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La Trobe University
University Handbook 2013

Bachelor of Business

Course code/s: LBB Melbourne

Course Description

This degree helps students to build the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in a wide range of areas within the private and public sectors. The program adopts a problem-focused approach that helps students to develop important problem-solving and decision-making skills relevant to any business. Graduates are prepared for careers in the management of large, medium and small businesses, in government and private sectors, both domestically and internationally.

The Bachelor of Business is offered at five of the Victorian campuses of La Trobe University: Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Melbourne, Mildura, and Shepparton. This course is also offered in association with partner organisations at other sites in Australia and overseas. In Australia, the Bachelor of Business is offered by the Australian Campus Network in Sydney. It is also offered in France and Vietnam.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements are completion of VCE Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 25 in English (ESL) or 20 in any other English. Applicants with comparable qualifications will be considered. A limited number of students may also be considered under Special Entry Schemes.

Degree requirements

  • This degree is designed to be completed within three years of full-time study, although part-time study is possible.  The maximum time allowed for a student to complete this degree is seven years. 
  • Students must complete the course set out below, comprising 360 credit points (24 subjects). 
  • At least 270 credit points (18 subjects) must be subjects offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.
  • No more than 150 credit points (10 subjects) MAY be at first year level.
  • At least 120 credit points (8 subjects) MUST be at third year level.
  • Students must complete at least one major of their choice.  The major must comprise eights subjects, additional to the other sixteen subjects.  The major must also include at least two-second year subjects and three third-year subjects.
  • Students may choose to complete a second major of their choice.
  • Alternatively, a student may choose to complete one or two minors, in which case each minor must comprise four subjects additional to all other subjects completed within the degree, including at least one subject from each of second and third years.
  • Students must complete all prerequisite subjects prior to enrolling in a core or elective subject.

Course structure

From 2013, this degree will share a business foundation and first year framework with all other undergraduate degrees offered by the La Trobe Business School, which enhances the flexibility available to students.  Students who commenced this degree prior to 2013, should refer to the edition of the on-line handbook relevant to the year of their commencement, or seek advice from student services.

The first year framework comprises four business foundation subjects, two discipline-specific subjects and two elective subjects.

The four business foundation subjects, Business Foundations, Accounting and Finance for Business, Business Economics, and Business Analytics, offer students a broad introduction into the key disciplines and work-ready skills of business. 

The two discipline specific subjects, allow the student either to commence study towards their chosen major(s) or to further sample in greater depth a range of majors. 

The two elective subjects broaden the students’ learning experience by offering them the opportunity to study subjects chosen from across the faculty and the university.

The second and third year of the grid are defined by the student’s choice of major(s) and minor(s) or elective subjects.  Twelve of the second and third year subjects must be chosen from amongst the faculty disciplines and four may either be chosen from within the faculty of from other faculties of the university.  For more information on majors and minors and the subjects on offer within them link to Business Majors or Business Minors.

The structure allows a student to study overseas for one semester, or to complete a language via enrolment in a language subject in each semester of their degree program.

Variations to this structure are subject to approval by a Faculty of Business, Economics and Law course adviser.

First year
Teaching Period Subject title Subject code
TE-SEM-1 Academic Integrity Module (online) MGT1AIM
TE-SEM-1* Business Foundations BUS1BUF
TE-SEM-1* Accounting and Finance for Business BUS1AFB
TE-SEM-1 FBEL level 1 elective*  
TE-SEM-1 either an FBEL or LTU free elective #  
TE-SEM-2* Business Economics BUS1BUE
TE-SEM-2* Business Analytics BUS1BUA
TE-SEM-2 FBEL level 1 (Major) elective*  
TE-SEM-2 either an FBEL or LTU free elective #  

* This is the preferred order in which these subjects should be taken.

# Unless taking a sequence of two language subjects, students are limited to one LTU elective in first year.

Note: MGT1AIM is a not-for-credit subject which students are required to complete at the commencement of their first semester.  The subject is designed to enhance the student's knowledge and awareness of issues concerning academic integrity.

Second year
Teaching period Subject title Subject code
TE-SEM-1 FBEL level 2 (Major) elective*  
TE-SEM-1 Two FBEL level 2 electives  
TE-SEM-1 Level 2 elective  
TE-SEM-2 Two FBEL level 2 (Major) electives*  
TE-SEM-2 FBEL level 2 elective  
TE-SEM-2 Level 2 elective  

* This is the preferred order and semester in which these subjects should be taken.

Third year
Teaching period Subject title
TE-SEM-1 Two FBEL level 3 (Major) electives*
TE-SEM-1 FBEL level 3 elective
TE-SEM-1 Level 3 elective
TE-SEM-2 Two FBEL level 3 (Major) electives*
TE-SEM-2 FBEL level 3 elective
TE-SEM-2 Level 3 elective

* This is the preferred order and semester in which these subjects should be taken.

Majors

The following majors are available at the Melbourne campus.

  • Business Economics
  • Financial Management
  • Financial Planning
  • Human Resource Management
  • International Management
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management
  • Management Information Systems
  • Marketing 
  • Sport Management

Minors

The following minors are available at the Melbourne campus

  • Business Models and Forecasting
  • Corporate Finance
  • Development
  • Environmental and Resource Economics
  • Financial Planning
  • Financial Services
  • Forensic Accounting
  • Human Resources Management
  • Industrial Economics and Competition Policy
  • International Trade and Finance
  • Macroeconomics
  • Management Accounting
  • Management Information Systems
  • Marketing
  • Microeconomics
  • Public Sector Accounting and Management
  • Sport Development
  • Sport Promotion

Campus Information

For course structures unique to the delivery of the Bachelor of Business on the regional campuses, please follow these links:

Bachelor of Business (Albury-Wodonga) (ECBBW)

Bachelor of Business (Bendigo) (RBB)

Bachelor of Business (Mildura) (RBBM)

Bachelor of Business (Shepparton) (LMBBP)