Description

The 16 unit Master of Commerce is for commencing students from Semester 2, 2013 (July).

Students who commenced study prior to Semester 2, 2013 are enrolled in the 12 unit Master of Commerce program.

The Master of Commerce is a two-year program of full-time study (or four years part-time) designed to enable graduates with a recognised bachelor's qualification in any field (and at a standard acceptable to the Business School) the opportunity to acquire an applied understanding of business concepts and practices, including in-depth knowledge in up to two preferred areas of business practice. While designed specifically for those from a non-business degree background, the program is also open to those with a prior bachelor's qualification or higher in a business-related field. Prior learning in the business field may be recognised by means of waivers and/or a reduction in the volume of learning.

Minimum duration of degree

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Degree structure

To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students must successfully complete a total of 16 units of study (96 credit points), comprising:

• two core units of study (12 credit points)
• two to six foundational units of study (12 to 36 credit points)*
• a specialisation selected from one of the Commerce areas of specialisation
• an optional second specialisation (different to that chosen as a first specialisation); OR elective units of study.^

*Please Note. Students commencing study in this program in 2013 can choose to follow the revised 2014 program structure, completing two to six foundational units of study (12 to 36 credit points).

Depending on prior study and/or industry experience, students may be eligible for a Reduced Volume of Learning from 16 to 12 or even 8 units of study, reducing the duration of the degree by up to 12 months. See below for more details.

Core units of study

Master of Commerce students complete two units of study:

• BUSS5000 Critical Thinking in Business (completed in the first semester of study) #
• BUSS6000 Succeeding in Business (completed in the final semester of study)

Foundational units of study

Master of Commerce students complete two to six foundational units of study. The available foundational units are as follows:

(i) Foundational units from the University of Sydney Business School:

• ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
• BUSS5001 Firms, Markets and Business Management (new unit for 2013)
• CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
• FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
• IBUS5002 Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (new unit for 2013)
• IBUS5003 Global Business (new unit for 2013)
• INFS5001 Project Management
• MKTG5001 Marketing Principles
• QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business
• TPTM5001 Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• WORK5003 Management and Organisations

(ii) Foundational units from the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences):

• ECMT5001 Principles of Econometrics
• ECON5001 Microeconomic Theory

Specialisations and electives

Students complete at least one specialisation as a requirement for the Master's degree. For a specialisation, students complete at least one foundational unit of study (six credit points) and four advanced units of study (24 credit points). The foundational unit for a specialisation is completed within a student's first semester of study. Students select their specialisation and/or electives from the following areas:

(i) Specialisations from the University of Sydney Business School:

• Accounting
• Banking
• Business Information Systems
• Business Law
• Finance
• International Business
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Marketing
• People, Management and Organisations
• Project Management
• Quantitative Business Analysis
• Quantitative Finance
• Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

(ii) Specialisations from the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences):

• Econometrics
• Economics

Reduced Volume of Learning (RVL)

The Business School recognises the importance of prior learning and industry experience. If you hold a prior qualification or have industry experience of at least 3 years in duration, you could be eligible for a Reduced Volume of Learning (RVL) in your Master of Commerce degree.

RVL means that you could save up to a year of full time study, and complete your degree in just 12 months. For more information, please visit the reduced volume of learning information page.

Industry placement

Students who achieve a WAM of 65%+ in a minimum of eight units in the Master of Commerce (48 credit points) may apply for an assessable work integrated learning unit, BUSS6500 Industry Placement (six credit points). Access to this unit will be subject to the availability of suitable placements, with available placements offered on a competitive basis and subject to WAM performance and interview by the Program Director.

Please note: This unit cannot be counted towards a specialisation.

Commerce dissertation

Students in the must achieve a WAM of 80%+ in a minimum of eight units of study (48 credit points) to be eligible to apply to complete a research dissertation of between 15 000 and 20 000 words. The dissertation is equivalent to 4 units of study (24 credit points). Access to the dissertation is subject to the availability of suitable supervisors and subject to WAM performance and interview by the Program Director.

Please note: These units cannot be counted towards a specialisation.

Accreditation program requirements

Australian Computer Society (ACS) accreditation program

Students planning to satisfy the accreditation requirements of the ACS should include in their degree a prescribed set of units of study, including a specialisation in Business Information Systems. The required units of study are listed below:

• The foundation unit of study INFS5001 Project Management from 'Foundational units of study'
• At least five advanced Business Information Systems (INFS 6000-level) elective units of study (30 credit points).

