Bachelor of Commerce

Course Description

Core Courses

Introduction to Management (3 credits)

Management is essentially a science and an art. This course is expected to enable students to have a full understanding of the importance of management in today’s increasingly competitive global environment. It provides students with basic managerial theories, concepts, and principles and emphasizes the four major functions of management, i.e., planning, organizing, leading and controlling. By the end of this course, students are expected to be able to understand basic theories about management and apply what they have learnt from this course into practices. This course aims to assist students to build up a scientific framework in analyzing business and management, equip them with a thorough knowledge base that will empower them for more advanced management-related courses at higher levels, and prepare them the essential managerial skills needed to take up managerial roles.

Microeconomics (3 credits)

This course offers an introduction to the basic concepts, frameworks, theories as well as applications of economics. Specifically, it covers such topics as market and equilibrium, demand and elasticity, supply and cost of perfectly competitive markets, efficiency and the working of the "invisible hand", discusses the behaviors of firms in imperfectly competitive markets, such as monopoly and oligopoly, and explores, in brief, the basic concepts and theories of game theory and information economics. By integrating the concepts, theories and applications of economics with real-life experiences and case analyses, the course cultivates students’ economics way of thinking and guides students to approach various phenomena and analyze various real-life problems from the perspectives of economics.

Macroeconomics (3 credits)

This course studies the economic behaviors of the general society and the relevant consequences. It covers such topics as GDP, unemployment rate, inflation, exchange rate and other macroeconomic indicators. By taking this course, the students will be able to appreciate the basic and significant topics of macroeconomics and use the relevant knowledge as instruments guiding their judgment and prediction of the overall economic trends in the future.

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits)

As a basic introductory course of business ethics, the course mainly introduces such topics as the basic theories of business ethics, ethical decision making, employment rights, professional privacy policy, and the social responsibilities of corporations. Lectures will also extend to topics in relation to general ethics (management, finance and accounting), so as to help students combine business ethics theories with real cases, understand the ethical issues and dilemmas organizations face internally and externally, and propose proper solutions for the relevant problems. The course will make observations of the ethical issues involved in management, employs real-life case scenarios, and guide students to understand and discuss the relevant ethic problems and principles. The course teaches in an interactive way, combining lectures with case studies, class discussions, group assignments, and other activities.

Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 credits)

The course makes an introduction of the conceptions of financial accounting, including topics such as basic theories of accounting, accounting principles, journal entries, and frequently used financial statements. It aims to facilitate student’s understanding of financial accounting information, which plays a critical role in decision-making and communicating business outcomes. It is a prerequisite for Intermediate Accounting and Introduction to Managerial Accounting.

Introduction to Managerial Accounting (3 credits)

The course introduces the conceptions and theories of managerial accounting, and practices in relation to cost control. In contents, it mainly discusses what specific kind of information an organization usually needs, by what means an organization could gain access to such information, and how a managerial role should use such information to inform their planning, control, and decision making. The relevant topics include cost behavior and forecast, budgeting, activity-based costing and management, cost volume analysis, and effective decision-making.

Fundamentals of Finance (3 credits)

The course gives an introduction to the basic knowledge and general principles of corporate finance, the basic conceptions and instruments for corporate financial decision making, and how such knowledge should be applied to real-life practices. In terms of contents, the course mainly covers financial statement analysis, calculation of cash flow, various financial rates, simple interest method and compound interest method, time value of money, discounted cash flow method, capital budgeting, bond valuation, stock valuation, Mean-Variance Model of risk and return, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), and others.

Organizational Behavior (3 credits)

By introducing the research findings of a series of psychological studies, the course presents an interpretation of the individual behaviors and group behaviors in an organization. The course aims to enable the students to achieve a better understanding of the causes of certain phenomena, the potential effects such phenomena could have on the organization, and in what way such phenomena could be used to help the organization achieve better work performances, so as to provide the students with management theories and practical skills for taking up employment in an organization in the future.

