Bachelor of Commerce

 

Programme Description

The Bachelor of Commerce (General) was launched in 2018.  The BCom (General) is a 360 SAQA credit and HEQSF level 7-degree qualification with a minimum duration of three (3) years to complete.

The purpose of the BCom (General) is to provide the graduate with a good academic grounding in the core areas of commerce. This programme is suitable for anyone who does not want to be limited to only one focus area of specialization. Students select majors from 6 disciplines, namely, Accounting, Business Management, Commercial Law, Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Industrial Psychology. For instance, a student intending to have a BCom (General) degree with Economics & Business Management emphasis can structure their curriculum in such a way that right from the onset, both economics modules and business management modules are emphasized.

The programme intends to equip students with skills, knowledge and experience needed to pursue a career within the business, government and non-profit sectors. It focuses on the factors that drive economic behaviour at both individual and organisational level and equip students with the analytical, communication and problem-solving skills to effectively identify issues, source information and find efficient and practical solutions. The course is structured to reflect the changing world of commerce and to provide a firm foundation for the world of work, including the necessary skills. At the end of the programme, the graduates will be able to effectively manage resources at their disposal according to contemporary economic, business management and technological trends; carry out research to find solutions to modern problems affecting business development at various scales; appreciate the complex relationship between the national economy and global economic trends; and have acquired knowledge, skills, and attitudes for pursuing further studies in Commerce.
 

Admission Requirements

• National Senior Certificate.
• Admission Points Score (APS) of 30.
• Mathematics: Level 4 (50-59%). Mathematical literacy is not acceptable.
• English (Home or First Additional Language): Level 4 (50-59%).

 

Career Opportunities

A BCom (general) allows you to study the general degree initially before choosing your stream or major. This allows you to know where your strengths are and what stream or major interests you the most. A BCom degree is a great degree that prepares you to work in the public or private sector and equips you to work for a company or as an entrepreneur running your own business. Career opportunities are not limited; you have many opportunities as a BCom (General) graduate.  These career opportunities include inter alia Economic analysts, Management consultants, financial consultants, human resource personnel, Development managers, Project managers, Government jobs, and Entrepreneurs managing their own businesses. Students who complete the BCom (General) can also apply for admission into BCom Honours programs at UMP or other tertiary institutions.

