Bachelor of Economics and Finance

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

Applied mathematics is the basis for successful decision-making and problem solving independent of sector or industry; it can provide new insights into nature, technology and business and create a pathway for innovative solutions. Applied mathematics underpins a wide range of scientific and commercial enterprises, providing extensive career options. Just about every industry depends at some point on handling and interpreting data, and on predicting and modelling outcomes. Mathematical results drive policy and innovation.

Pure mathematics is concerned with exploring patterns and solving problems; it can provide new insights into nature, technology and business and create a pathway for innovative solutions. Pure mathematics focuses on developing and analysing unifying mathematical concepts and principles through deductive reasoning. A focus on pure mathematics is ideal for students who enjoy developing creative solutions to subtle problems and wish to explore the abstract and logical aspects of the discipline.

Statistics is the study of the collection, organisation, analysis and interpretation of data. Applied statistics use mathematical concepts and methods to develop, design and analyse scientific experiments, sample surveys, medical clinical trials, environmental studies, and industrial and business big data systems. It uses mathematical models of variation to enable analysis and forecasting in many industries. It is the basis for successful decision-making and problem-solving in government, business, science, engineering, agriculture and industry.

This degree
The Bachelor of Mathematics Advanced is available to students who have achieved outstanding results at the highest level of mathematics in high school, or have the equivalent level of knowledge on entry to UOW. This elite degree offers an accelerated program of studies to high achieving students with a passion for mathematics. A unique feature of our advanced program is the undergraduate research projects, which allow students to undertake an investigation into a specific area of mathematics and statistics under the supervision of a member of staff from the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics.

There are opportunities for scholarships from corporate partners, summer research scholarships and access to programs from the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and inter-university courses via our Access Grid RoomAn alternative path for entry to the advanced program is by invitation for students in the Bachelor of Mathematics degree who achieve outstanding results in their first year of study in mathematics subjects.

What you will study
This degree offers a flexible structure allowing you to take one intensive first-year subject, and accelerate your studies by taking second-year subjects in your first year. You will undertake research projects in your second and third years. These projects will enable you to work closely with active academic researchers to develop your independent learning and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

An Honours Advanced Mathematics degree is available to candidates who have achieved an average of 80% or better in the Bachelor of Mathematics Advanced.

The Archaeology and Ancient History major at UOW offers you the opportunity to combine two distinct, but overlapping disciplines that will transform your understanding and perceptions of the past. The Archaeology and Ancient History major is a new major jointly offered by the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry and the Centre for Archaeological Science.

In 2003, UOW researchers uncovered evidence of a previously unknown Hominin species (nicknamed the "Hobbit") in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. This major is an opportunity to become part of UOW's internationally-recognised research in archaeology and the complex story of human evolution.

Archaeology and Ancient History at UOW will enable you to gain valuable skills and study topics about which both you and our staff are passionate. Graduates from the Archaeology and Ancient History major may gain employment in heritage management, museums, in archaeological research and as teachers.

What you will study
You will explore the political, social and economic contexts of Rome and Greece. This will be complemented by learning about the ‘Big’ questions in Archaeology, in both our own region and the rest of the world, from early prehistory to the Middle Ages. You will gain field and practical experience using a range of different techniques and sources to examine material remains including fossils, artefacts and relics from a wide range of periods, places and people. You will round off your major by completing capstone subjects in Archaeology and Ancient History where you will apply the knowledge and skills you have learned to real-world investigations into the ancient past.

In addition to the Archaeology and Ancient History major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

The Game and Mobile Development major has been designed to meet the current global demand for skilled graduates in the areas of game and multimedia system development. This major will equip you with skills to apply techniques to the development of video games and related systems on computers and mobile platforms, including devices such as mobile phones, tablets and wearable devices. You will be able to identify approaches to solving real-world problems in video games and multimedia systems. In addition, you will develop both traditional computer science skills as well as creative skills including visualisation, interaction and communication skills. Experts in this field work in the entertainment industry, the game and mobile industry in Australia and worldwide as mobile application developers, game programmers, animators, game engine developers, mobile entertainment and multimedia designers.

This degree
Computer scientists focus on the theoretical foundations and practical approaches to computation and its applications. They design methods and tools and write programs for computer applications. These applications can be in areas such as computer systems to control machinery, information management and big data, applications for mobile devices, stock market trend analysis, game design, visualisation of chemical reactions, neural network design, computational geometry for robot navigation, patient monitoring in hospitals, and much more.

You will be able to choose your major in your second year after studying a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. Find your strengths and interests as you study the fundamentals of computer science and IT: programming, problem solving, network and communications, web technology, data management, system analysis, human–computer interaction, and project management. You’ll also complete a final-year capstone team project.

You can also choose to study a double degree with Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Creative Arts or Business. These programs of study will provide you with a broad experience of technology using various industry products such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, SAP and Cisco.

What you will study
You can choose to study a double degree with Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Creative Arts or Business. These programs of study will provide you with a broad experience of technology using various industry products such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, SAP and Cisco.

The Game and Mobile Development major includes subjects such as 3D modelling and animation, game engine essentials, multicore and GPU programming, mobile multimedia, and interactive computer graphics. Students are strongly encouraged to choose some electives from Creative Arts.

If you are doing, or have done particularly well in your Bachelor of Communication and Media degree, you should consider an Honours year. Your Bachelor of Communication and Media degree will have introduced you to a wide range of topics and problems, and an Honours project will enable you to explore these ideas in much greater depth. Honours research topics are various and negotiable. If you are really interested in a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported.

