University of Sydney Handbooks - 2019 Archive

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Commerce degree only electives

The units of study listed in the following table are those available for the current year. Students may also include any units of study, which are additional to those currently listed, which appear under these subject areas in the Business School handbook/website in subsequent years (subject to any prerequisite or prohibition rules).

Timetabling information for the current year is available on this website: Timetables.

Table A - The University of Sydney Business School

Commerce degree only electives

1000-level units of study

BUSS1321 Business Practicum

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 1 x 2 hours weekly tutorials Prerequisites: Completion of at least 24 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) Assumed knowledge: A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills. Assessment: interview reflection (35%); field-based final report (45%); individual peer evaluation for group work (20%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
This unit allows students to reflect on the link between what they have learnt on business subjects in theory and its application in an actual firm/business that they have visited. Thus, students are provided with an opportunity to interface directly with industry. Students integrate their classroom knowledge with the current and future business activities of Australian businesses. They are expected to determine the current and future opportunities and threats the business is facing now and may be facing in the future, given the strength and weaknesses of the business. Students reflect on what they have learnt in their degree, and how their theoretical knowledge may apply to practicality in businesses across a variety of sectors. Additionally, they are expected to reflect on how they have developed as an individual/student across their studies would lead them to make a unique contribution to the business and society.
BUSS1331 Future of Business (China Study Tour)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive July Classes: week 1 1x4hr preparation workshop; weeks 2-5 9am-5pm in-country full time program; week 6 1x4hr re-entry workshop Prerequisites: Completion of at least 24 credit points (inlcuding BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) Prohibitions: BUSS2330 Assumed knowledge: A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills Assessment: learning proposal and professional goals (15%); critical reflective (15%); reflective report (45%); presentation (25%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
This unit is a short-term study tour that occurs in China to introduce students to the future of business in China. The unit is offered in partnership with the Sydney Suzhou Centre and it takes place in Suzhou. This unit includes a pre-departure workshop, which will focus on employability, cultural awareness and professional identity as well as a re-entry workshop upon completion of a business tour in China.
he in-country itinerary will include cultural and industry visits to Shanghai and Nanjing, daily language and Chinese culture classes will form part of the schedule as well as networking and mentoring opportunities with a number of local and global business executives.
The program has been designed to introduce students to the future of business in China and is an introductory overseas experience for students who are interested in doing business in China.
BUSS1343 Future of Business (India Study Tour)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive January Classes: 1 x 5 hours preparation workshop; min 210 hours (internship); 1 x 2 hours debrief workshop Prerequisites: Competion of at least 24 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) Prohibitions: BUSS2503 Assessment: learning proposal for in-country experience (10%); in-country reflection (1) (15%); in-country reflection (2) (15%); presentation (25%); critical reflective report (35%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
This unit is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in social business while conducting a community-based project/placement. During the community project/placement, students may be involved in a variety of projects, which afford the opportunity to apply business skills and theories from prior learning. This provides first-hand experience that demonstrates how these skills and theories can support solving business problems in a practical business and community-engaged context, identifying opportunities, developing strategies and designing processes, procedures and management practices in order to enable a community project to fully realise its mission. Assessed tasks are designed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise social business concepts while engaging in practical business development.

2000-level units of study

BUSS2100 Business Placement A (Internship)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive March,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum credit average (65%) Assessment: performance objectives (0%); reflective journal entry x 1 (15%); reflective journal entry x 2 (25%); reflective report (60%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
This unit is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in business while conducting an industry placement. The unit is structured around three assessed tasks which are designed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise business concepts in a practical business setting. During the placement, students may be involved in a variety of different industry and client-based projects, which will afford the opportunity to apply business skills and theories from prior learning. This will provide firsthand experience of how these skills and theories can support the solving of business problems in a practical business context, identifying opportunities, developing strategies and designing processes, procedures and management practices in order to enable an organisation to fully realise its competitive potential. Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program
BUSS2200 Industry Self-Sourced Placement

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive July,Intensive March,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum 60% average across all units. Assessment: performance objectives (0%); mid-way critical reflection on employability skill development (1) (20%); mid-way critical reflection on employability skill development (2) (20%); critical reflective report (60%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
This unit is designed to further consolidate students' knowledge and skills in business while conducting an industry placement that has been self-sourced. The unit is structured around assessed tasks which are designed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise business concepts in a practical business setting. During the self-sourced placement students may be involved in a variety of different industry and client-based projects, which afford the opportunity to apply business skills and theories from prior learning. This provides firsthand experience of how these skills and theories support the solving of business problems in a practical business context, identifying opportunities, developing strategies and designing processes, procedures and management practices in order to enable an organisation to fully realise its competitive potential. Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program
BUSS2300 Special Topics in Business

