- 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 2010: 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 Life Crisis
Business foundation courses
8 required courses:
BUS101 The Child Client
BUS102 Communication and Thought
BUS103 Applied Research Methods
BUS104 Economics for Business
ACC106 Business Law and Ethics
ACC108 Management and Organisational Behaviour
BUS301 Accounting Principles
BUS320 ICT for Financial Professionals
Accounting major courses
8 required courses:
ACC210 Advanced Research Methods
ACC211 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
ACC220 Financial Accounting
ACC221 Business Finance
ACC310 Law of Business Associations
ACC311 Company Accounting
ACC320 Management Accounting
ACC321 Taxation Law and Practice
Elective courses
Select 7 advanced courses, which may comprise:
- A second major in 1 of the following areas:
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
- All students must complete a minimum of 24 courses including core courses, in the Bachelor of Business.
- To meet CPA Australia requirements all students who wish to be recognised by the professional body must complete COR109 Contemporary Accounting Issues.
- Refer to the Academic Rules.
- Refer to explanation of terms.
- Refer to recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- 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