Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration

Study programme code BACØKAD

ECTS credits 180

Admission requirements Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Recommended previous knowledge

A solid background in mathematics is recommended. The programme has two compulsory courses in mathematics. One builds on first year mathematics and the other builds on R1 or S1+S2 or 2MX. Students who lack a solid background in mathematics might need to spend more time and energy to successfully complete these courses. A solid background in English and Business Administration is also recommended.

General description and profile of the programme

The Bachelor´s programme in Business Administration aims at educating candidates with a high level of theoretical competence. Candidates graduating from this programme are attractive to a wide range of positions within private businesses, organisations and public sector. The programme builds on a national standard giving competent candidates the opportunity to continue their studies on a Master´s level at the University of Agder or at other institutions in Norway and abroad.

The Bachelor´s programme builds on Higher Education Entrance Qualification. The first part of the programme consists of compulsory courses within four subject areas: methodological subjects such as mathematics and statistics, economics, accounting and business administration, marketing and organisational theory. In the fourth semester the students may choose their electives, and in the third year a minor subject. One possible minor subject is for example Business Administration, which is also the most theoretical option and the most suitable for further Master´s studies. Other options are Estate Development and Management, Accounting and Auditing. In addition other minor subjects are offered, like various one-year programmes. It is also possible to take the third year abroad as an exchange student. All fourth semester electives and third year minor subjects are presented below.

During this bachelor's programme students may choose to take a semester abroad at one of our many cooperating institutions, usually in the fourth semester or the third year. Studying abroad makes it possible to study themes and courses beyond what is offered at UiA. An additional benefit of studying abroad is meeting languages and cultures in an educational context, an experience highly valued by many employers. International students also come to UiA to take parts of their degree in Business Administration. Therefore many of the courses in the second half of the programme will be taught in English. This contributes to an international studying environment where most of the students during their studies will meet foreign students and so have the opportunity to practice their English skills.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (formal, non-formal and informal) Arrangements for the recognition of prior learning are described in the information on the institution under "General arrangements for the recognition of prior learning (formal, informal and non-formal)".

Examination regulations and grading For a description of the examination regulations, see the Examination Regulations of the University of Agder.

For information about the Norwegian grading system, see ECTS credits and grades. Specific information on grading for each course is found in the individual course descriptions.

Graduation requirements The Examination Regulations of the University of Agder regulate the graduation requirements for each programme of study.

Remarks to the course structure diagram

In the fourth semester and the third year students may choose to go on exchange abroad.

The bachelor´s programme consists of compulsory courses (95 ECTS credits), electives (25 ECTS credits) and a minor subject in the third year of study (60 ECTS credits). The compulsory courses include an introduction to the basics of business administration, organizational topics, method and economics. In addition there is a compulsory course in strategy ( ORG205 Business Strategy) which can be taken in either the fourth or sixth semester depending on chosen minor subject. The electives in the fourth semester are in many cases connected to the minor subject in the third year, and so the three last semesters will vary depending on the chosen minor subject.

In the second year of study the students choose minor subject for the third year. The options are for example Business Administration, which is the most theoretical option and also the suitable for further Master´s studies. Other options are Estate Development and Management, Accounting and Auditing. In addition other minor subjects can be selected, like various one-year programmes.

Students in Kristiansand can also choose minor subjects offered in Grimstad. If there is a limited intake admission is based on first year grades. Actuation of minor subjects may be subject to change as they rely on sufficient student enrolment.

Electives

Please note that scheduling conflicts may occur with regard to timetables as well as dates of examination. Moreover, the courses on offer may be subject to modification as they rely on sufficient student enrolment and available teaching resources.

Fourth semester electives (spring 2012)

BE-202 Intermediate Accounting, 5 ECTS credits
BE-203 Accounting Organisation and Systems, 5 ECTS credits
JU-202 Law 2, 5 ECTS credits
JU-203 Tax Law 1, 15 ECTS credits
EN-123 Business English, 10 ECTS credits*
IS-208 Dynamic Web Page Development, 10 ECTS credits*
MF-200 Industrial Buying Behaviour, 10 ECTS credits*
SE-207 Maritime Economics, 10 ECTS credits*
SE-210 The Political Economy of Corruption, 10 ECTS credits*
ORG105 Basic Entrepreneur Course in Business Establishment, 10 ECTS credits
MA-131 Algebra 1, 10 ECTS credits
MF-201 Tourism and Consumer Behaviour, 10 ECTS credits

* Courses taught in English

Alternative fourth semester electives

It is also possible to take a series of political science courses: ST-101 Political Theory, 10 ECTS credits, ST-102 International Politics, 10 ECTS credits and ST-103 Comparative Politics, 10 ECTS credits. For further information contact the Student Adviser at the Department of Economics and Business Administration.