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive April,Intensive August,Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive January,Intensive July,Intensive June,Intensive March,Intensive May,Intensive November,Intensive October,Intensive September,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: dependent on topic. Assessment: tbc - dependent on special topic unit Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Topics will vary from semester to semester according to staff availability and the presence of visitors.
BUSS2310 Business Competition

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive April,Intensive August,Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive January,Intensive July,Intensive June,Intensive March,Intensive May,Intensive November,Intensive October,Intensive September,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: TBC - dependent on competition Assessment: TBC - dependent on competition Mode of delivery: Professional practice
In this unit students confront a real-world challenge facing a particular industry, sector or organisation. This problem is pre-defined based on the competition at hand. Through this unit, students are required to exercise business knowledge and critical thinking and demonstrate outstanding oral and written communication. Success in this unit reflects students' ability to thrive in intense but ambiguous work environments and identify novel solutions that reflect their overall business acumen.
BUSS2320 Business Project

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive April,Intensive August,Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive January,Intensive July,Intensive June,Intensive March,Intensive May,Intensive November,Intensive October,Intensive September,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: TBC - dependent on project Assessment: TBC - dependent on project Mode of delivery: Professional practice
In this unit, students work with business data and relevant stakeholders to provide a business solution to a strategy challenge facing an organisation. Students are given some guidance in relation to the problem set and are expected to demonstrate initiative in appraising the stakeholder landscape, conducting independent strategy analysis, and delivering a commercially relevant and implementable solution. Success in this unit reflects students' ability to work in ambiguous environments, outstanding oral and written communication, and practical application of business knowledge to develop real world solutions.
BUSS2330 International Immersion in Business

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive July,Intensive March Classes: Classes will vary by country and itinerary but will generally include pre-departure classes, in-country classes as well as field visits. Assessment: performance objectives (0%); reflective journal entry (20%); presentation (30%); reflective report (50%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
In this unit, students work with business data and stakeholders in an international context. Students are expected to provide a business solution to a strategy challenge facing the organisation, which is sensitive to the organisation's national and international market context. Students are expected to demonstrate an awareness of the stakeholder landscape, independent analysis and critical thinking, and solutions that are commercially and practically relevant to the organisation. Success in this unit reflects students' ability to work across multiple international contexts and cultures, outstanding oral and written communication, and knowledge of an international business context
BUSS2340 Global Immersion

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive December,Intensive July,Intensive March Classes: Classes will vary by country and itinerary but will generally include pre-departure classes, in-country classes as well as field visits. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) Assumed knowledge: A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills. A flexible adaptability to international environments. Assessment: reflective assignment (20%), group presentation (20%), project (60%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Available to Business students only
This unit is an immersion program that allows students to work on real-world issues faced by organisations, governments and markets. Students apply their business knowledge to understand, recommend and reflect on issues and challenges cognisant of the global dynamics within which they work. Students are expected to apply their cultural competence, research and collaborative skills as well as their critical thinking in completing projects of strategic, social or operational importance to industries, or various types of organisations.
BUSS2341 Global Internship Program

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive March Classes: classes will vary by country and itinerary but will generally include pre-departure classes, in-country classes as well as field visits. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001). Assumed knowledge: A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills. A flexible adaptability to international environments. Assessment: reflective proposal (25%); presentation (25%), critical reflective report (50%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Available to Business students only.
This unit is a study tour with course work and a placement component that allows students to explore theory and work for Southeast Asian business communities and on real world issues faced by organisations, governments and markets. Students apply their business knowledge to understand, recommend and reflect on issues and challenges for the ASEAN community before completing a 4 week full time internship in Jakarta.
BUSS2342 Future of Business (US Study Tour)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive July Classes: Classes will vary by country and itinerary but will generally include pre-departure classes, in-country classes as well as field visits. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001). Assumed knowledge: A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills. A flexible adaptability to international environments. Assessment: A Linindin profile (pre-departure)(25%); reflective critical report (in-contry)(25%); group presentation (re-entry)(50%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
This unit is a study tour where students develop a start up idea that has been developed prior to the in-country experience. Students work on real world problems faced by organisations, governments and markets in the US. Students apply their business knowledge to understand, recommend and reflect on issues and challenges cognisant of the US business culture. Students are expected to apply their cultural competence, research and collaborative skills as well as their critical thinking in completing projects of strategic importance to the start up design project that they have chosen.
BUSS2344 Future of Business (Philippines Study Tour)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive January Classes: 1 x 5 hours preparation workshop; min 210 work hours (internship); 1 x 2 hours debrief workshop Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) Assessment: learning proposal prior to in-country experience (25%); in-country presentation with individual reflection (30%); post- in-country critical reflective report (45%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program. Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au
This unit is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in social enterprise and start-up businesses while conducting a community-based project/internship. The unit allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise social business concepts while engaged in practical business development. Students may be involved in a variety of projects, which afford the opportunity to apply business skills, non-technical skills and theories with practice.
BUSS2501 US Placement Program