From a potential employer's perspective, your ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently are highly valued attributes.

The Honours year has a number of functions at UOW; as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research.  It may also afford you the opportunity to explore future career options. Studying Honours teaches you: training in research skills and in information systems (archives, the Library, databases and electronic research networks);  opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing; experience in working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project to meet a deadline; and experience in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument or thesis.

With more communication and commerce being conducted online than ever before, the web provides incredible opportunities for businesses and individuals working in web development. Web design has become an integral part of our personal and business lives. Animated graphics, key words, user interface design, usability testing and easy to use information flows give customised websites a competitive edge in today's digital media economy.

Web designers and developers create visual architecture for the web using code that is clean, maintainable, user-friendly and responsive to changing business needs and customer requirements.

Careers include web developers, web designers, mobile developers, web database administrators and web analysts.

This degree
The Bachelor of Information Technology provides foundation knowledge of organisational areas in IT, including:

• Database management
• Programming
• Information systems analysis and design
• Communications and networks
• Security
• Project management
• Web-based technology
• Professional practice in IT

You will be able to choose your major in your second year after studying a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. Find your strengths and interests as you study the fundamentals of computer science and IT: programming, problem solving, network and communications, web technology, data management, system analysis, human–computer interaction, and project management. You’ll also complete a final-year capstone team project.

You can also choose to study a double degree with Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Creative Arts or Business. These programs of study will provide you with a broad experience of technology using various industry products such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, SAP and Cisco.

What you will study
This course provides you with the technical knowledge to design and develop effective websites and web applications for online shopping, online auctions, employee kiosks, online catalogues or social networks. You'll learn about issues related to usability and accessibility, navigation, site structure and information architecture.

Business Law provides a legal perspective to business practice. Understanding the context, application and the impact of law on the structures and transaction of business is crucial to business innovation.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will begin your major in Business Law and then choose from a wide range of electives. The degree provides you with an understanding of the Australian legal system and how it influences business transactions. Careers include business advisor, contracts negotiator, client manager, HR consultant, WHS officer and commercial transaction consultant.

You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
Business Law encompasses many overlapping fields, ranging from specific regulatory frameworks to corporate governance. Fields you can focus on include international business law, banking and taxation law, employment and anti-discrimination law, work health and safety law, and media law.

The Master of Applied Finance (Financial Services) is for students interested in acquiring an advanced understanding of financial institutions, bank management, and lending. If you are currently working in the Finance industry or a recent graduate, you will benefit from the specialized knowledge learned in this course.

You will study the theory and practice of financial management and gain an understanding of the global financial system. Additionally, competing approaches to corporate governance and business ethics will be developed, and you will learn how to provide protection against portfolio, financial and corporate risks.

You will examine the legal framework establishing, controlling and regulating financial institutions and examine bank management theory, a bank's lending process and the securities associated with it.

The Master of Information Technology (Enterprise Networking) involves an in-depth study of the organisational, economic, regulatory and socio-technical issues that arise in the implementation of IT in business and government, and how to effectively manage those issues.

This degree is suitable for those without an IT background seeking to develop the fundamental skills required to work in the sector, or to undertake a management role in which an understanding of IT implementation is essential.

What you will study
You will study core subjects in programming, data management and security, information design and content management, e-business technologies, strategic network design, systems development and business process management. You will also complete a minor research project or report.

This degree
With the proliferation of mobile and other devices with network capability, along with the rising popularity of the Internet, users and application providers expect services to be available anytime and anywhere. This course in Enterprise Networking provides you with the skills to project manage and administer computer networks and security risks.

This course will prepare you for a career in network administration or network design and management, or network security engineer or administrator.

If you are doing, or have done particularly well in your Bachelor of International Studies degree, you should consider an Honours year. This normally involves one additional year of study following the successful completion of a three-year undergraduate degree. Your Bachelor of International Studies degree would have introduced you to a wide range of topics and problems, and an Honours project enables you to explore one in much greater depth. Honours research topics are various and negotiable—if you are really interested in a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported by our expert staff.

From a potential employer's perspective, whatever your topic, being able to demonstrate the ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently, are all highly desirable qualities.

The Honours year has two functions at UOW: as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research. Studying Honours is about:

• Learning research skills, navigation skills and information systems (archives, the Library, databases, electronic research networks);
• The opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing. It provides the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project to meet a deadline;
• Experiences in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument/thesis of 15,000 words.

What you will study
The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) consists of 50% coursework and 50% research work.  The research component of this degree takes the form of a research thesis under the supervision of an academic employed in the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Studying Politics at UOW involves examining the origins and nature of power, consent, authority, and consensus that underpin social and global order. In the Politics Major we examine and explore political institutions, culture, class, gender, ethnicity, political economy, political theory and international relations. A Politics major aims to give you an understanding of how politics can and does operate at many levels—from the gender politics of the bedroom, home or workplace, to the government of nation states, and into the international realm. The study of politics is not just to do with how people organise power in the here and now, it also concerns itself with both the past and the future. Whether it is a country being studied, relations between countries, or a body of political ideas, studying Politics helps you engage with complex ideas about the individual, government and society.

What you will study
The Bachelor of Arts (Politics) offers subjects that examine Australian politics, political theory, comparative politics, the politics of regions, the media, political economy and international peace and security. We encourage you to study as broadly as possible across the areas offered by the Politics discipline. In third year, you have the opportunity to apply to undertake an internship in political institutions, both in Australia and overseas.