Curriculum and Credits

Study Period	Code	Description	Compulsory Y/N	Pre-requisites	SAQA Credit
Year 1
Semester 1
	ECN101	Microeconomics 101	Y	None	12
	EUC111	End User Computing 111	Y	None	12
	ACC101	Accounting 101	N	None	12
	BMN101	Introduction to Business Management 101	N	None	12
	IPS101	Human Resource Management 101	N	None	12
	CLW101	Commercial Law 101	N	None	12
	ENTR101	Introduction to Entrepreneurship 101	N	None	12
Semester 2
	ECN102	Macroeconomics 102	Y	None	12
	STAT111 SUB: STAT101 BCL102	Introduction to Statistics 111	Y	None	12
	BCM102	Business Communication	Y	None	12
	ACC102	Accounting 102	N	None	12
	BMN102	Introduction to Business Management 102	N	None	12
	IPS102	Organisational Behaviour 102	N	None	12
	CLW102	Commercial Law 102	N	None	12
	ENTR102	Introduction to Entrepreneurship 102	N	None	12
	Module Selection Guidelines ECN101, ECN102, EUC101, STAT111, BCM102 are compulsory subjects. Please select three related pairs from among non-compulsory subjects. E.g., ACC101 and ACC102 make a single related pair. A total of 11 Modules must be completed in the first year
Year 2
Semester 1
	Code	Description	Compulsory Y/N	Pre-requisites	SAQA Credit
	ECN201	Macroeconomics 201	N	ECN101 ECN102	15
	ACC201	Financial Accounting 201	N	ACC101 ACC102	15
	ACC211	Auditing 211	N	ACC101 ACC102	15
	BMN201	Financial Management	N	BMN101 BMN102	15
	ENTR201	Business Planning	N	BMN101 BMN102	15
	IPS211 SUB: IPS2B1	Career Psychology	N	IPS101 IPS102	15
	CLW201 SUB: LLW201	Labour Law	N	CLW101 CLW102	15
Semester 2
	ECN202	Microeconomics 202	N	ECN101	15
	ACC202	Financial Accounting 202	N	ACC101 ACC102	15
	ACC212	Taxation 212	N	ACC101 ACC102	15
	BMN202	Operations Management	N	BMN101 BMN102	15
	ENTR202	New Venture Creation	N	[1]ENTR101 ENTR102	15
	IPS212 SUB: IPS2B2	Employee Relations	N	IPS101 IPS102	15
	CLW202 SUB: COL202	Consumer Law	N	CLW101 CLW102	15
	Module Selection Guidelines: Please select four related pairs of subjects, e.g., ECN201 and ECN202 make a single related pair. Selection of ACC201 and ACC202 goes together with ACC211 and ACC212 if you intend to major in accounting at the third-year level. Select four modules per semester A total of 8 Modules (15 Credits each) must be completed in the second year (120 Credits)
Year 3
Semester 1
	Code	Description	Compulsory Y/N	Pre-requisites	SAQA Credit
	ECN301	Econometrics	N	ECN201 ECN202	20
	ECN311	Development Economics	N	ECN201 ECN202	20
	ECN321	Public Economics	N	ECN201 ECN202	20
	ACC301	Financial Accounting 301	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	ACC311 SUB: AUD301	Auditing 311	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	ACC312 SUB: TAX301	Taxation 312	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	BMN301	Supply Chain & Logistics Management	N	BMN201 BMN202	20
	BMN311 SUB: MKT301	Marketing Management 311	N	BMN201 BMN202	20
	ENTR301	Feasibility Analysis & Business Models	N	ENTR201 ENTR202	20
	ENTR303	Business Innovation	N	ENTR201 ENTR202	20
	IPS301	Training & Development 301	N	IPS211 IPS212	20
	IPS311	Consumer Behaviour	N	IPS211 IPS212	20
	CLW310 SUB: SCC301	Specific commercial contracts	N	CLW201 CLW202	20
	CLW311 SUB: TIL301	International Trade & Investment Law in Africa	N	CLW201 CLW202	20
Semester 2
	ECN302	Labour Economics	N	ECN201 ECN202	20
	ECN322	Monetary Economics	N	ECN201 ECN202	20
	ACC302	Financial Accounting 302	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	ACC321 SUB: AUD302	Auditing 321	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	ACC322 SUB: TAX302	Taxation 322	N	ACC201, ACC202 ACC211, ACC212	20
	BMN302	Strategic Management	N	BMN201 BMN202	20
	BMN322 SUB: MKT302	Marketing Management 322	N	BMN201 BMN202	20
	ENTR302	Small Business Management	N	ENTR201 ENTR202	20
	ENTR304	Entrepreneurship Practical Project	N	ENTR201 ENTR202	20
	IPS302	Advance Training & Development 302	N	IPS211  IPS212	20
	IPS312	Research Methodology	N	IPS211 IPS212	20
	CLW302 SUB: CDR302	Commercial Dispute Resolution	N	CLW201 CLW202	20
	CLW312 SUB: GOV302	Corporate Governance	N	CLW201 CLW202	20
	Module Selection Guidelines: Please select TWO MAJORS from the four chosen at the second-year level. For each selected MAJOR, three modules must be chosen per year. If ECONOMICS is a chosen major, ECN301 is compulsory, but two other Economics modules must be selected. If ACCOUNTING is a chosen major, ACC301 and ACC302 are both compulsories, but one other Accounting-related module must be selected. If INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY is a chosen major, IPS301 and IPS312 are compulsory, but one other Industrial Psychology module must be selected. If BUSINESS MANAGEMENT is a chosen major, select any modules of your choice among BMN301, BMN311, BMN302, and BMN322.  If ENTREPRENEURSHIP is a chosen major, select any three modules of your choice among ENTR301, ENTR303, ENTR302and ENTR304 A total of 6 Modules (20 Credits each) must be completed in 3rd year. (120 Credits)

 

Articulation

The BCom (General) will create opportunities for progression for graduates who intend to further their studies and careers by acquiring further qualifications. Students who complete this qualification can progress to Honours in Business Management, Economics, and Industrial Psychology at the University of Mpumalanga as well as other related Honours programmes in other institutions of their choice.
 

Enquires

Dr. Mazanai Musara
Acting Programme Leader: Bachelor of Commerce (General)  
mazanai.musara@ump.ac.za