Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

Accounting
Accounting is the basic language of business. The accounting
subjects offered by the School of Commerce cover the many
different aspects that accounting embraces in today's
business activities.
Stage one is designed to give students an overview of
accounting from a user's point of view and to introduce the
basic principles and concepts underlying the accounting
discipline. Emphasis is placed on accounting as an
information system and a commercial computerised software
package is in;orporated into the program.
Stage two subjects cover the external accounting financial
statement requirements of business entities and the internal
management acounting systems developed by business
entities to enable them to better manage their activities.
Stage three students are able to study subjects in taxation,
auditing, finance, accounting theory, management
accounting and financial accounting.
All subjects are designed to integrate the theoretical
concepts with the practical reality of today's business
environment. Students with an accounting major and other
appropriate subjects are eligible for membership of the two
major professional accounting bodies - the Australian
Society of Certified Practising Accountants and the Institute
of Chartered Accountants. Past students have found their
accounting qualifications are recognised both here and
overseas.
Many accounting graduates do not pursue careers in the
oublic accountina ~rofession. They find their niche in
organisations within industry, commerce, the public sector,
the finance sector and in business consulting. These careers
may well be in accounting or financial specialisations but
many find careers in general management or other functional
specialisations.
Business Law
The busmess law major will provide students with the
knowledge necessary to appreciate the impact law has on
the business environment. With the increasing legal
regulation of society it is essential that students are aware of
the factors which either encourage or inhibit business
activities.
The core subject, Legal Environment of Business, introduces
students to basic legal concepts and important areas of
business law. The subject concentrates on the interrelat~onship
of law, business and society. A wide range of
electives deal with various aspects of business law including:
contract; company; marketing; employment; international
trade; retailing; finance and computing law.
Law subjects emphasise skills such as the ability to
understand arguments, to manipulate abstract concepts and
to comrnunlcate verbally and in writing. These skills highlight
the vocational value of law subjects to students.
Whilst not leading to a legal qualification, a business law
major can lead to a range of careers and positions in
insurance, banking, finance and the public sector. Legal
knowledge would be valuable to a property officer,
accountant, trust officerladministrator, company legal officer,
company secretary or local government administrator.
Business Modelling
The business modelling major will provide a comprehensive
set of skills necessary for the successful analysis of everyday
business problems and which assist in the task of decision
making.
A business modelling major or minor will provide students
with valuable tools and skills that will complement majors or
minors undertaken in other disciplines.
The applied approach to business modelling and data analysls
adopted within the discipline is designed to meet the needs
of both industry and the business community.
Stage one provides students with an introduction to basic
business modelling and data analysis tools required to
support subsequent studies, both within business modelling
and other disciplines.
Stage two introduces a variety of analytical tools and
provides the additional skills that can be applied directly to
everyday problems in the business world; resource allocation
(fundamental to the world of commerce); business
forecasting (essential for business survival); managing
inventory; basic decision making and planning for changes in
Australia's population attributes (necessary to understand
changing business markets).
Stage three provides students with additional tools that are
necessary to enable an analysis of a number of real-world
business modelling problems. This stage is also designed to
strengthen and focus the skills already obtained, enhancing
the value of possessing these skills to the business
community.
In today's business world, very little can be achieved without
the application of business modelling practices and
techniques. Students completing a major or minor sequence
of study in business modelling will also inherit valuable multidisciplinary
skills that are extremely marketable within the
business community.
Computing
In today's world, information technology has pervaded every
aspect of business organisations. As such, the study of
computing and information systems is vital for any business
student.
There are a number of discipline areas within computing and
the student can select options based on interest or career
aspirations. These options can be categorised under three
main headings:
Business computing
This would be taken by students who see themselves as users
of information systems rather than computer professionals.
The emphasis is on the effective use of information
technology within an organisation and the development of
skills for solving business problems.
Business systems
This would be taken by students who wish to focus on the
anlaysis of business information needs as a basis for
specification of computer based information systems rather
than the technical aspects of design and development.
Software development
Students taking this area will use a wide range of computer
software. They will be seeking to specialise in the design,
development and implementation of computer based systems
in the business environment.