1 Theory of Finance and Statistics |
Economics 2
Two of: Accounting 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 2 Information Systems 2 One further approved course from list eg. Psychology 1 Professional Communication |
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 101 Economics 1 Management 1 Theory of Finance and Statistics |
Economics 2
Accounting 2 Commercial Law 2 Professional Communication
|
Accounting 3
Auditing 1 Management Accounting and Finance 1 Tax 1 Ethics |
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 |
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 |
Economics 2
Organisational Psychology 2 Management 2 Commercial Law 1 Professional Communication
|
Organisational Psychology 3 Management 3 |