• Program summary 
• Program overview
• Admission requirements
• Program structure
• Intakes - when to apply
• Costs
• Scholarships
• Enquiries

Program summary

Award abbreviation: GCBusAdmin
Degree type: postgraduate coursework
Modes of study: on campus, online
Duration: 2 sessions - ⅓ year minimum full-time; 2 years maximum part-time. Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
Fee type 2009: postgraduate coursework places, online postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places, international online fee-paying places
Total courses: 8
Commence: there will be two intakes a year - Half-Session 1 and Half-Session 3. Prospective candidates should apply by no later than 30 January (Half-Session 1, 2 March – 17 April) or 31 May (Half-Session 3, 29 June – 14 August)
USC program code: BU510
CRICOS code: 067674D

Program overview

The demands of management in today's business world require an increasing range of skills in all facets of business. Graduate training in management and business administration can complement and enhance the skills you have gained in the workplace, or add value to existing qualifications - fast tracking your career ambitions.

This program offers the following features:

• innovative and flexible approaches to learning, eg online learning
• the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills across functions and disciplines
• focus on the application of theory and execution of practice
• teaching by highly qualified and experienced academic staff
• links theory and application to current business issues
• network-building opportunities

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission candidates must:

1. possess an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 4.5 (on a 7-point scale)
2. have at least two years relevant full-time equivalent work experience; and
3. must achieve at least 5 points from the points tables below, with those points gained in at least two of the three categories:
   1. prior work experience 
   2. academic achievement 
   3. graduate management admissions test

Exceptional applicants who do not possess a Bachelor degree will be required to complete a GMAT or Business Select Entrance Test (available only to domestic applicants) plus an interview. Successful completion of either entrance qualification and interview may allow the candidate to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (GCBusAdmin) (entrance without a prior degree is limited to 10 percent of the entire MBA suite of program enrolments). Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with a GPA of 4 or greater (on a 7-point scale) will qualify the candidate for entry into the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration or the Master of Business Administration.

Points table. Applicable for entry requirements and scholarship eligibility

Prior work experience

Candidates must have at least two years relevant full-time equivalent work experience. An additional point may be awarded for substantial managerial work experience with a multinational firm. Applicants will need to provide certified documentary evidence of prior employment experience.

Prior academic achievement (ie undergraduate GPA)

Prior academic study at the bachelor level can be in any field at any recognised tertiary institution. Points awarded are based on the candidate’s grade point average (GPA) from their undergraduate degree based on USC 7-point scale or equivalent.

Applicants who have not completed a recognised bachelor degree may be considered for admission based on their prior work experience and GMAT test score.

Graduate Management Admissions Test

A certified copy of GMAT results is required to be forwarded to the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Note: At the discretion of the Dean, Faculty of Business, one additional point may be awarded for each of the following:

1. Masters degree
2. PhD/DBA
3. substantial managerial experience with a multi-national firm

Program structure *

Candidates may select 6 required courses plus 2 elective courses, a total of 8 courses. These courses cover the fundamental areas of business administration. The subjects include the key functional areas of an organisation, with the aim to provide candidates with knowledge and skills in the key discipline areas. The required courses allow for contemporary management areas to be incorporated while allowing updates to meet changing required skill sets.

The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is a 6 credit point, 8 course model. Delivery is offered across 6 half sessions. A half session is comprised of a 6 week teaching block with an additional week (week 7) to complete final examinations and assessment items.

Required courses

Select 6 courses from:

MBA701 Innovation and Creative Decision Making
MBA702 Marketing Foundations
MBA703 Research for Decision Making
MBA704 Entrepreneurship
MBA705 Financial Statement Analysis
MBA706 Information Systems for Managers
MBA707 Organisational Behaviour
MBA708 Economics for Managers
MBA709 Business Law
MBA710 Understanding Leadership
MBA711 Corporate Governance
MBA712 Strategic Management
MBA713 Financial Management
MBA714 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
MBA715 Human Resource Management
MBA716 New Business Planning

Electives

Select 2 courses from:

MBA717 Strategic Performance Measurement Systems
MBA718 Event Management
MBA719 Quantitative Data Analysis
MBA720 Business Process Re-engineering
MBA721 Leading and Managing Organisational Change
MBA722 Project Management
MBA723 Cultural Intelligence for International Business Managers
MBA724 Managing Knowledge Assets
MBA725 Leadership Development
MBA726 Marketing Strategy
MBA727 Property and Asset Management for Executives
MBA728 Management Project A **
MBA729 Management Project B **
MBA730 Management Project C **

Program scheduling 2009

Session 6, 2 March – 17 April
MBA701 Innovation and Creative Decision Making (Required)
MBA703 Research for Decision Making (Required)
MBA704 Entrepreneurship (Required)
MBA710 Understanding Leadership (Required)

Session 7, 27 April – 12 June
MBA706 Information Systems for Managers (Required)
MBA709 Business Law (Required)
MBA717 Strategic Performance Management Systems (Elective)
MBA718 Event Management (Elective)
MBA727 Property and Asset Management for Executives (Elective)

Session 8, 29 June – 14 August
MBA702 Marketing Foundations (Required)
MBA704 Entrepreneurship (Required)
MBA707 Organisational Behaviour (Required)
MBA712 Strategic Management (Required)

Session 9, 24 August – 9 October
MBA705 Financial Statement Analysis (Required)
MBA710 Understanding Leadership (Required)
MBA715 Human Resource Management (Required)
MBA717 Strategic Performance Measurement Systems (Elective)
MBA719 Quantitative Data Analysis (Elective)
MBA722 Project Management (Elective)

Session 10, 26 October – 11 December
MBA708 Economics for Managers (Required)
MBA711 Corporate Governance (Required)
MBA713 Financial Management (Required)
MBA721 Leading and Managing Organisational Change (Elective)
MBA723 Cultural Intelligence for International Business Managers (Elective)
MBA724 Managing Knowledge Assets (Elective)

Session 4, 11 January – 26 February
MBA714 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (Required)
MBA716 New Business Planning (Required)
MBA720 Business Process Re-engineering (Elective)
MBA725 Leadership Development (Elective)
MBA726 Marketing Strategy (Elective)

There will be two intakes a year - Half-Session 1 and Half-Session 3. Prospective candidates should apply by no later than 30 January (Half-Session 1, 2 March – 17 April) or 31 May (Half-Session 3, 29 June – 14 August).

Costs

The cost of the 8-course Graduate Certificate in Business Administration program for 2009 Cohort 1 is A$1,125 per course. Program cost is A$9,000. ***

Enquiries 

For further details about this program please contact:
Graduate Studies, Faculty of Business
Tel: + 61 7 5430 1221
Fax: + 61 7 5430 1231
Email: businessfaculty@usc.edu.au

Back to top