Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Business
Designed to equip you with the skills to start a successful career, this business course has a strong focus on real-world experiences. Be competitive in the workplace with a degree that gives you an understanding of all the elements required for managing sustainable business.
Learn how decisions you make contribute directly to the organisation’s success. You will be empowered with knowledge of how to become a leader in business and understand the pillars of a sustainable business model. Our lecturers’ strong network connections and the Work Integrated Learning program ensures you receive relevant industry placements.
You can major in Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Intelligence and Information Systems, Economics, Financial Management, Governance, Business and Society, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Human Resources Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Sports and Events Management. You can also build your employability by studying a joint degree.
Part time available
Career opportunities
Your skills are relevant to a large number of industries as a business graduate. Job opportunities depend on what major you decide to specialise in. You will have the ability to understand the importance of data-driven decision making – a quality highly valued by employers.
Potential careers could include:
- Accountant (working in the fields of forensics, tax, litigation, business or management)
- Business Intelligence Analyst, Information Security Analyst, IT Project Manager, Business Intelligence Consultant
- Economist
- Stockbroker
- Financial Planner or Analyst, Investment Analyst, Stockbrokers or Financial Researcher
- Governance Consultant, Policy Advisor, Stakeholder Management Officer, Strategic Planner, Public Affairs Leader, Government Relations Officer
- Events Manager, Tourism Officer, Marketing Officer, Market Researcher, Social Media Marketer, Brand Manager, Public Relations Officer
- Human Resource Manager
Course overview
Designed to give you a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of business organisations, in your first year, you will study core subjects relevant to all business majors.
You can then tailor the degree to suit your interests by selecting your preferred major and various combinations of a second major or a maximum of two minors.
If you choose one major, you have the flexibility of studying one or two minors that complement or broaden your studies. If you choose one major and minor, you are able to study elective subjects that interest you, diversifying your skills to increase your employability.
With the aim of equipping you with real-world experience, you will start preparing for Work Integrated Learning in your first year of study. Embedded throughout the degree, career development tools prepare you for placement within a local business in your final year of study.
To bolster your employability, you also have the option of completing the Professional Development program alongside your degree.
You can study this degree on campus to experience face-to-face learning and build network connections. Alternatively, study online for flexibility.
Refer to the handbook for a detailed overview of the course structure and the subjects that you can study.
Majors
Within our undergraduate business degree, you are able to choose from 12 majors. A major is your chosen area of specialisation. Not all majors are available at all campuses. The handbook provides detail about the subjects you can study within each major and the campuses each major is available at.
Accounting
As an accountant, you will contribute to the most critical function of all businesses and organisations — their financial viability. You will learn how to recognise financial patterns and be an efficient problem solver for all businesses in various industries.
Core subjects will give you foundation knowledge of decision making for businesses and the ability to interpret data. You will gain an in-depth understanding of financial management, business modelling, company accounting, taxation and auditing.
With real world experience through work placements, you will be ready for the work force. Accredited with Certified Practising Accountant Australia (CPA) and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), you can become a professional accountant with further study.
Banking and Finance
Focus on the management of financial markets and institutions, and develop insight into the central role of banking and finance. You will understand how to manage the circulation of money, credit, investments, and the acquisition of finance.
Throughout this major, you will study funds management, financial markets and risk management. You will learn about the different approaches to managing financial institutions, including commercial banks, rural cooperatives and microfinance institutions.
You will make decisions that help businesses develop and thrive, and work in government, non-government, private, or non-for-profit organisations. With an understanding of international finance and sustainable economic growth, employers will value your theoretical and practical knowledge. If you are an Australian student, you can study this major online or in Singapore.
Business Intelligence and Information Systems
Find out how to integrate information technology systems and data into business strategies and be integral to your organisation’s operational strategy. As a business intelligence analyst, you will have the knowledge needed to use data for marketing purposes, create cost-effective systems and identify business opportunities.
You will work in the digital space to manage information systems, large amounts of data and information security. You will also gain the skills to communicate the data effectively, enhancing marketing efforts, or informing supervisors and clients.
