Master of Commerce (for Semester 1, 2013) 12 Unit program (MCom)

Description

The 12 unit Master of Commerce is only available for continuing students. Students commencing study from Semester 2, 2013 (July) enrol in the16 unit program.

The Commerce programs draw on the breadth of research and teaching expertise in the University of Sydney Business School to assist students to develop the advanced skills and knowledge required for a high-level position in industry, commerce, and government. These programs offer specialised education in the following areas: accounting, banking, business information systems, business law, economics, econometrics, finance, international business, logistics and supply chain management, people, management and organisations, marketing, quantitative business analysis, quantitative finance, strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship and project management.

Minimum duration of degree

Please Note: Students who commenced their degree prior to 2012 should refer to the course structure, available specialisation subject areas and resolutions in the handbook for the year they commenced. Archived downloadable handbooks can be accessed on the Handbooks website. Students who commenced in 2011 should refer to the information available from the following link: Master of Commerce - degree structure and progression for 2011 continuing students

Information can also be found under the 'Postgraduate coursework programs for continuing students (discontinued programs)' page under FC014 Master of Commerce.

Degree structure

To be awarded the Master of Commerce, students must successfully complete a total of 12 units of study (72 credit points), comprising:

• two core units of study (12 credit points)
• two to five foundational units of study (12 to 30 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 selected from the areas of specialisation.

Please Note: The information set out here is for students commencing their Master of Commerce degree in 2012 and Semester 1, 2013. Continuing students should follow the degree structure outline in the Handbook for the year they commenced their degree

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 five 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
• IBUS5001 Strategy, Innovation and Global Business *
• 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

* IBUS6002 and IBUS6003 units replace IBUS5001 from 2013.

(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 (formerly 'Management and Organisations')
• Project Management
• Quantitative Business Analysis
• Quantitative Finance
• Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (formerly 'Strategy and Innovation')

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

• Econometrics
• Economics

Industry placement

Students who achieve a WAM of 65%+ in a minimum of the eight units in the Master of Commerce (48 credit points) have the possibility of undertaking 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 12 unit (72 credit point) program must achieve a WAM of 80%+ in a minimum of four units of study (24 credit points) to be eligible to apply to complete a research dissertation consisting of three units of study: BUSS6998 Business Research Methods (six credit points), BUSS6999 Business Research Presentation (six credit points), and BUSS7000 Dissertation (12 credit points). Access to these units will be subject to the availability of suitable supervisors and subject to WAM performance and interview by the Program Director.

Please note: This unit 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 and/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 may also be able to cover the core knowledge areas required for associate membership of CPA Australia or the ICAA.

2013 Accreditation requirements

The Masters of Commerce and Masters of Professional Accounting programs are undergoing a five year re-accreditation review by the two major professional accounting bodies (CPA Australia and ICAA) at the end of 2012. As the last enrolment in this 12 unit Master of Commerce program will be semester 1 2013, with a new 16 unit Master of Commerce degree commencing in semester 2 3013, the ICAA has indicated that, subject to a successful re-accreditation of this program at the end of 2012 student enrolling in this 12 unit program in semester 1, 2013 will not be subject to the new expanded 2013 joint accreditation requirements (as a transition arrangement).

As a result, and subject to a successful review, choice of the following units of study are suggested to maximise the coverage of the foundation core knowledge areas required:

* Note: CPA Australia allows graduates to cover auditing and taxation core knowledge areas within the elective component of their professional level CPA Program, if not part of the units of study that they have completed in their university degree.

Choice of units in the accounting major may depend on whether CA accreditation for ICAA or CPA accreditation for CPA Australia is preferred

Students should check each of the ICAA and CPA Australia websites for the accredited units required for the program under the year of their enrolment, (see further information below) . If required, , they can seek advice from the CPA/ICAA accreditation liaison officer in the Discipline of Accounting.

Requirements for accreditation for students who commenced study prior to 2013

Students who commenced study prior to 2013 should follow the accreditation requirements for the year they commenced their study. Pre-2013 students should refer to the accreditation requirements in the handbook of the year they commenced study and the website the professional accounting body (see Further information below) for exact unit requirements.

Further information

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.

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.

Students who intend to meet specific professional body accreditation requirements should check the information listed under the heading Accreditation program requirements as this may impact on the choice of specialisation/s and electives.

Please Note: The information listed in these program 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 be 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.

Entry requirements

For entry into this degree, students must have completed a bachelor's degree, graduate diploma/certificate or equivalent from a recognised tertiary institution with a minimum credit (65 per cent) average.

For details of the English language requirements for entry into this course, please refer to the webpage titled English Language Requirements for International Students under the Admissions information on the University's website.