Bachelor of Commerce

(Minimum 3 years, 360 credits)

Aim

This qualification equips students to be ethically effective in business and the new world of work with specific skills in human capital management, marketing, operations management, and economics.

Time commitment

Two intakes: January and July
Full or part-time
Minimum 3 years, maximum 6 years.

Mode of Delivery

Distance

Accreditation

Registered as Cornerstone Institute with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997. Registration Certificate 2001/HE08/006, SAQA ID 99752.

Programme Outcomes

Students need to choose two majors from the options

Students completing the Marketing major will be able to :

  • Describe the role and importance of marketing in relation to other key functions within a business and the process to positive customer value and competitive advantage
  • Apply the fundamental principles and concepts of marketing with an emphasis on areas such as strategic branding, customer experience, digital marketing and marketing research
  • Define marketing problems and use research analytics to structurally execute, analyse and derive meaningful information from marketing research
  • Apply appropriate methods and tools to formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate marketing strategies in diverse organisational and market situations.
  • Develop strategic branding and creative marketing campaigns using digital communication technologies and other tools
  • Integrate the cultural, social, legal and ethical considerations into marketing strategies in developing responsible and customer-centric organisations

Students completing the Human Capital Management major will be able to:

  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, theories, models and research techniques in human capital management
  • Clarify the major drivers of change in the workplace and how to manage and support employees through structured change processes
  • Establish the foundations of teamwork in the physical and digital environments and how to build and optimise team collaboration
  • Manage human capital and understand the strategic decisions required to ensure that there is optimal management of a business’s human capital
  • Establish the core elements of building and managing a talent pipeline and measuring and managing employee performance
  • Demonstrate strategies to maintain and strengthen employee training and development and workplace diversity
  • Manage employee and labour relations as an integral part of everyday business management with specific reference to the South African context

Students completing the Economics major will be able to:

  • Describe the basic concepts of macroeconomics and microeconomic theory.
  • Explain how economic problems are solved to ensure economic growth. 
  • Analyse and interpret the concepts and modern theories about supply, demand and price determination.
  • Critically analyse and interpret macro-economic events and policy issues
  • Demonstrate ability to apply concepts to international and financial markets.
  • Identify the common barriers in the process of economic development and know how to overcome these challenges in the South African context.

Students completing the Operations Management major will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an effective understanding of the strategic role of operations and supply chains in creating customer value, driving performance and achieving competitive advantages for organisations
  • Apply fundamental concepts and principles in key functional areas such as planning, procurement, manufacturing, logistics and supply chain financials, as well as risk management and governance
  • Critically analyse and interpret the challenges in value chain alignment, strategic fit, integrated planning and digital transformation, and be able to problem-solve in overcoming these challenges
  • Understand the role of customer and supplier relationship management in collaboration, coordination and integration of supply chain processes
  • Design, model and optimise value chain networks while recognising the critical importance of green logistics, globalisation and strategic alliances
  • Apply various continuous improvement methodologies in operations to achieve world-class performance

Admission requirements

  • National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a bachelor’s pass or equivalent
  • A Matriculation Certificate (with university exemption) or equivalent.
  • A Higher Certificate or an Advanced Certificate or Diploma in a cognate field
  • National Benchmark Test (NBT) results
  • The prior qualification must include a minimum of 50% in Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy.
  • A National Senior Certificate or National Certificate Vocational with a diploma pass (or equivalent) combined with the results of the NBT.
  • Mature age of 23 and over during the first year of studies and a National Senior Certificate (or equivalent). The conditions of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy for Access and the results of the NBT are determining factors for admission. Contact the admissions office regarding RPL.
  • Mature age of 45 years can be admitted, determined by the RPL conditions and the results of the NBT.

Applicants in the first category under Alternative Admission Requirements must register for the Extended Programme for Academic Development. The Programme extends the completion of the prescribed subjects over a minimum of 4 years.

Students who are admitted based on prior learning and who want to complete the degree in three years, but who fail more than 20% of modules taken during the first semester, are required to take the first year over two years.

The Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree aims to provide a modern, globally relevant educational foundation to students in the field of commerce, including various key discipline areas such as business management, economics, operations, marketing, human capital management, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, ethics, and 21st century skills. The qualification has been designed to provide the knowledge base, practical competence, and application skills that will enable students to successfully enter and progress in the new world of work or to start their own business ventures.

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (360 CREDITS)

Basic Level

(First Year) 

  • Core: Academic Reading and Writing (Semester 1) 
  • Core: Information Technology Skills (Semester 1) 
  • Financial Accounting (Semester 1) 
  • Business Management (Semester 1)
  • Human Capital Management (Semester 1)
  • Business Communication (Semester 1)
  • Core: Ethics and Global Citizenship (Semester 2) 
  • Economics (Semester 2) 
  • Marketing (Semester 2)
  • Business  Analytics (Semester 2) 
  • Entrepreneurship (Semester 2) 

Intermediate Level

(Second Year)

  • Financial Accounting (Semester 1) 
  • Ethical Self Leadership (Semester 1) 
  • Customer Experience (Semester 1) 
  • Managing Constant Change (Semester 1) 
  • Microeconomics (Semester 1) 
  • Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing (Semester 1) 
  • Strategic Management and Innovation in the New World of Work (Semester 2) 
  • Project Management (Semester 2) 
  • Digital Marketing and Sales (Semester 2) 
  • Strategic Branding and Integrated Communications (Semester 2) 
  • Talent, Diversity and Development (Semester 2) 
  • Macroeconomics (Semester 2) 
  • Aligning Supply Chains (Semester 2) 

Advanced Level

(Third Year)

  • Market Research and Analytics (Semester 1)
  • Employment Relations (Semester 1) 
  • Teamwork in a Digital Era (Semester 1)
  • International Economics and World Trade (Semester 1) 
  • Strategic Value Chain Management (Semester 1) 
  • Marketing Work-integrated Project (Semester 1 & 2) 
  • Human Capital Work-integrated Project (Semester 1 & 2)
  • Economics Work-integrated Project (Semester 1 & 2)
  • Operations  Work-integrated Project (Semester 1 & 2)
  • Responsible, Customer Centric Organisations (Semester 2) 
  • Strategic Human Capital Management (Semester 2) 
  • Development Economics (Semester 2) 
  • Lean, Sustainable Continuous Improvement (Semester 2) 

Module descriptions and credits

For a description of each module, see ‘Module descriptions’ herewith above. Otherwise, get in touch with us via helpdesk for further inquiries.

Cornerstone Institute
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