With the ever-increasing use of technology and the importance of data and data security, you will be highly employable in a growing industry. Upon graduation, you can apply for membership of the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).
Economics
Go further than wondering what happens when supply exceeds demand. Throughout this economics degree, you will explore ways that, as a society, we can make the best use of time, land and labour. You will learn about how people interact with markets and develop models to predict behaviour.
Central to key decision making for businesses, you will understand macroeconomic policy, behavioural economics and economic growth. You will have the ability to apply your knowledge of national resourcing and sustainability, and indigenous policy implications.
Become a key professional in public policy development or in the finance and banking sectors. With the analytical, mathematical and political skills that you acquire throughout this degree, your career pathway will be varied and exciting.
Financial Management
Prepare yourself for financial management of commercial banks, rural cooperatives and microfinance institutions. Lead investment opportunities, plan long-term financial goals and advise executive management on how to maximise profits.
Study financial and capital markets, how to make relevant decisions within those markets, and the different approaches to managing financial institutions. You will learn business modelling, personal portfolio management, risk management and multinational business finance.
With financial management skills that are transferable to most industries, you can forge your own career pathway. Combine this major with Accounting, Economics or Business Intelligence and Information Systems to strengthen your skill set.
Governance, Business and Society
Have a direct influence on policy and decision makers and enhance the prosperity and viability of organisations and whole communities. Public governance focuses on the interactions between government, business and community interests, and works towards resolving problems.
Learn to build creative approaches to managing complex societal issues through policy. You will gain the skills needed to create and establish policies, and work with organisations to monitor policy implementation.
Understand how modern governments effectively manage societies and be ready to work towards finding solutions to major public issues confronting our society. You will have the skills to work in a range of organisations and implement positive change in your local or international communities.
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Stand out from the crowd with this major and manage tourism and hospitality attractions, tours, events, and services. You will gain the professional knowledge and expertise to manage, plan and market the food, recreation, accommodation and tourism industry.
By understanding of the decision making process of your guests, you will have the ability to create amazing travel or event experiences. You will study the intricacies of conference and event management and the logistics and operations behind hospitality.
Through case studies, field trips and site visits, learn the practical skills required to excel in the industry. If you are an Australian student, you can study this major online or in Singapore. For international students, you can study in either Brisbane or Singapore.
Human Resources Management
Find out what makes people tick and how you can boost their performance in organisations. Get the competitive edge in business. By understanding human behaviour, you will learn about the value of employees to a workplace.
Learning how to effectively communicate, develop positive employment relations and manage organisational change will make you stand out from the crowd. Your passion for human resources can take you across industries in Australia and around the world.
Wherever you want to work and in every industry, having a deep knowledge of people and having the skills to enable them to succeed will make you valuable to any business.
International Business
Build invaluable skills for managing business an international scale. Your love of developing strategies and planning for short- and long-term projects will see you operating multi-national enterprises.
Develop an in-depth understanding of the challenges, advantages and issues of conducting business in a complex global environment. With the skills to work in the exciting international arena, you can build a sustainable, competitive business position in the international marketplace.
With an increasingly globalised world, your business and management skills will open up a range of career prospects. As an Australian student, you can study this major online and gain practical skills through local industry placement or choose to study a semester in Singapore. As an international student, you can study this major in Singapore or Brisbane.
Management
Find out how to use your love of innovation, entrepreneurships and people management to strengthen your employability skills. Giving you the edge to lead businesses in highly competitive environments, you will learn how to solve complex organisational problems, plan effectively and hire the right employees.
Develop the skills to manage finances and resources, and direct business operations in a fast-paced setting. You will learn to manage people and workflow — transferable skills important to running a business or team in any industry.
Understand how to identify the best people for the job, and how to motivate, develop and manage people in the workplace. You will get real-world skills and put theory into practice by developing a management solution for an existing business.
