Foundation Studies and Diploma programs

Subjects offered – Alphabetical listing – University level Diploma subjects

| A | D | F | I | M | O |

A

Accounting for Management Decisions (DBA10AMD)

This subject is designed to introduce under-graduate students from all disciplines to the nature of accounting and its role in business. Topics covered provide an overview of key financial and managerial accounting concepts and include: the recording of business transactions; the calculation and measurement of profit; the presentation of financial statements; the analysis and interpretation of financial statement data; cost accounting and reporting systems; and cost analysis for planning, control and decision making.
After studying this unit it is expected that students will be able to:

Explain the purpose of accounting and what it entails, and describe who the many users of accounting are.
Define and explain accounting transactions by using the accounting equation.
Prepare basic financial statements and explain how the various classifications are reported within them.
Analyse financial statements and Annual Reports by calculating and interpreting various accounting measures.
Identify the major differences between financial accounting and management accounting, and classify costs according to the way they behave.
Explain how budgets are used and prepare an operating budget and a cash budget.
Describe how costs are determined to be relevant for both short run decisions and long run investment analysis.

Prerequisite

None, but it is preferable that students have undertaken previous studies in accounting.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

Assessment is divided into two components:
1. Internal Assessment

Mid Term Test(s) (15%)
Assignment (15%) (30%)

2. External Assessment

3 Hour Final Examination (70%)

Prescribed text

Attrill, McLaney, Harvey and Jenner (2009), Accounting: An Introduction. Pearson Education, 4th edition.

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D

Discrete Maths (DCS10DCM)

The subject is an introduction to discrete mathematics. In choosing the topics to be treated, particular attention has been paid to the important interface between mathematics and computer science. The underlying themes in the subject are introductions to algorithms and logic. Examples within each topic are chosen with a view to emphasising these underlying themes; wherever possible, examples are chosen to help develop students' problem-solving skills.

Prerequisite

Students must have studied some mathematics at senior secondary level. Previous study of Maths Methods or its equivalent is recommended.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week) with two 1-hour lectures, two 1-hour practice classes and one 1-hour tutorial per week

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (80%)
fortnightly Assignments (10%)
digital logic laboratories (10%)

Prescribed text

Class materials and suggested references are provided by the Department of Mathematics

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F

Foundations of Management (DBA10FOM)

A student who successfully completes this subject will have knowledge and understanding of:

organisations and the process of managing them
management practice (i.e. planning, organising, leading, controlling) and relevant environments
the means by which managers influence individuals, groups and performance in organisations.

Topics include; the challenge of management, pioneers of management, understanding competitive environments, social responsibility and ethics in management, managerial decision making, strategic management, managing diverse human resources, motivation, leadership, managing groups and team work, managing change and innovation, and managing quality.

Prerequisite

None

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Sampson, D. and R.L. Daft (2009) Fundamentals of Management: 3rd Asia Pacific Edition, South Melbourne: Nelson Australia Pty Ltd.

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I

Intermediate Object Oriented Programming Using Java (DIS10OOP)

The teaching of object-oriented concepts is continued while students gain more experience with the Java programming language and basic software engineering principles. Topics covered include inheritance (class hierarchies, abstract classes), input/output streams, file operations, exceptions, recursion, dynamic data structures (linked lists), abstract data types (stacks and queues), event driven programming and graphical user interfaces (layout management, GUI components). Software engineering principles are further developed, including parameters for characterising software quality, testing strategies and debugging strategies.

Prerequisite

Successful completion of ‘Introduction to Object Oriented Programming Fundamentals’ (DCS10OOF) or equivalent

Class Requirements

Approximately 78 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 6 hours per week). This includes three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour software laboratory class per week.

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
weekly laboratory skills tests (10%)
one programming assignment equivalent to 1,000 words (20%)

Prescribed text

Savitch, W., Absolute Java, 3rd edition, publisher Pearson, 2008, ISBN 9780321505040

Introduction to Business Law (DBA10IBL)

Business Law is an introductory unit.

