The Bachelor of Commerce is a high demand degree which is valued by employers. The academic program provides students with more than a vocational degree with technical business skills. It develops analytical and decision-making skills to prepare students for future leadership roles.  It is a flexible business degree providing specialisations in the specific career areas of accounting, corporate finance, international business, management and marketing. Critical thinking and communication skills are developed throughout the academic program to enable graduates to deal effectively with a continually changing business environment.

All students commence in the Bachelor of Commerce and complete the first year of the program before choosing to specialise. The first year provides students with the foundation necessary for a commerce graduate and includes core courses in accounting, economics and business data analysis. In the second and third years, students choose courses from the specialisations listed. Students may also choose electives in electronic commerce, commercial law and a wide range of subject areas offered by other faculties.

Accounting: this specialisation is designed for students who wish to gain professional accounting qualifications. There are fifteen courses within the academic plan that are compulsory for an accounting qualification.

Professional recognition/membership: upon completion of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree students will be eligible to apply for associate membership of either the CA Program (Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia) or the CPA program (CPA Australia). To achieve full professional membership both bodies require an additional program of study and a stipulated length of work experience.

Corporate finance: this specialisation is designed to provide students with specialist skills in finance together with broader studies in business. Corporate finance focuses on the way financial managers make investment and financing decisions and use financial instruments and capital markets to enhance returns and manage risk.

Professional recognition/membership: graduates are entitled to affiliate membership of The Financial Services Institute of Australia (Finsia). Some Corporate Finance courses cover material relevant for entry to the Chartered Financial Analysts and Financial Planning Association.

International business: this specialisation is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in international business management. The program provides a broad foundation in business as well as specialised studies in international management and international marketing. In addition, students complete either one semester of study abroad, study a foreign language or undertake international cultural studies.

Professional recognition/membership: completion of appropriate courses within this program leads to membership of professional associations such as the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).

Management: this specialisation will help students develop the skills required to successfully manage changes in work structures, process and product technologies, employment relations and organisational culture. The management courses collectively introduce students to key areas in the study of management. The second year courses lay the foundations for the acquisition of the technical, human and social skills that managers require. In the third year students study the important area of how to manage people in an organisation including the cross-cultural management of human resources. Study of management is rounded off with a course which looks at the core management function of crafting and implementing strategy.

Professional recognition/membership: completion of this academic plan leads to membership of professional associations such as the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI).

Marketing: this specialisation is designed to provide students with a sound background in business, together with an understanding of marketing's role within and between organisations. The degree program integrates the development of practical skills and knowledge, with a strong emphasis on understanding current theories and the latest research. Apart from developing an understanding of marketing theory, students will prepare marketing reports, marketing plans and diagnostic case studies, as well as analysing advertisements in a variety of media.

Professional recognition/membership: completion of this academic plan enables students to gain credit towards Certified Professional Marketer (CPM) status awarded by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI). Graduates are also eligible for the Diploma of Market Research from the Market Research Society of Australia.

All Commerce students are admitted to the Bachelor of Commerce program and may choose to graduate with one of the Commerce degrees listed.

• B Com (Accounting)
• B Com (Corporate Finance)
• B Com (International Business)
• B Com (Management)
• B Com (Marketing)

Accounting

The Bachelor of Commerce degree is accredited by the two major Australian professional accounting bodies: CPA Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA). Although there are fifteen compulsory courses for the B Com (Accounting), membership of CPA Australia can be achieved without Income Tax Law III and Auditing III, and membership of ICAA can be achieved without Information Systems I. Full professional membership of either accounting body is granted upon completion of:

• the Bachelor of Commerce degree including the specified courses
• a stipulated length of work experience
• the CA Program (ICAA) or the CPA program (CPA Australia).

Corporate Finance

Completion of this program entitles graduates to affiliate membership to the Financial Services Institute of Australia (Finsia), as well as covering material relevant for entry to the Chartered Financial Analysts and Financial Planning Association. Full membership of Finsia requires completion of the Institute’s Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, progress towards which is greatly facilitated by completion of this degree. 

Management

The degree meets the educational requirement for the AIM (SA) qualification of Certified Professional Manager (CPMgr). In addition, this qualification requires a minimum of five years work experience with three years in a supervisory position. 

Marketing

This program enables students to gain credit towards Certified Professional Marketer (CPM) status awarded by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI). This professional accreditation, recognised throughout Australia and the Pacific Basin, signals a full professional in the marketing area.