Marketing
Get the skills to speak directly to your customers through traditional advertising, digital marketing and social media. Your creativity and understanding of people will help you become an effective marketer, fulfilling the needs of your customers or growing a new customer base.
Develop industry knowledge by creating sustainable marketing strategies for real-world businesses. You will learn how to build a target audience profile and create advertising that focuses on your customers.
Marketing skills are fundamental for growing a business in both the private, public and non-profit sectors. You will have the capacity to address the challenges of marketing a brand to your target audience in a competitive marketplace.
Sports and Events Management
Be involved in the exciting, fast-paced environment of the sporting and events industries. You will learn how to create, organise and coordinate sports, business, and public events on both a small and large scale.
Events are central to local economies and tourism; you will work within a dynamic global industry that is growing exponentially. Benefit from our strong industry connections with a major designed to meet employer needs by providing first-hand practical experience.
With a diverse choice of subjects, you can tailor your degree and specialise in your preferred industry. You will learn transferable skills relevant to many careers. Learn how to adapt to all situations, build problem-solving skills, and understand the intricacies of negotiation and logistics.
How to apply
Take note of the QTAC code for this course in the location you've chosen because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
Townsville (312151) - Apply now
Cairns (322151) - Apply now
External (312159) - Apply now
OP Score/Rank is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.
Our campuses in Singapore and Brisbane operate on a trimester system – three semesters per year. View academic calendars.
Pathway into course
JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree at JCU. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university. Contact us for more information.
Handbook
Bachelor of Business
Handbook year | 2019 |
Course code | 20510 |
Course type | Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) |
Professional accreditation status | The Accounting Major for this course is jointly accredited by CPA Australia and the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Students who complete the accredited award may join either or both of the professional accounting bodies (CPA Australia, and/or the Chartered Accountants Australian and New Zealand). To become full members of the accounting profession and practise as an accountant, they must then complete the professional programs of whichever body they join and undertake the required number of years of professional experience. |
Division | Tropical Environments and Societies |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | English (Maths B desirable) |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
Special admission requirements | Applicants who are admitted to the Bachelor of Business under an Articulation Agreement are subject to the terms of that agreement. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 72 credit points as per course structure |
Additional course rules | A maximum of 30 credit points may be taken at level 1 A minimum of 18 credit points must be taken at level 2 A minimum of 18 credit points must be taken at level 3 |
Course learning outcomes | JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics. In the context of a JCU graduate on successful completion of the Bachelor of Business graduates will be able to:
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Course Structure
Course Structure (All Majors except the Accounting Major)
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
BU1002:03 Accounting for Decision Making
BU1003:03 Economics for Sustainable Business
BU1007:03 Business Data Analysis and Interpretation
BU1104:03 Business, Environment and Society in the Tropics
BU1105:03 Contemporary Business Communications
BU1108:03 Managing Consumer Markets
BU1112:03 Business Law
Level 3
BU3101:03 Professional Internship or BU3102:03 Multi-Disciplinary Project or BU3103:03 Independent Project
OPTIONS
Select a Business major from Table A
PLUS
Select one of the following 4 options
OPTION 1
Select a second major. Please refer to Table A for possible double major combinations.
OPTION 2
Select a Business minor that is different to your major from Table B
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any level 2 or level 3 undergraduate subjects
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of any undergraduate subjects
OPTION 3
Select a Business minor that is different to your major from Table B
PLUS
Select a second minor that is different to your major from either Table B or from the Inter-Disciplinary Minors list
OPTION 4
Select 6 credit points of level 2 BX subjects
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of level 2 or 3 BU or BX subjects
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of level 3 BX subjects
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any level 2 or level 3 undergraduate subjects
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of any undergraduate subjects
Course Structure (Accounting Major)
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
BU1002:03 Accounting for Decision Making
BU1003:03 Economics for Sustainable Business
BU1007:03 Business Data Analysis and Interpretation
BU1104:03 Business, Environment and Society in the Tropics
BU1105:03 Contemporary Business Communications
BU1108:03 Managing Consumer Markets
BU1112:03 Business Law
Level 2
BX2112:03 Law of Business Organisations
BX2019:03 Business Information Systems
Level 3
BX3112:03 Taxation Law
BU3101:03 Professional Internship or BU3102:03 Multi-Disciplinary Project or BU3103:03 Independent Project
PLUS
Accounting major
OPTIONS
Select one of the following options:
OPTION 1
Select a Business minor that is different to your major from Table B
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any undergraduate subjects
OPTION 2
Select 3 credit points of BU or BX level 2 or level 3 subjects
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any undergrad level 2 or level 3 subjects
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of any undergraduate subjects
OPTION 3
Select a second major. Please refer to Table A for possible double major combinations.