Business Communication　(3 credits)

The course aims to introduce the students to the theories and practices in (verbal and written) business correspondences and reports. There are three effective steps to follow for effective communication: planning, writing, and perfecting. Throughout the course, the teacher will employ different examples, including emails, blogs, and formal reports, to illustrate clearly and reinforce the three steps.

Legal Environment of Business (3 credits)

This course is designed to enable students to understand and grasp the important legal principles and systems that affect the social operations of business, that is, to become aware of the “legal environment” in which business operates. At a macro level, the course discusses the political and economic problems that often occur in the process of business decision-making, and analyzes the legal environment of the international community; at a micro level, the course discusses several specific laws in the field of private law, including contract law, tort, business organic laws, and others. The course aims to cultivate students’ capabilities in critically and independently judging and critiquing the legal problems in business environment.

Business Statistics　(3 credits)

This course introduces the basic concepts of probability and statistics and their applications in managerial decision-making. Topics include sampling and data collection, descriptive statistics, probability and probability distributions, sampling distribution, estimation, hypothesis test, and linear regression. The course emphasizes business application instead of mathematical derivations. Students are encouraged to apply mathematical thinking and statistical methods to observe, analyze and solve practical problems in business management.

Management Information Systems (3 credits)

Currently, management information systems have achieved an integration of business management system and financial management system including supplying, manufacturing and marketing in an enterprise, which ensures the completeness of information management. Financial management information is represented as information of effect, while other business information is represented as information of cause; by establishing a cause-effect relation chain in analyzing management information reports, it becomes possible to trace back to the root cause and identify the initial cause of management information, namely business information. The course starts from the relationship between financial information and business management information with the fundamentals in management, enabling the students to grasp the initiating, obtaining, transferring and manipulating for management information from the entirety.

Operations Management (3 credits)

The course covers both regular topics of production and services such as planning and design, operation and control, and updates and maintenance, and emerging topics such as the ethical issues of business operations, lean service operations, green operations, and other new contents based on the behavioral science management.

Marketing (3 credits)

Marketing is the art and science of creating customer value and market exchanges that benefit the organization and its stakeholders. It is one of the cores of business operations, an organizational philosophy, and a set of guiding principles for interacting with customers, competitors, collaborators, and the environment. Marketing entails the planning and executing of the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of goods, services and ideas. It starts with identifying and measuring consumers’ needs and wants, assessing the competitive environment, selecting the most appropriate customer targets, and developing and implementing marketing strategies, so as to satisfy consumers’ needs in a way that’s more appealing than the competitors’.

The course is designed to serve as an introduction to the theory and practice of marketing and provide students with a full picture of marketing. With respect to teaching methodologies, the course will combine lectures, case discussions, individual assignments, group projects, and group presentations.

Strategic Management (3 credits)

This course introduces the concepts, analytical tools, typical cases and process of strategic management in the modern global business administration. Topics include characteristics and functions of strategic management, business models, strategy hierarchy, external environment analysis, competitive position analysis, internal situation analysis, generic competitive strategies, partnership and strategic alliances, merger and acquisition, vertical integration, outsource strategy, internalization strategy, value chain, diversification, corporate social responsibility, organizational structure, corporate culture, core competences development etc. This course stresses the business principles and management practices in strategic management, and uses a great many cases to engage students in discussions of the key issues in strategic management.

Brand Management (3 credits)

The brands that a firm has invested in and developed over time are typically their most valuable assets. This course aims to introduce all brand related concepts, related brand management strategies, and how a firm should integrate resources to build and develop its brand. Upon completion of this course, students should have gained a good understanding of branding theories and some knowledge on how to provide brand-development strategies for brand managers.

