Undergraduate majors and electives

Subject areas for majors and electives

Students may select majors in subject areas offered by the Business School, or the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education and Social Work, and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. (Except in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws where students can only complete units from the Business School and the School of Economics and the Sydney Law School). A major in a Business School subject area, usually requires the completion of at least 36 credit points in senior units of study. If students choose to undertake a major in a subject area offered by another faculty, then they must abide by that faculty's requirements as to what constitutes a major. Students should refer to the other faculty's handbook for details of major requirements. Students can also contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in relation to study in other faculties.

Below is a list of undergraduate subject areas for majors, extended majors and electives available to students in undergraduate degrees offered by the Business School and School of Economics. Students may be able to complete majors and electives from other faculties within the University such as the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Education and Social Work, and Science. More information on these majors can be found on the relevant faculty websites or handbooks.

Business School subject areas

* The Quantitative Business Analysis major will replace the Operations Management and Decision Sciences major in 2012. For continuing students the details of the requirements for the Operations Management and Decision Sciences major can be found on the Quantitative Business Analysis major's page.

School of Economics subject areas

These majors are offered through the School of Economics (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences).

Econometrics (from 2012)
Economics

Note. From 2012, Econometrics will be taught by the School of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Professional accreditation

The following sequences are not majors. They illustrate the units required for accreditation (which in many cases may constitute a major).

Other faculty subject areas for majors

The following subject areas are from other faculties (outside of the Business School). These subject areas are either 'Major II' options in the Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) or, in the case of Financial Economics, available to pre-2011 continuing students in the Bachelor of Economics.

Outside of the subject areas specifically identified above, students in Business School degrees may have the option of completing major or electives from the Faculties listed below:

Other faculty subject areas for majors and electives or areas of specialisation

Definitions

What is a major?

A major is usually a three-year defined sequence of study (in some cases, a two-year sequence applies), generally comprising specified units of study in a particular subject area. Majors are included on students' testamurs.

Students select a major from a list of options specified for their degree. The majors that can be completed and the requirements for each may differ for each degree. Students must complete at least one major to qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Commerce. Two majors are required for the award of the Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) degree.

In most cases, a major consists of at least 36 credit points in senior (2000/3000-level) units of study from a single subject area of study. In the majority of subject areas, at least six senior units of study (six credit points each) are required to be completed for a major. Senior units of study can only be used to meet the requirements for one major only. Units cannot be 'double counted' or 'counted twice'. For example, WORK2000 level units listed under the Management major may be counted to either an Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major or a Management major, but cannot be counted towards both. The exact requirements for majors may differ between subject areas.

Most majors require the completion of at least two junior (1000-level) prerequisite units of study (6 credit points each). These junior units may be prerequisites for the major itself and/or for senior units within the major's subject area. Junior units may be used as prerequisites for majors or senior elective units in more than one subject area.

What is an extended major?

An extended major is only available to students who commenced their degree before 2011 in the former Faculty of Economics and Business (now the University of Sydney Business School and School of Economics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). It is an alternative to the major and requires students to undertake additional senior units of study to what they would for a major in the same subject area.

In most cases, an extended major comprises of a minimum of 48 credit points in senior (2000/3000-level) units of study from a single subject area of study (usually eight senior units). In the majority of subject areas, at least eight senior units of study (six credit points each) are required to be completed for an extended major. Senior units of study can only be used to meet the requirements for one extended major only. The exact requirements for extended majors may differ between subject areas.

Most extended majors require the completion of at least two junior (1000-level) prerequisite units of study (6 credit points each). These junior units may be prerequisites for the extended major itself and/or for senior units within the extended major's subject area. Junior units may be used as prerequisites for extended majors or senior elective units in more than one subject area.

Please Note. Extended majors are only available in subject areas of the former Faculty of Economics and Business.

What are electives?

A elective is a unit of study within a degree, usually an option within a course. Electives allow more detailed study of a particular subject. Electives can be selected from the Business School or from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education and Social Work or Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources or from other faculties within the university (with permission from the Business School). (Except in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws where students can only complete units from the Business School, the School of Economics and the Sydney Law School) students can also contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in relation to study in other faculties.

The University of Sydney

The University of Sydney Business School