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum credit average (65%) Assessment: performance objectives (0%); 2 x reflective learning entries (20%); oral video presentation (30%); report (50%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
This unit will allow students to undertake a professional placement with a business, government, non-government or media organisation in the US. It will include preparatory coursework in reflective, professional practice and concurrent coursework on projects with research, report and other professional writing skills. Assessment will include reflective practice, and a video oral presentation all based on the placement and study abroad experience. Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program
BUSS2502 Europe Industry Placement

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive July Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum credit average (65%) Assessment: performance objectives (0%); online discussion post entries x 2 (20%); presentation (30%); reflective report (50%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
This unit is taken by students accepted into the Europe Industry Placement Program while they undertake a professional placement with a business, government or non-government organisation (in Europe) that has a particular focus on business interests. It includes preparatory coursework in reflective, professional practice and concurrent coursework on research methods, report and other professional writing skills. Further information and application process is outlined at: http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program
BUSS2504 China Placement Program

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive March Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum credit average (65%) Assessment: performance objectives (0%), report (70%), presentation (30%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
This unit is taken by students accepted into the China Placement Program while they undertake a professional placement with a business or government organisation in China. It includes preparatory coursework in reflective, professional practice and concurrent coursework on report and other professional writing skills. Assessment will include a reflective journal, research essay, and oral presentations all based on the placement and study abroad experience. Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program.
QBUS2830 Actuarial Data Analytics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x 2hr lecture per week and 1x 1hr tutorial per week Prerequisites: QBUS2810 or DATA2002 or ECMT2110 Assumed knowledge: BUSS1020 or ECMT1010 or ENVX1001 or ENVX1002 or ((MATH1005 or MATH1015) and MATH1115) or 6 credit points in MATH 1000-level units including MATH1905. Assessment: assignments (30%), mid-semester exam (20%), final exam (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The unit covers a range of statistical models and methods for analysing quantitative actuarial data in general insurance. Both maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation methods are adopted for statistical inferences with the use of modern software tools such as the R and OpenBUGS packages. Topics covered include probability distributions for actuarial modelling, claim size modelling, claim frequency modelling, loss reserve forecasting, pure premium calculation, premium rates reviewing and revising (credibility theory), linear and generalised linear models, Poisson process and Markov process in actuarial modelling. Upon the completion of this unit and other relevant business analytics units, students may undertake professional examinations for actuaries or may get exemptions in some professional examination papers.

3000-level units of study

BUSS3100 Business Placement C (Internship)

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive January,Intensive July,Intensive March,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 9 hours of pre-placement workshops; 210 hours internship; 2 hour debrief workshop. Prerequisites: Completion of at least 48 credit points (including BUSS1000 or BUSS1001) with a minimum credit average (65%) Assessment: learning contract (0%), work learning journal (25%), placement presentation (15%), research report (60%) Mode of delivery: Professional practice
Note: Permission is required to enrol in this unit. Contact the Careers and Employability Office for details: business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
This unit is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in business while conducting an internship in industry. The unit is structured around three assessed tasks which are designed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise business concepts in a real world setting. During the internship, students may be involved in a variety of different industry and client-based projects, which will afford the opportunity to apply business skills and theories from prior learning. This will provide firsthand experience of how these skills and theories can support the solving of business problems in a real business context, identifying opportunities, developing strategies and designing processes, procedures and management practices in order to enable an organisation to fully realise its competitive potential. Further information and application process is outlined at http://sydney.edu.au/business/study/opportunities/industry_placement_program
BUSS3110 Industry and Community Project

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive December,Intensive February,Intensive January,Intensive July,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: blended learning, (online material, seminar and group work) Assumed knowledge: Upper level disciplinary knowledge; required knowledge will vary by project Assessment: group plan (10%), group presentation (20%), individual reflection (20%), group report (50%) Mode of delivery: Block mode, Professional practice
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
The aim of this unit is to allow undergraduate students to participate in an interdisciplinary group project, working with one of the University's industry and community partners. Students will work in teams on a real-world problem provided by the partner, applying their disciplinary expertise and gaining valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries.
In working on authentic problems, students will encounter richly contextualized issues, that will require input from people with a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and experiences. Developing solutions to complex problems requires students to work effectively in interdisciplinary groups.
The unit will provide the opportunity for students to integrate their developing knowledge and experience, and apply them in circumstances of the kind they can expect to encounter in professional life. Interdisciplinary group work will provide the opportunity to build the skills to work across disciplinary, cultural and/or professional boundaries.