Fifth and sixth semester electives (autumn 2011 - spring 2012)

Students having chosen Business Administration as their minor subjects are offered elective courses in both the fifth and sixth semesters. This makes it possible for them to take courses lasting two semesters (autumn-spring).

Fifth semester electives (autumn 2011)

BE-311 International Financial Management, 10 ECTS credits*
IS-106 Hands-on E-business for Entrepreneurs, 10 ECTS credits*
ORG105 Basic Entrepreneur Course in Business Establishment, 10 ECTS credits*
SE-304 International Economic History, 10 ECTS credits*
UT-204 The Global Challenge: Natural Resources and Climate Change, 10 ECTS credits*
JU-101 Introduction to Intellectual Property Law, 10 ECTS credits
JU-300 Labour Legislation and Work Environment, 10 ECTS credits
MA-213 Linear Algebra, 10 ECTS credits
PS-101 Psychology, 10 ECTS credits

Sixth semester electives (spring 2012)

MA-210 Modelling and Differential Equations 1, 10 ECTS credits
SV-207 The Experience Economy - Commercialization of Experiences, 10 ECTS credits
SE-201 Budgeting and Public Management Accounting, 10 ECTS credits

It is also possible to take fourth semester electives.

* Courses taught in English

Minor subjects

Business Administration
5. semester: BE-304 Statistics and Finance (5 ECTS), ORG308 Human Resources Development (7,5 ECTS),
SE-302 Advanced Microeconomics (7,5 ECTS), and elective(s) (10 ECTS).
6. semester: BE-310 Management Accounting (7,5 ECTS), ORG205 Business Strategy (5 ECTS), SE-303
International Trade and Economic Growth (5 ECTS), and elective(s) (10 ECTS).

Accounting
4. semester: BE-202 Intermediate Accounting (5 ECTS), BE-203 Accounting Organisation and Systems (5 ECTS), JU-202 Law 2 (5ECTS), and JU-203 Tax Law 1 (15 ECTS).
5. semester: RE-302 Annual Accounts (10 ECTS, two-semester course), BE-205 Responsibility and Obligations for
Accountants (5 ECTS), JU-303 Law 3 (5 ECTS), JU-304 Tax Law 2 (5 ECTS), and JU-300 Labour Legislation and
Work Environment (10 ECTS).
6. Semester: RE-302 Annual Accounts (10 ECTS, continuing from previous semester), ORG205 Business Strategy
(5 ECTS), SE-210 The Political Economy of Corruption (10 ECTS), and elective(s) (10 ECTS).

Estate Development and Management
5. semester: ORG202 Estate Development and Management (30 ECTS).
6. semester: JU-405 Contract Law (7,5 ECTS), ORG205 Business Strategy (5 ECTS), SV-200 Social Planning (10 ECTS), and BE-310 Management Accounting (7,5 ECTS).

Auditing
4. semester: BE-202 Intermediate Accounting (5 ECTS), BE-203 Accounting Organisation and Systems (5 ECTS), JU-202 Law 2 (5ECTS), and JU-203 Tax Law 1 (15 ECTS).
5. semester: BE-302 Accounting Theory (5 ECTS), JU-303 Law 3 (5 ECTS), RE-301 Financial Accounting N-GAAP (15 ECTS, two-semester course), RE-300 Auditing (15 ECTS, two-semester course), and JU-304 Tax Law 2 (5 ECTS).
6. semester: BE-303 Accounting and Budgeting in Public Sector (5 ECTS), ORG205 Business Strategy (5 ECTS), RE-301 Financial Accounting N-GAAP (15 ECTS, continuing from previous semester), and RE-300 Auditing (15 ECTS, continuing from previous semester).

Public Management
5. semester: JU-300 Labour Legislation and Work Environment (10 ECTS), ORG 200 Public Administration and Management (10 ECTS), and ST-100 Public Policy and Administration I (10 ECTS).
6. semester: SE-200 Labour Market and Welfare Economics (10 ECTS), SE-201 Budgeting and Public Management Accounting (10 ECTS), and SV-200 Social Planning (10 ECTS).

Public Policy
5. semester: ORG200 Public Administration and Management (10 ECTS), ST-100 Public Policy and Administration I (10 ECTS), and ST-200 Public Policy and Administration II (10 ECTS).
6. semester: ST-101 Political Theory (10 ECTS), ST-102 International Politics (10 ECTS), and ST-103 Comparative Politics (10 ECTS).

