Course description
Course overview
The Business Studies programme combines knowledge of a number of business disciplines with an appreciation of how they fit together in an organisation. The programme will give you a sound base for rapid progression in a professional or managerial career. Many graduates go on to work in the City of London, while others are successful in careers in business and management throughout the UK and overseas.
Business is a practical subject and, in addition to learning about business subjects, you will develop excellent IT skills, which will prepare you well for your career. All the staff have practical experience, and Cass’s close links with the City provide opportunities for professional placements. Staff are also active in research, which is often reflected in lecture material and presents opportunities for your own project research.
Course content
There are three broad components to the degree. Core subjects cover the basic academic disciplines and skills needed by any manager, including marketing, accounting, economics, management and quantitative methods. Integrative courses will help you to understand how these disciplines and skills come together and interact with wider social and economic issues. Options allow you to focus on the areas of management that best suit your talents. You may choose to take French, Spanish or German for Business if you have an A-level or equivalent in the relevant language. In the third year, options account for 90 per cent of the teaching timetable, and you can elect to specialise in finance or marketing, or to combine the two areas. Electives also cover areas including European studies, virtual organisations, international business environment, emerging markets, and management of innovation and change.
Compulsory components are the international business strategy course and the business project, which gives you the opportunity to explore a major area of interest likely to be relevant to your future career.
Teaching and assessment
Lectures and seminars are offered in each subject. Special emphasis is placed on tutorial contact. Your tutor can help you to review your progress throughout the programme, and to integrate the various subjects each year. In addition to classwork, you will also be asked to submit written work in the form of essays, exercises or case-study analyses.
Case studies of actual business problems are often used in the final year to draw together all the elements of the programme. Assessment is based on examinations, coursework and a final-year project. Your final degree classification is based on your performance in year 2 (35 per cent) and year 3 (65 per cent).
The emphasis is on examinations, which contribute about 70 per cent to the degree classification.