Supply Chain Management (3 credits)

This course introduces basic concepts, strategies and applications of Supply Chain and Logistics Management, including the relationship and differences between supply chain and logistics. It focuses on application of theories of supply chain management, so plenty of case studies are used to show students how to apply related theories in real situations and help them to learn how to solve real supply chain management problems.

Financial Management (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide an introduction of the classic theories and essential decision-making methodologies in corporate finance, such as arbitrage pricing theory (APT), efficient market hypothesis (EMH), option valuation, corporate long-term financing policy, securities issue methods, dividend policy, short-term financial planning, corporate financial pressure etc. The course integrates classic theories with practical business cases so as to equip the students with both the theoretical knowledge of corporate finance and the management skills of financial management.

Cost and Management Accounting (3 credits)

This course introduces the main functions of cost and management accounting: for the beginning of each period, management accountant helps all levels of managers prepare the budget, including the initial budget preparing, implementing budget, management control, and variance analysis between actual results and budget numbers; each level of managers have to make a variety of decisions, such as short-term decision making and the way of implementing the decision, the different types and methods of long-term decision making, and pricing decision; using examples form real companies, it further illustrates more accurate methods of cost allocation.

Electronic Commerce (3 credits)

This course introduces the key aspects of electronic commerce including its conception, framework, and the relevant technology development; specific topics that will be covered include B2C e-retailing, online marketplace, B2B enterprise collaboration, emerging e-commerce applications, e-supply chain management, e-customer relationship management, e-payment, and e-commerce security management. This course attaches special importance to business principles and management practices in electronic commerce, and guides the students to understand and discuss the key topics of e-commerce through a large number of real cases.

Consumer Behavior (3 credits)

Consumer Behavior is the study of people and products that help to shape their identities. Consumer behavior is more than buying things; it also embraces the study of how having (or not having) things affects our lives and how our possessions influence the way we feel about ourselves and about each other -- our state of being. In many courses, students are merely passive observers. But we are all consumers. In this course, I will try to introduce you to the latest and best thinking by some very bright scientists who develop models and studies of consumer behavior. But that’s not enough. Consumer behavior is an applied science. That’s why you’ll find a lot of practical examples to back up these fancy theories. Students will learn these topics through readings, case studies, group projects, exercises, and written examination.

Human Resource Management (3 credits)

This course aims to discuss how to combine employees’ professional competence with organizational HRM practices so as to better the organizational effectiveness. Besides the basic introduction of HR functions, this course also introduces actual HR practices and problem-solving methods in organizations, organizational behaviors and related management theories for employee management. The contents include: organizational strategic goals with HR practices, related practices for organizational HR planning, the impact of industrial environment on HRM practices, job analysis, compensation and benefits, reward systems, performance management and international human resources management.

Managerial Psychology (3 credits)

This course provides an introduction to the research findings of psychology studies on workplace psychology and daily life psychology. By introducing the students to such research theories of psychology, the course helps students overcome their negative mentality and moods, cope with work and daily-life challenges more effectively, and achieve psychological growth. The course will also introduce the relevant research theories and research methodologies of behavioral sciences, equipping the students with knowledge to interpret their encounters in campus life and future work place from psychological point of view, and thus prepares them with the desirable coping methods.

Enterprise Resource Planning (3 credits)

This course introduces the frequently used information systems in organizations, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management system, supply chain management system, etc. Students can gain knowledge of these systems, which are related to enterprise resource planning. This course will use SAP systems or other ERP systems to introduce Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and therefore enable students to understand the applications of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in different industries through practical operations.

Project Management (3 credits)

This course provides students with an introduction to basic theories and principles of project management, and develops a full exploration of various aspects of project planning, implementation, and control, from macro aspects of corporation operations to individuals of project teams. The main contents include company organization, project selection and portfolio management, leadership and the project manager, scope management, project team building, conflict and negotiation, risk management, cost estimation and budgeting, project scheduling and critical path, resource management, project evaluation and control, project close-out and termination. Cases and integrated project exercises will also be combined with the contents.