In this course students explore some of the core principles of contract law; consumer protection; the law of negligence; agency and partnership law as well as the various legal structures recognised by law for carrying on a business. We examine the role that historical, economic and social factors play in shaping the main features of the law, and the practical operation of the law in its social setting. This unit also adopts a skills-based learning approach. It does this through teaching the basic techniques of case analysis and statutory interpretation, and promoting an understanding of the dynamic nature of the law. Learning these skills prepares students for more advanced law units such as company law, banking and finance law and taxation and also for their professional careers.

On successfully completing this unit, students should be able:

To analyse cases and interpret statutory provisions relevant to this field of study and apply them appropriately to facts.

To identify and explain the main features and operation of the Australian legal system; the main principles of the law of contract, sale of goods, negligence, agency and partnership; and the principal legal forms for carrying on a business.

To discuss how such law develops through the courts and legislatures, and how it operates in its social and economic context.

To locate and apply to fact situations the relevant legal principles relating to this field of study and, in relation to a problem calling for advice to a client about business law, to compose a legal opinion which applies the appropriate laws.

To exercise the generic skills and attributes expected of a university graduate.

Prerequisite

None. It is preferable that students have undertaken previous studies in law.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

Assessment is divided into two components:
1. Internal Assessment

Mid Term Test(s) (15%)
Assignment (15%) (30%)

2. External Assessment

3 Hour Final Examination (70%)

Prescribed Text

Ciro, T and Goldwasser, VR Law and Business (Second Edition), Oxford University Press, 2007.ISBN 978 0 1955 5353 6
Goldwasser, VR Mastering Business Law (First Edition), LexisNexis Butterworths, 2007.ISBN 978 0 4093 2397 9

Introductory Financial Accounting (DBA10FNA)

This unit aims to introduce you to financial accounting information systems, which record financial events and provide both internal and external financial reports. The unit begins with a review of the accounting equation, accounting cycle, accrual accounting concepts and the preparation of financial statements. The unit then focuses on the operation of a manual system. Attention is then given to the application of generally accepted accounting concepts and selected accounting standards to specific transactions and elements of the financial statements. Introductory Financial Accounting is a prerequisite for further study in Financial Accounting units.

As a consequence of studying this unit it is expected that students will be able to:

Appreciate that accounting involves issues of recognition, measurement, recording and reporting of financial transactions.
Maintain a basic manual accounting information system.
Appreciate computerised accounting information systems.
Account for owners’ equity in companies.
Appreciate external company reporting and its regulation.
Account for various current assets.
Account for property, plant and equipment.
Account for liabilities.
Prepare cash flow statements.
Demonstrate an improved level of personal generic skills.

Prerequisite

Successful completion of Accounting For Management Decisions (DBA10FNA) or equivalent.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

Assessment is divided into two components:
1. Internal Assessment

Mid Term Test(s) (15%)
Assignment (15%) (30%)

2. External Assessment

3 Hour Final Examination (70%)

Prescribed text

Horngren, CT (et al) Financial Accounting (Fifth Edition), Pearson Education Australia, 2007. ISBN 9 78073397 4205

Introductory Statistics for Business (DBA10ISB)

A student who completes successfully this subject will have knowledge and understanding of:

how business statistics are used as aids to decision makers
how descriptive statistics and basic probability theory are used to analyse business and economic data
how sampling distributions and statistical inference, including regression, are used to test hypotheses in business, economics and finance
how business statistics are used to make accurate short- and long-term predictions

Prerequisite

None, however previous studies in mathematics is recommended.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Selvanathan, A., Selvanathan, S., Keller, G., Warrack, B. Australian Business Statistics Thompson (Fourth Edition). ISBN 0 17 009472 3

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M

Macroeconomics (DBA10MAC)

A student who completes successfully this subject will have knowledge and understanding of the following models:

the income-expenditure model
the aggregate demand/inflation adjustment model
models of the money market
models explaining exchange rate determination
models explaining the long-run growth of the economy.

