Undergraduate Course: Business Studies 1 (BUST08001)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 40 |
| Home subject area | Business Studies |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.webct.ed.ac.uk/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | QUOTA DETAILS AND INSTRUCTIONS
Due to the popularity of the course, a quota system has been introduced, and the order of preference will be:
(1) First year students enrolled on either a single Business Studies degree or a Joint Degree with Business Studies, for which Business Studies 1 is a mandatory course;
(2) First year students, wishing to take Business Studies 1 as an outside subject;
(3) Second year students, wishing to take Business Studies 1 as an outside subject.
Science and Engineering students should be referred to Industrial Management 1h (BUST08002) rather than Business Studies 1.
This course affords students an understanding of the nature, structure and workings of contemporary business organisations. This is achieved by applying the concepts and techniques of the social sciences to the problems of business. The course is designed both to be ¿self-contained¿ for those who do not intend to study the subject further, and to prepare students for three further years of Business Studies. Similarly, by the mix of lectures, tutorials and assignments, the course aims simultaneously to cater for the needs of those who have, and have not, formally studied the subject prior to University.
After an initial lecture which introduces the subject content of Business Studies and its methodology, the course comprises eight modules throughout Semesters 1 and 2: Business Policy and Strategy; the Economic Environment and Anatomy of Business; Marketing; Operations Management; Management Science; Finance; Employment Relations; and Organisation Studies.
The students are introduced to the subject-matter of the modules by a combination of lectures and weekly tutorials, and students have the opportunity to select areas to study in depth through a choice of essay topics. The poster exercise is designed to encourage practical application of concepts and models introduced in the initial module on Business Policy and Strategy, and to encourage early interaction with academic staff and peers.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
(a) describe the various ways in which organisations are structured and managed;
(b) describe the inter-relationships between organisations and the environments in which they operate;
(c) explain and evaluate critically the contribution of the various techniques and functions to the operation and development of organisations;
(d) describe and discuss critically such key contemporary topics as the ¿globalisation¿ of business, and the ¿responsibilities¿ of organisations, including environmental concerns and employees¿ welfare.
Cognitive Skills
On completion of the course, students should have had inculcated into them the desirability, and the methods, of time management and planning through lectures, tutorials and course assignments. Students should have been encouraged to:
(a) use the entire range of learning resources that are available to today¿s students;
(b) analyse and solve organisational problems and issues, especially through tutorials;
(c) appreciate the holistic nature of the contemporary organisation, especially through the two integrated assignments.
Key Skills
On completion of the course, students should have been encouraged to:
(a) develop their written skills, through the two assignments and the degree exam;
(b) develop their oral skills through the weekly tutorials;
(c) be aware of, and confidently to use, the range of quantitative and qualitative techniques that are appropriate to contemporary organisations;
(d) acquire, or develop, computer literacy techniques.
Subject-Specific Skills
On completion of the course, students should be aware of:
(a) the techniques and insights that are germane to Strategy, Business Economics, Marketing, Operations Management, Management Science, Finance, Employment Relations, and Organisation Studies.
(b) the uses, abuses and limits of these techniques and insights. |
Assessment Information
Group project (poster exercise) accounts for 10% of the assessment.
Two essays, each essay accounts for 20% of the assessment.
Final degree exam accounts for 50% of the assessment. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Stephen Harwood
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Paul Kydd
Tel: (0131 6)50 3824
Email: |
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