Programme And Module Handbook
 
Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 09/09/2015
College College Social Sciences
School Birmingham Business School
Department Economics
Partner College and School Modern Languages
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title B.Sc. Money, Banking and Finance with Italian Studies Full-time
Programme Code 2047
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 4 Year(s)
Accreditations This programme has no outside accreditations
Aims of the Programme This programme combines the analytical rigour of an economics degree with a practical focus on banking, accounting and finance and a thorough grounding in Italian language skills.

The programme aims to stimulate students intellectually through the study of these fields and to lead them to appreciate their application to a range of problems and their relevance in a variety of contexts. Students should receive a firm foundation of knowledge about the workings of economic and financial systems and develop the relevant skills for the constructive use of that knowledge in a range of settings.

The first year of the programme provides a foundation in economics, accounting and finance and develops the main quantitative tools required through the programme. 20 credits of language skills are also taken.

The second year develops a core of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Finance and Econometrics, alongside more specialised policy-based and theoretical modules. Another 20 credits of language skills are also taken.

Year Three is spent studying in a country where the chosen language is spoken and the main focus of this year is development of the language.

In the final year of the programme, there is more advanced coverage of finance and banking, together with increased flexibility to specialise in a number of theoretical and policy-oriented fields.

The programme provides students with a range of analytical tools that are applicable to the study of Economics and Finance and transferable to other areas, including analytical and quantitative skills and an ability to develop simplifying frameworks for studying the real world. On graduating, students will be well prepared to work in a range of graduate careers, especially in banking and finance, but also in general management careers, or to progress to Masters-level study in Economics or Finance.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
Appropriate level of fluency and accuracy in using the Italian language as a medium of understanding, expression and communication (both oral and written), with awareness of stylistic and sociolinguistic variation.
A coherent core of economic principles including microeconomic issues of decision and choice, the production and exchange of goods, the interdependency of markets, economic welfare, and macroeconomic issues such as employment, inflation, balance of payments, national income, growth, business cycles, money, finance.
Analytical methods and model-based arguments, and appreciate the existence of different methodological approaches
Relevant principles of banking, accounting, and finance
Relevant quantitative methods and computational techniques including the appropriate mathematical and statistical methods such as econometrics.
Application of economic principles to applied topics.
Application of economic principles and reasoning to a variety of policy issues.
Relevant presentation of economic ideas and analysis utilising various media.
Formal language classes combined with extensive reading and other forms of exposure to and practice in Italian. Residence abroad. Lectures, small-group classes, computer based learning, independent learning and research.

Lectures, small-group classes, computer based learning, independent learning and research.

Seminars, tutorials, project supervision, language classes, guided and independent reading. Also through residence abroad.
Coursework (essays, dissertations, project work, oral presentations), unseen written examinations, oral/aural examinations.

Unseen written examinations, coursework, problem sets, tests.
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
Advanced language skills (written and oral, receptive and productive, cognitive and practical) in Italian.
Comprehension, analysis, evaluation, distillation and contextualisation of information across a range of subject areas and the application of both generic and subject-specific skills in Italian.
Ability to abstract and simplify in order to identify and model the essence of a problem
Ability to apply logical reasoning, analysis and assumption-based models to enhance problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to compare different economic outcomes, before and after a change in the underlying parameters and consider parameter changes in broader social and political contexts.
Ability to assimilate, structure, analyse, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
Interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively and apply generic and practical skills to living and studying/working in a non-English speaking environment.
Formal language classes combined with extensive reading and other forms of exposure to and practice in Italian. Residence abroad. Lectures, small-group classes, computer based learning, independent learning and research.

Lectures, small-group classes, independent learning and research.

Year abroad.
Unseen written examinations, coursework, problem sets, tests.