Customer Relationship Management (3 credits)

This course introduces the concepts, methods, typical cases and process of customer relationship management (CRM) in the modern global business administration. Topics include the nature of CRM, customer differences, information technology used to collect customer data, the CRM data warehouse, customer loyalty, customer retention strategies, win back and acquisition strategies, sales force automation and automated customer service centers, call center, data mining, on-line analytical processing, and information presentation, measuring customer satisfaction and loyalty etc. This course stresses the principles and practices in customer relationship management, and guides students to understand and discuss the key issues in customer relationship management through case studies.

Sales Management　(3 credits)

This course provides a systematic elaboration on management of sales business, sales planning, sales force, sales channels and sales indexes, etc., which enables students to fully understand and master the knowledge, methods, tools and cases of sales management. After the completion of this course, students are able to acquire the essential core competence of sales managers, and apply the specific sales management tools to deal with issues including budgeting, sales forecasting and design of sales regions.

Internship and Graduation Project (15 credits)

The Internship is to send students to take part in concreate tasks in the participating enterprises for about 800 hours. Through the tutors in the Faculty and the mentors in the enterprises to enhance the competencies of the internship students in both theories and practices. Through the internship in the enterprises such as the hotel industry to acquire foundational skills such as customer services and let students to find out and to solve problems. The Graduation Project provides a summary of the studies by the students of the business management program, assisting them to connect theories with practice and apply the professional knowledge and skills they have learned to solve actual problems of business management. Students finish the graduation project; can gain real experience in business management.

General Studies Courses

English I (3 credits)

The course enables students with enhanced knowledge of language expressions and grammar points by means of readings of selected English essays and with expanded lexicon by means of drills of key English vocabulary. Through learning and practicing various reading skills, students can improve their reading efficiency and basic reading ability. Furthermore, the course exposes students to and takes them to appreciate writings of various types and topics and writing techniques and encourages students to express thoughts and ideas in English, thus laying a solid foundation of writing basics for their future studies and career.

English II (3 credits)

English II aims to improve students’ listening and speaking abilities by means of practical exercises and drills in speaking and listening. Through a combination of carefully selected materials, specially designed curriculum and exhilarating class activities, the course helps to improve students’ English listening and speaking skills and lay a solid foundation for their future studies and career.

Chinese Reading and Writing (3 credits)

The course is a public compulsory basic course for students of all majors at Macau University of Science and Technology. It aims to implement the philosophy of general education (liberal arts education) and engage students to readings of great classics. By appreciating and analyzing exercises and writing drills, the course helps students to improve their reading abilities and writing skills in the area of Chinese literature and enrich their humanistic qualities.

Mathematics and Logic (3 credits)

This course provides students with essential basic concepts and calculation methods in analyzing math problems for further studies. Additionally, this course covers some informal logic and relevant parts of philosophy of logic. Students will learn to analyze and solve practical problems in their lives by mathematical method and logical method.

General Theory of Chinese and Western Culture (3 credits)

The course "General Studies of Chinese and Western Cultures" is a compulsory course of general education for the whole school, and "General Studies of Chinese Culture" is one of them. This part mainly teaches history, historiography, culture, ancient literature culture, art theory culture, Chinese science and technology history and culture, etc. Through the systematic explanation of this course, the undergraduates of all majors in the university can grasp the basic context of the occurrence, development and evolution of traditional Chinese culture in general, understand some major events and important figures in the development of traditional Chinese culture, comprehend the spirit of the times and basic cultural outlook of different eras, and understand the dynamic relationship, respective characteristics and interconnections between the main development stages of traditional Chinese culture. In this way, students will lay the necessary knowledge foundation for studying various branches of Chinese culture from different professional perspectives in the future.