For further information, click on the following link: ACS accreditation.

Professional accreditation in accounting

Students seeking associate membership of CPA Australia or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) should complete the Master of Professional Accounting which is accredited by both CPA Australia and the ICAA. Depending on their choice of units of study, however, students enrolled in the Masters of Commerce program may also be able to cover the core knowledge foundation areas required for associate membership of CPA Australia or the ICAA.

Subject to a successful accreditation of this new program commencing in Semester 2, 2013, choice of the following units of study are suggested to maximise the coverage of the foundation core knowledge areas that are required by the two main professional accounting bodies in Australia:

 # Note: CPA Australia allows graduates the option of completing auditing and taxation units as part of their degree at university,or as electives in their professional level studies within the CPA program.

Note: Students enrolled in the 16 unit Master of Commerce, commencing Semester 2 2013, can complete all the required units of study covering the core knowledge areas to meet the joint accreditation requirements for CPA Australia and the ICAA, depending on the area(s) of specialisation, and electives units of study, they select.

As recent changes have occurred in the foundation core knowledge area requirements of both professional bodies, students should check each of the ICAA and CPA Australia websites for current requirements for associate membership and further professional program requirements to achieve CA or CPA status. In addition, they can seek advice from the CPA/ICAA accreditation liaison officer in the Discipline of Accounting. For further information regarding accreditation with these professional accounting bodies, please refer to the accredited course information on their respective websites:

• CPA Australia
• Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA)

Preparation for Certified Financial Advisor (CFA) Exams

The learning content offered in the Finance specialisation has considerable overlap with Levels I, II and III of the CFA and assists with preparation for the external CFA exams. The following units of study are especially relevant to students wishing to take the CFA exams:

• FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
• FINC6001 Intermediate Corporate Finance
• FINC6009 Portfolio Theory and its Applications
• FINC6010 Derivative Securities
• FINC6014 Fixed Income Securities
• FINC6017 Mergers and Acquisitions
• FINC6021 Corporate Valuation
• FINC6022 Behavioural Finance
• FINC6023 Risk Management

Progression guides

1. The following table shows an example degree progression for a student who wishes to attain one specialisation in the Master of Commerce on a full-time basis undertaking four units of study per semester (commencing Semester 2).

2. The following table shows an example degree progression for a student who wishes to attain two specialisations in the Master of Commerce on a full-time basis undertaking four units of study per semester (commencing Semester 2).

Please Note: The information listed in these programs of study examples is meant as a guide only. Students should always check the requirements for individual units of study. Students are usually able to complete the units of study for their degree in different sequences to those listed above. You are advised to plan their degree based upon your individual needs and to contact the Student Information Office if you need any assistance in planning your progression in your degree.

Degree progression examples - specialisations and specialisation combinations

The following downloadable degree progression examples illustrate all single specialisations and some specialisation combinations which can undertaken in the Master of Commerce. Students should note that many other combinations of specialisations can be completed other than those illustrated in the examples below.

One specialisation

• Specialisation in Accounting
• Specialisation in Banking
• Specialisation in Business Information Systems
• Specialisation in Business Law
• Specialisation in Econometrics
• Specialisation in Economics
• Specialisation in Finance
• Specialisation in International Business
• Specialisation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Specialisation in Marketing
• Specialisation in People, Management and Organisations
• Specialisation in Project Management
• Specialisation in Quantitative Business Analysis
• Specialisation in Quantitative Finance
• Specialisation in Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Two specialisations

• Specialisations in Accounting and Business Law
• Specialisations in Accounting and Finance
• Specialisations in Banking and Finance
• Specialisations in Banking and Quantitative Finance
• Specialisations in Business Law and Business Information Systems
• Specialisations in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and Business Information Systems
• Specialisations in Business Information Systems and Quantitative Business Analysis
• Specialisations in Quantitative Business Analysis and Economics
• Specialisations in Finance and International Business
• Specialisations in International Business and Marketing
• Specialisations in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and Project Management
• Specialisations in Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Marketing
• Specialisations in People, Management & Organisations and Project Management
• Specialisations in Quantitative Finance and Quantitative Business Analysis
• Specialisations in People, Management & Organisations and Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship