Course description
Programme
This course draws on significant expertise from two of the Business School's six departments - the Department of Accounting and Finance and the Department of Strategy and Management. The Department of Accounting and Finance is a major provider of accounting education in the UK. The British government's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) awarded the Department the best possible results for the extremely high quality of our teaching and student support and in The Sunday Times University Guide 2004, we were the only university in England listed as excellent for Accounting and Finance. This rewarding one-year programme is for graduates and professionals who are seeking a competitive advantage in today's international job market. Students will acquire a highly developed knowledge of business management and CSR principles, through both practical application and relevant leading-edge theory. The programme begins with a range of core modules designed to underpin key business and CSR principles. These are followed by specialist modules aimed at developing strategic knowledge and skills in CSR.
Induction: Foundations of Management (September)
This five day induction introduces students to the programme team and each other, and focuses on the foundations of management, including subjects such as effective communication, the business environment and quantitative methods. This programme begins with a range of core modules designed to underpin key business and CSR principles, followed by two specialist CSR modules, and a choice of one elective.
Semesters One and Two (September to May)
Following the induction week, students study seven core (compulsory) modules designed to underpin key business and CSR principles and develop knowledge and skills relevant to a CSR specialist within an international environment:
-Corporate Social Responsibility
The challenges organisations face in addressing CSR issues arise from attempts to combine the social, environmental and economic impacts that arise from its activities, and this module will attempt to provide a framework for these challenges to be met.
-Business Ethics
Environment and Society Where does the ethical responsibility of business lie? This module seeks to develop a wider approach to environmental and social ethical questions to enable students to consider the organisation'sposition in society.
-Critical Perspectives in Global Management.
The critical application of classical and contemporary theories and the advancement of management practice from both macro and micro organisational perspectives.
-Organisational Context and Analysis
Examining the role of operations and human resource management in organisations, emphasising links with other key functions and the importance of managing people in operations.
-Accounting for Managers
Critical appraisal of the accounting processes regarding internal planning and control and the ensuring preparation of financial statements.
-International Strategic Management
Markets and Resources Examining the role of strategic leaders and managers in organisations.
-Research Methodology
Examination and appraisal of research activity within the context of limited resources and within the framework of ethical, legal and social constraints.
Students also select one elective from the following:
-Managing e-Business in a Global Economy
-Globalisation
-International HRM
-International Markets and Ethics
-International Finance
Semester Three June to September
The final stage of this course is the dissertation when students complete a detailed piece of written research with a CSR focus, on a topic of their choice. Subjects normally reflect areas of relevance to career aspirations or have a practical application where a student is sponsored by an employer.
The Research Methodology module studied in Semester Two prepares students for the dissertation and support throughout the dissertation is offered by a nominated personal tutor. Dissertation subjects normally reflect areas of relevance to the student's career ambitions or have a practical application for the student's employer/sponsor, but will have a strong CSR focus.
Teaching will be delivered through formal lectures, more informal seminars, tutorials, workshops, discussions and e-learning packages. Assessment will usually be through a combination of individual and group work, presentations, essays, reports and examinations.
Career opportunities
Most international organisations - whether private or public sector - have CSR departments and are likely to expand these as the area grows. Similarly there is a growth in specialist consultancies, both independently and as part of international accountancy firms. Graduates from this Masters would expect to develop their careers in these organisations. Those graduates wishing to follow a more academic career will find that the growth in academic research in CSR will provide opportunities in universities worldwide.