TABLE A (MAJORS)
Type of major | Optional, single or double |
Credit points in major | 24 credit points |
Special requirements | If choosing the single major option, the chosen major must be a Business major |
MAJOR | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES | Allowable Second Majors *Not all second majors are available in all locations, please check campus availability of second major | Potential Second Majors *Please liaise with the Divisional Enrolment Team |
Brisbane Cairns Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | |||
External Singapore | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Governance, Business and Society Hospitality and Tourism Management Business Law (only available in Townsville and Cairns) Corporate Environmental Management (only available in Townsville and Cairns) | ||
Brisbane Cairns Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Corporate Environmental Management Governance, Business and Society | ||
| Cairns Townsville | Available mid-year | Only available as second major | |
Cairns Townsville | Available mid-year | Only available as second major | ||
Townsville External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management Governance, Business and Society | ||
Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management Governance, Business and Society | ||
Cairns Townsville External | Available Mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management | ||
Brisbane Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Governance, Business and Society Business Law (only available in Townsville and Cairns) | ||
Cairns Townsville External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management | ||
Brisbane Cairns Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management | ||
Brisbane Cairns Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems | ||
Brisbane Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management | ||
Townsville Singapore External | Available mid-year | Business Intelligence and Information Systems Corporate Environmental Management |
TABLE B (MINORS)
Type of minor | Optional, single or double |
Credit points in minor | 12 credit points |
MINOR | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Brisbane Townsville Cairns Singapore External | ||
External | ||
Cairns Townsville Singapore External | ||
Townsville Singapore External | ||
Cairns Townsville External | ||
Cairns Townsville Singapore External | ||
Brisbane Cairns Townsville Singapore External | ||
Townsville External | ||
Brisbane Townsville Singapore External | ||
Townsville External | ||
Townsville External | ||
Cairns | This is a non-business minor | |
Brisbane Townsville Singapore External |
Campus
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Brisbane | Not all majors are available |
Cairns | Not all majors are available |
Townsville | Not all majors are available |
Singapore | Not all majors are available |
External | Not all majors are available |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 10 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Must successfully complete 12 credit points at level 1 before attempting any level 3 subject. This course has a Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program culminating in a third year core subject. Students must successfully complete the prescribed WIL preparation modules and quizzes to be eligible to apply for a WIL capstone subject. |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | To be eligible for accreditation with Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA Australia) and/or the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) students must complete the Accounting major as well as 9 credit points consisting of the following subjects: BX2019:03 Business Information Systems BX2112:03 Law of Business Organisations BX3112:03 Taxation Law |
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | A student who has failed a single subject towards the award in their final teaching period and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject, may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply. |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for credit for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit and Articulation policy and associated procedures. |
Maximum allowed | 48 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 6 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 16 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree. |
Award Details
Award title | BACHELOR OF BUSINESS |
Approved abbreviation | BBus |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | All majors studied shall appear on the testamur No minors shall appear on the testamur |
Exit with lesser award | Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Honours
Honours availability | Available as an additional 24 credit points of study [end-on] |
Eligibility | Application for entry to the Honours program is by approval of the College Dean Normally a minimum average grade of Credit is required in the pass degree subjects relevant to the field in which Honours is to be taken |
This website is intended as general guide. Prospective students should contact the university to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses. James Cook University reserves the right to alter any course or admission requirement without prior notice.