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March 29, 2024, 03:48:05 pm

Author Topic: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?  (Read 3088 times)  Share 

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Limista

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What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« on: August 17, 2013, 08:54:36 am »
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Hi,

I'm just wondering what is actually learnt in a Commerce degree? I know it involves finance and accounting, but my knowledge is very limited. What is learnt in 1st year/2nd/3rd....etc?

If undertaking a commerce degree, is it a good idea to get some work-experience or undertake a part time commerce-related job on the side? I've heard there's a lot of competition to get into the bigger industries; is this true?

As you can see, I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to this field. With course selections for 2014 approaching, I'm trying to familiarise myself with things I can see myself doing in the future.

Thanks for any help at all  :)
« Last Edit: August 17, 2013, 09:51:09 am by SugarMinted »
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sluu001

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2013, 07:37:01 pm »
+5
First things first - Work experience is always preferable to no work experience. Competition in the field is so intense now; that any advantage you have over the other candidate can help. Having experience means that firms won't have to spend as much time training you - which will always be a plus for organisations.

In regards to the Commerce Discipline itself; it covers an enormous range of fields. From very qualitative disciplines like Management, Marketing, Human Resources - which deal with the social/psychological effect of business (i.e. managing employees, studying consumer behaviour). To very quantitative fields - Finance, Statistics/Econometrics and Actuarial Studies (where mathematical understanding is essential).

Then there are fields which can sit somewhere in between - like Accounting (which has a very good mix of Management concepts and financial (not really maths) subjects; or Economics (which attempts to explain the effect of Consumer behaviour and its effect on a wider context). Economics at higher levels (3rd year onwards) will get very mathematical.

Don't worry too much if you aren't sure what you want to do at the start. Most don't - but most Commerce degrees are designed to allow 1st year students a taste of every discipline they have on offer. Specialisation will happen as late as the 2nd half of 2nd year.

There are several Finance wizzes on here who can explain more about Finance; if that is where your interest lies.

Limista

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2013, 09:46:06 pm »
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Thanks so much for that!

On another tangent, I'm guessing if a commerce degree is combined with a law degree (like Monash uni offers) things get pretty hectic and stressful? For anyone who thinks they can comment on this, please do! Nothing beats personal experience.


edit: also, if someone plans to do a double degree in commerce and law, it is a good idea to have work experience in both fields? Or is this not recommended as it is too taxing?
« Last Edit: August 17, 2013, 09:48:32 pm by SugarMinted »
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mark_alec

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2013, 10:03:35 pm »
+4
A double degree is not harder work, just longer as you still only do four subjects a semester. You could get work experience in both fields, but you'd be better off deciding on which of the fields most interests you and getting more experience there.

sluu001

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2013, 12:22:01 am »
+2
I never condone any person who has no interest or knowledge in the field of law; to actually select it - simply because they "got the ATAR for it" or their family thinks it's a good career. It is an intensely dry and monotonic discipline (IMO), which requires a person who has an actual passion for the area and have a determination to succeed in it - to be able to make any meaningful progression in the field. If you do get the ATAR for it, and have no idea of what Law actually entails - by all means enrol in the degree; but combine it with another degree (Commerce for example). Then test the waters first (ie. perhaps completing 2 Law subjects in 1st year) to see if you actually want to progress in the field.

I have done several Business Law subjects in my Commerce Degree (which gives quite a good introduction/example of what actual Law subjects entails); and I can tell you it is NOT for everyone. Great for people who love reading hundreds upon hundreds of different cases (dating back to the last 2 centuries); but extremely tedious for a lot of people. (A lot of math guys in Commerce find Law to be a painful experience).

slothpomba

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2013, 04:56:00 pm »
+1
I don't think i can add much of substance but as the others have said, Commerce isn't one thing. It's a bit like saying what does a "Science" course involve. When i was little i wanted to be a "Scientist" and do "Science" all day but that isn't obviously something you can do. You can be a biologist, a chemist, an ecologist, a physiologist, a geneticist, etc. Commerce is a bit like this. It's a broad grouping for a set of (somewhat) related disciplines.

The best way to get an idea of what goes on is to check out the unit handbooks and read the subjects. It's very hard to get an actual idea from a one paragraph description in the handbook but its better than nothing. Below i've linked the Monash one.

Handbook, Scroll down to "Areas of Study" and click away!

I never condone any person who has no interest or knowledge in the field of law; to actually select it - simply because they "got the ATAR for it" or their family thinks it's a good career. It is an intensely dry and monotonic discipline (IMO), which requires a person who has an actual passion for the area and have a determination to succeed in it - to be able to make any meaningful progression in the field. If you do get the ATAR for it, and have no idea of what Law actually entails - by all means enrol in the degree; but combine it with another degree (Commerce for example). Then test the waters first (ie. perhaps completing 2 Law subjects in 1st year) to see if you actually want to progress in the field.

All that, plus money and a shiny office is nothing if you want to throw yourself out of the window of said office.

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Limista

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Re: What does a "Commerce" course in Uni actually involve?
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2013, 08:00:25 pm »
+1
A double degree is not harder work, just longer as you still only do four subjects a semester. You could get work experience in both fields, but you'd be better off deciding on which of the fields most interests you and getting more experience there.

And here I was under the false impression that a double degree is more strenuous. Thanks!

I never condone any person who has no interest or knowledge in the field of law; to actually select it - simply because they "got the ATAR for it" or their family thinks it's a good career. It is an intensely dry and monotonic discipline (IMO), which requires a person who has an actual passion for the area and have a determination to succeed in it - to be able to make any meaningful progression in the field. If you do get the ATAR for it, and have no idea of what Law actually entails - by all means enrol in the degree; but combine it with another degree (Commerce for example). Then test the waters first (ie. perhaps completing 2 Law subjects in 1st year) to see if you actually want to progress in the field.

I have done several Business Law subjects in my Commerce Degree (which gives quite a good introduction/example of what actual Law subjects entails); and I can tell you it is NOT for everyone. Great for people who love reading hundreds upon hundreds of different cases (dating back to the last 2 centuries); but extremely tedious for a lot of people. (A lot of math guys in Commerce find Law to be a painful experience).

I plead guilty to being a yr 12 who considered a career based on their ATAR. Guess I'll have to rethink then.

I don't think i can add much of substance but as the others have said, Commerce isn't one thing. It's a bit like saying what does a "Science" course involve. When i was little i wanted to be a "Scientist" and do "Science" all day but that isn't obviously something you can do. You can be a biologist, a chemist, an ecologist, a physiologist, a geneticist, etc. Commerce is a bit like this. It's a broad grouping for a set of (somewhat) related disciplines.

The best way to get an idea of what goes on is to check out the unit handbooks and read the subjects. It's very hard to get an actual idea from a one paragraph description in the handbook but its better than nothing. Below i've linked the Monash one.

Handbook, Scroll down to "Areas of Study" and click away!

All that, plus money and a shiny office is nothing if you want to throw yourself out of the window of said office.

This cemented my understanding that "commerce" is not generic as such, but rather, it is multi-disciplined. Thanks for the input. The suicidal reference was somewhat disturbing - made me realize that not everything is about money.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 08:44:57 pm by SugarMinted »
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