• Program summary
• Program overview
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Special features
• Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes
• Enquiries

Program summary

QTAC code: 012011
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-16 / Rank-68
Award abbreviation: BCom(Acc)
Duration: 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type 2009: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Total units: 288
Recommended prior study: English and Maths
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
USC program code: BU356
CRICOS code: 065671A

Program overview

Accountancy has many faces. Today’s accountant is more likely to be business advising and planning than ‘number-crunching’.

As an accountant, you could become part of a team tasked with overseeing the financial viability of a multinational corporation. Or, you could become a business analyst, predicting and explaining business trends.

You could work as a taxation specialist servicing business and private clients, or gain employment in the area of financial investigation and auditing.

Demand for qualified accountants has risen sharply in recent years, with a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations report finding that 72 percent of employers have identified a skills shortage of qualified accountants (Skills in Demand Research Report, November 2006).

The curriculum of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) is designed to meet the needs of corporate Australia by teaching specific skills in accounting, combined with broad knowledge in general business.

You will study financial management, business consulting and financial advising through a major in accounting, and will also have the option to study a second major in a complementary business area.

You can apply to undertake first-year courses in this program at the USC Noosa Centre. Please note that the option to study at Noosa is not available to international students.

Professional recognition

Students and graduates can apply to CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the National Institute of Accountants.

Career opportunities

A diverse range of opportunities can be found in public practice, small and medium-sized business, the corporate and public sectors, or in not-for-profit organisations. Opportunities may include:

• accounting advisory services/systems
• auditing
• business consultancy/development
• financial analysis/planning/control
• insurance analysis
• internal auditing
• insolvency services
• project finance
• stockbroking
• taxation preparation/advisory services
• taxation planning/specialisation

Special features

• high graduate employment rate—more than 90 percent of USC accounting graduates are employed
• full-time within five months of graduating (2007 Australian Graduate Survey)
• academic staff are members of the CPA Local Liaison Committee, and supporting activities and services are available to students

Program structure

Core courses

1 required course:
COR109 Communication and Thought

Business foundation courses

8 required courses:
BUS101 Applied Research Methods
BUS102 Economics for Business
BUS103 Business Law and Ethics
BUS104 Management and Organisational Behaviour
ACC106 Accounting Principles
ACC108 ICT for Financial Professionals
MKG301 Advanced Research Methods (Marketing)
BUS320 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

Accounting major courses

8 required courses:
ACC210 Financial Accounting
ACC211 Business Finance
ACC220 Law of Business Associations
ACC221 Company Accounting
ACC310 Management Accounting
ACC311 Taxation Law and Practice
ACC320 Contemporary Accounting Issues
ACC321 Auditing and Professional Practice

Elective courses

Select 7 advanced courses, which may comprise:

• A second major in 1 of the following areas:
  • Financial Planning
  • Human Resource Management
  • Information Systems
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Tourism, Leisure and Event Management

or

• 1 additional core course, and either:
  • a 4-course minor and electives; or
  • 6 electives which may be chosen from the faculties of Business, Arts and Social Sciences or Science, Health and Education

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider

Program requirements and notes

1. All students must complete a minimum of 24 courses including core courses, in the Bachelor of Business.
2. To meet CPA Australia requirements all students who wish to be recognised by the professional body must complete COR109 Communication and Thought.
3. Refer to the Academic Rules.
4. Refer to explanation of terms.
5. Refer to recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
6. International students need to refer to the English language requirements.
7. Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
8. Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including, for example, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations.

Enquiries

Faculty of Business
Tel: +61 7 5430 1221
Email: businessfaculty@usc.edu.au

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