A student who completes successfully this subject will be able to think like an economist and thereby:

describe the role of economic models in economic analysis
show how models are used to explain macroeconomic phenomena such as inflation (which occurs during booms) and unemployment (which occurs during recessions)
show how models are used to understand policy responses to macroeconomic problems and to describe economic events
explain why economic events occur
predict under what circumstances such events may take place in the future
recommend appropriate courses of action

Prerequisite

There are no prerequisites but previous study of Economics 1 and Economics2 units is recommended.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Jackson, J. & McIver, R., 2007. Macroeconomics (8th Edition), McGraw-Hill, Roseville

Management Information Systems (DBA10MIS)

This unit introduces students to some basic information systems (IS) ideas and concepts as IS are the key to business functions today.

It will provide students with a basic understanding of the IS discipline as well as a solid preparation for further study in information systems units.

In addition, students will also gain an appreciation of the various software (word processing, spreadsheets and database) programs in the marketplace.

Prerequisite

None, but previous study of IT Concepts 1 is recommended.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Baltzan, P. & Phillips, A. (2008), Business Driven Information Systems, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York.
(Referred to as [BP]) Textbook website : http://www.mhhe.com/baltzan
New Textbook O’Leary, T.J. and O’Leary, L.I., (2008), Microsoft Office Excel 2007, Introductory Edition, Complete, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York.

Marketing Principles and Practice (DBA20MPP)

A student who successfully completes this subject will be able to apply the major theoretical principles upon which the practice of marketing is based in analysing a range of marketing problems; and to identify marketing management tasks and understand how marketing fits into the environment. Topics include: marketing role in business and society, the global marketing environment, consumer and business market behaviour, market segmentation, targeting and positioning, products; goods, services and experiences, developing and managing goods and services, pricing considerations, placement, IMC: and promotional aims ethics and social responsibility.

Prerequisite

None

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Pride, W., Elliott, G., Rundle-Thiele, S., Waller, D., Paladino, A. and Ferrell, O. (2007)Marketing: Core concepts & applications 2nd Asia-Pacific edition, Wiley, Milton QLD

Additional References

Kotler, P., Adam, S., Brown, L., and Armstrong, G., Principles of marketing, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall, Australia, 2003.
Butler, P., and Bradmore, D., Australian principles of marketing study guide, Prentice Hall, Australia, 2003.
Thomas, R., Referencing: A guide (including electronic resources), La Trobe University, Faculty of Law and Management, Language and Academic Skills Unit, 2003.

Microeconomics (DBA10MIC)

A student who successfully completes this subject will have knowledge and understanding of:

how markets work and how prices work to allocate resources
the basic principles of how people make economic decisions and how they interact economically and how the economy as a whole works
the role of public policy and the constraints on its operation when markets fail
how firms are organised and make decisions

Topics include: basic ideas of microeconomics: scarcity, choice and opportunity cost, introduction to demand and supply, market equilibrium and applications: price ceiling, price floor, consumer surplus and producer surplus, elasticity of demand and supply, elasticity and applications: taxation, international trade, public goods, common goods and externalities, production and costs, perfect competition, monopoly, competition policy and regulation, monopolistic competition.

Prerequisite

There are no prerequisites but previous study of Economics 1 and Economics2 units is recommended.

Class Requirements

Approximately 65 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 5 hours per week).

Assessment

one 3 hour examination (70%)
mid-term test (15%)
assignments (15%)

Prescribed text

Jackson, J., McIver, R., 2007, Microeconomics (8th edition), McGraw-Hill, Sydney

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O

Object Oriented Programming Fundamentals (DCS1000F)

Students are introduced to computers, object-oriented concepts and programming using Java. Students also gain a working knowledge of the Unix operating system. Topics covered include classes and objects, primitive data types, flow of control, methods, basic input/output, arrays an introduction to applets. Software engineering principles are introduced, including coding standards, and program design and development strategies.

Corequisite

Students must study Discrete Maths concurrently

Class Requirements

Approximately 78 hours of class time is recommended (i.e. 13 weeks at 6 hours per week). This includes three 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour software laboratory class per week

Assessment

one 2 hour examination (60%)
one 750 word equivalent programming assignment (15%)
laboratory work (5%)
one 1 hour laboratory examination (20%)

Prescribed text

Savitch, W., Absolute Java, 3rd edition, publisher Pearson, 2008, ISBN 9780321505040