Bachelor of Commerce in Economics
Business, Commerce and Management Studies - Finance Economics and Accounting
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Overview
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is threefold:
- To promote access to higher education,
- To qualify learners for careers in the business/economics field,
- To provide a platform for further business management or economics studies.
The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree is structured in accordance with the HEQSF guidelines and aims to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, and applied competencies sought in modern businesses to inform and support business sustainability and growth, and to provide strategic direction from an economics perspective. Graduates will also be well-prepared with the insight and skills relevant to further specialized study in support of the principle of life-long learning.
The qualification design presents a combination of skills and competencies aimed at critical learning through exposure to, and application of, business management and economics practices. The design reflects the logical progression of learning by introducing learners to foundational and fundamental aspects in the first year before progressing to higher-order skills of analyzing, interpreting, and applying principles and theories of the focus areas in the second and third years of study.
Graduates will gain a critical understanding of the relationship between the disciplines of business management and economics in the business world. Consequently, graduates will be able to contribute to basic inquiry that informs strategic thinking and business management practices against the backdrop of the South African business and economic environment.
Rationale:
This qualification serves the primary purpose of a Bachelor's Degree by providing a well-rounded, broad education that equips graduates with the knowledge base, theory, and methodology of disciplines and fields of study. It enables them to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in academic or professional contexts. The general Bachelor's Degree emphasizes general principles and theory as preparation for entry into general employment or for postgraduate studies.
The design of this Degree has been influenced by industry requirements for a Degree of this nature. The BCom Degree specializing in Economics is well-regarded, and graduates are consistently in demand in the industry. Graduates will be able to make valuable contributions to the organizations that employ them, particularly in terms of supporting and managing business sustainability, identifying critical success factors and formulating strategies for growth.
The qualification prepares graduates to source, evaluate, and interpret information necessary for sound business decision-making, based on the effects and impact of various economic factors in relevant industries. Graduates will be capable of creatively applying themselves to strategic direction and support to achieve business objectives.
The strategic thinking and planning content, combined with the strong economic focus, enhances the employability prospects of graduates. This qualification will enable learners to apply a well-rounded strategic knowledge base to professional entry practice across a broad range of enterprises, government, and industries.
Career Opportunities:
Career opportunities for graduates of this degree exist in/as:
- General management
- Banking and Insurance
- Business management
- Business consulting
- Financial consulting
- Corporate advising
- Business strategy planning
This qualification adequately prepares graduates to continue their business studies at NQF Level 8. Graduates may pursue an Honours Degree within the field of economics and management sciences at various institutions.
Outcomes
- Communicate information reliably, appropriately and coherently using generally accepted academic and professional business conventions and formats.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and assess the impact of various factors on business continuity and prosperity objectives.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and evaluate business opportunities and propose strategies to leverage growth prospects.
- Demonstrate an ability to take informed ethical business decisions, drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches, within a business environment.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply a range of methods to resolve problems or introduce change within a business environment.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Written and oral language conventions are used effectively in different contexts.
- Adjust conventions to genre and purpose.
- Demonstrate appropriate and correct use of grammar, syntax, and punctuation for professional writing in a business environment.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of financial management and strategy.
- Apply concepts, facts, and theories of financial and business management.
- Establish competitive advantage in South African and International business and economic environments.
- Develop and apply structured processes to support economic and financial well-being.
- Demonstrate understanding of fiscal policy, monetary policy, and South African financial markets and system.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Identify critical business success factors and potential impacts on business success and continuity.
- Evaluate and interpret financial statements for sound decision-making.
- Evaluate financial status and working capital position to support strategic decision-making.
- Identify and evaluate business prospects, opportunities, and propose leveraging strategies.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Evaluate business opportunities and propositions for informed decision-making.
- Demonstrate critical awareness of ethical business conduct and governance.
- Provide ethical business leadership.
- Use business patterns and statistics for good decision-making.
- Function effectively as part of a team.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Contextualize economic, business, and market trends to assess potential impacts.
- Identify and assess business challenges and propose strategy changes to manage risk.
- Source, evaluate, and interpret information for sound decision-making.
- Manage information and knowledge in an organization.
Integrated Assessment:
- Utilize both formative and summative assessment.
- Provide continual formative assessment with feedback on progress.
- Conduct summative assessment to judge learning in relation to Exit Level Outcomes.
- Design integrated assessments to demonstrate achievement of the qualification's purpose.
- Evaluate learner performance for evidence of applied competence.
- Use criterion-referenced assessment that is clearly explained and understood by learners.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 361
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.