The "General Studies of Western Culture" mainly teaches ancient Greek culture, ancient Roman culture, medieval Christian culture, and modern Western culture. Through the systematic explanation of this course, the undergraduates of all majors in the university can grasp the basic context of the occurrence, development and evolution of Western culture in general, understand some major events and important figures in the development process of Western culture, comprehend the spirit of the times and basic cultural outlook of different eras, and understand the dynamic relationship, their respective characteristics and interconnections between the main stages of development of Western culture, so as to lay the necessary knowledge foundation for students to study various branches of Western culture from different professional perspectives in the future.

Information and Technology (3 credits)

This course introduces the latest development of Artificial Intelligent (AI) and its application in different subjects in the form of lectures, including the history and latest development of AI, the applications of AI in science, sustainability, medical science, laws and ethics, arts and design, business and management.

Constitution and Macau Basic Law (1 credit)

This course is a compulsory general education course for undergraduate students majoring in non-law studies, which teaches the basic theories of constitutional law, as well as the state structure, government agency system, basic rights and duties of citizens, electoral system, and political party system in the Chinese Constitution. This course will teach "one country, two systems" and the formulation of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as the relationship between the Central Government and the Macao Special Administrative Region, the basic rights of Macao residents, and the political system of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Sociology (2 credits)

This course gives a general introduction to the development history and research methodologies in relation to sociological theories, on top of which it gives a systematic illustration of a series of important theoretical and practical topics such as socialization, social roles, social interactions, way of life, groups, communities, marriage, family, social hierarchy, order, violation of order, social problems, social security, social evolution, industrialization and urbanization, modernization and globalization, and depicts the future of sociological studies.

Introduction to Psychology (2 credits)

Introduction to Psychology is a general course aiming to help students understand and grasp the basic concepts, theories and relevant knowledge of psychology. Its teaching objectives are to enable students to familiarize with the basic knowledge and basic theories of psychology, understand fundamental psychological processes, have a scientific understanding of the essential nature of psychological phenomena and the general patterns of occurrence, development and evolution of such phenomena, and apply psychological knowledge to analyze, and predict psychological phenomena in real life, train and improve students’ abilities in analyzing and solving real-life problems correctly, improve the overall psychological qualities of college students, help students to achieve better self-awareness, self-improvement, and adaptability. The lectures will go along a main line of special topics, including career planning, interpersonal communication, stress resistance, self-exploration and leadership, helping students to understand the basic theories and in the meantime connect the theories with real-life problems.

Physical Education and Sports (2 credit)

Physical Education and Sports include general physical education and competitive events, and the latter also includes eSports. The instruction of sports consists of basketball, volleyball, international standard dance, martial arts, Taijiquan, fencing, karate, track and field, etc.

The course objectives of competitive events, eSports included, are as follows. First of all, they will provide an alternative to general education and enhance students’ confidence in eSports. Secondly, these subjects help students develop general skills and knowledge in eSports, including teamwork, tactical analysis and interpersonal skills, and students can build a solid foundation in these areas. Thirdly, they motivate students to work harder and cultivate their self-learning abilities, with which they can continue further study independently.

Students may choose any of these subjects according to their interests. In the future, the University may offer a wider range of choices in sports and competitive subjects if such demands rise.

Special Topic in Science and Technology (2 credits)

This course will adopt an integrated approach combing lectures, practices, talks and guided tutorials to address special topics in relation to science and technology. By engaging students in discussions and research, the course helps students to broaden their knowledge span in science and technology.

Special Topic in Social Science (2 credits)

This course will adopt an integrated approach combing lectures, practices, talks and guided tutorials to address special topics in relation to social science. By engaging students in discussions and research, the course helps students to broaden their knowledge span in the relevant fields..

Special Topic in Humanities and Arts (2 credit)

This course will adopt an integrated approach combing lectures, practices, talks and guided tutorials to address special topics in relation to humanities and arts. By engaging students in discussions and research, the course helps students to stimulate students’ interest in learning, and broaden their knowledge spans in the relevant fields.