Human Relation Management and Organizational Development (one-year programme, Grimstad)
1. semester: ORG115-G Human Capital Management (10 ECTS), ORG116-G Organizational Development (10 ECTS), and ORG117-G Working Environment (10 ECTS).
2. semester: ORG118-G Coaching (10 ECTS), and ORG119-G Learning and Innovation in Organization and Work life (20 ECTS).

Programming and Multimedia (one-year programme, Grimstad)
1. semester: DAT100-G Computer Science (5 ECTS), DAT104- G Multimedia Design (10 ECTS), DAT212-G Information Systems, Strategy and Economy (10 ECTS), DAT106-G Web Publishing (5 ECTS), and DAT101-G Introduction to Object-oriented Programming (10 ECTS, two-semester course).
2. semester: DAT300-G Research Project, Computer Engineering (15 ECTS), DAT218-G Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS), and DAT101-G Introduction to Object-oriented Programming (continuing from previous semester).

Other minor subjects

Upon application students may be granted approval for minor subjects not included as options in this programme, such as ordinary one-year programmes offered by the university. Notice that courses in the various one-year programmes might overlap compulsory courses in the Bachelor of Business Administration. We encourage you to clarify this with the Student Adviser before you apply to any of the one-year programmes. Students who already have a one-year programme from UiA or other universities may apply to have these approved as the minor subject. These students will need to take ORG205 Business Strategy in the fourth semester.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this programme the graduate should be able to:

• demonstrate basic skills in business administration, economics, market strategy and methods
• demonstrate sufficient skills in financial and managerial accounting, organisation and management, marketing and methods to evaluate limitations and opportunities in a company´s situation, both short and long-term
• demonstrate skills in the chosen minor subject, either: Business Administration, Accounting, Auditing, Estate Development and Management, Public Administration, Public Policy or other one-year programmes approved as minor subject
• demonstrate familiarity with the research and development within the actual field of study
• demonstrate knowledge of relevant theories and methods used in the actual field of study
• demonstrate skills in applying this knowledge to relevant practical issues
• upgrade their knowledge for lifelong learning
• plan and carry out independent projects
• present academic material both orally and in writing, and to exchange experiences with others
• contribute to the necessary development for promoting the company´s innovative aptitude
• understand social effects and legal, environmental and ethical frameworks

Teaching methods

Several different instructional forms are utilised. In the first half of the programme large group lectures and group work is most common. Due to several options the group lectures will be smaller in the second half of the programme. The teaching language is Norwegian, with exception of some courses in the 2. and 3. year, which are taught in English.

Assessment methods Several of the courses require the students to submit written assignments (individually or in groups) in order to take the final examination. Some courses might also include oral presentations. See each course description for details. Most courses have individual written examinations with graded marks.

Student exchange Students may go on exchange during spring semester of the programme's second year or during the third year of the programme. Contact International Office and Student Adviser for further details.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme In the fall semester of the second year students choose a third-year component. In case of limited admission on the various third-year components students will be ranked from the number of credits and the grades from the first year. Students should not lack more than 15 credits from the first two years if they choose one of the following third-year component: Auditing, Accounting or Business Administration.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies

The bachelor programme in Business Administration gives a general educational foundation for working in either private sector, organisations or public sector. If specific elective courses in law and accounting are chosen in the fourth, fifth and sixth semester, the education will meet the authorisation requirements concerning the theoretical training necessary to become a Registered Auditor or Authorised Accountant. To become a Registered Auditor or an authorised Accountant also requires practical training. See Finanstilsynet's web page for more information.

The elective courses in the last three semesters gives a solid basis for work as an Authorised Accountant, Registered Auditor, Executive Officer or Mid-Level Manager in Public Administration or work in the Real Estate business. Students may also obtain basic skills for running their own business or work in the field of shipping, accounting, financial management or human resource management.

Completion of the three-year programme awards the graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. It is possible to terminate the study programme after the second academic year and receive the Norwegian degree "Høgskolekandidat" in Business Administration. Students who have completed the Bachelor programme in Business Administration will be qualified for the Master's Degree Programme in Business Administration (Siviløkonom) at University of Agder. Students who have completed the third-year component Public Politics will be qualified for the Master's Degree Programme in Public Policy and Management at University of Agder.

The bachelor programme also gives a solid basis for further education at other national or international institutions.

Qualification awarded Completion of the three-year programme awards the graduate with the degree of Bachelor in Business Administration.