Study Regulations* for the bachelor study programme of Business Administration (B.A.) at SRH Hochschule Berlin according to the decision of the senate 17 of the basic statutes 27. May 2010 1
* Whenever the statutes name persons or groups of persons, male as wells as female persons are meant. 2
Content Page Section I General Terms 3 1 Field of Application, Responsibility 3 2 Conventions 3 3 Objectives 4 4 Languages 5 5 Admission Requirement and Procedure 5 6 Programmes and Organisation 6 7 Evaluation 6 Section II Structure of Studies 6 8 Duration of Study, Extent of Academic Requirements 6 9 Structure: Knowledge, Method, Profile and Experience 6 10 Category Knowledge 7 11 Category Method 7 12 Category Profile and Experience 7 13 Bachelor Thesis 7 14 Profile of Academic Years 8 15 Curriculum 8 Section III Final Clauses 9 3
16 Guarantee of Study Programme 9 17 Commencement of Statutes 9 Annex: Timetable of Studies Scheduling of Modules 10 4
Section I General Terms 1 Field of Application, Responsibility (1) These statutes regulate the contents and structure of the bachelor study programme Economics Business Administration with the degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at the SRH Hochschule Berlin. The bachelor degree courses are offered in a general version, as well as with a major in business psychology or a major in tax and accounting. (2) The senate of the SRH Hochschule Berlin charges a director of teaching with the organisation of teaching and research; the director has to be employed in full-time in the area of teaching and research at SRH Hochschule Berlin. Rights and obligations of the examination board remain unaffected. 2 Conventions (1) All courses and subjects are taken in learning units (modules) coordinated thematically and timewise according to these statutes. At least 4 credits are assigned to a module. They may include more than one course. Generally, modules are completed within two terms, one semester or another adequate time unit by formal study examinations. (2) A study period signifies the student s input in a time unit, which is needed for reaching the aimed qualification and provision of demanded efforts in regular time (workload). (3) Credits can be reached by successful participation at a module. They define module s demands with the regularly requirement of needed study time and enable identification of reached creditaccumulation and credit-transfer on the basis of ECTS. According to the basic conditions of the conference of German cultural ministers about credit system and modularisation the SRH Hochschule Berlin awards 1 credit for 30 single hours. Modules closed by awarding credits get a grade. 5
(4) The contact of students with the lecturer in lectures or other forms is quantified by the parameter contact level. The contact level can take values between 0 and 100. Thereby 0 describes self-study and the theoretical value of 100 a situation, in which the time of study is completely filled with attendance in courses. (5) The contact level is a basic part of the curriculum. It is composed by didactical conception of the module, media mix (in particular the networked use of external tutorial) and the type of exercise. The contact level is reported in the course documents and continuously evaluated. 3 Objectives (1) The study programme shall prepare the students for their professional work in the areas of business, administration and science with regards to social change. The necessary professional knowledge, ability and methods shall be taught to encourage the students for independent scientific work, critical thinking and free responsible, democratic and social acting. With regard to professional life, the students shall receive a wide scientific and practiceoriented education. This shall lead to a broad range of qualifications and with this to long-term operative ability to take leading or independent action in various fields of application. This stands for the acquisition of professional and interdisciplinary competencies and qualifications. (2) In study courses with a major field in business psychology and taxes and accounting, knowledge shall be provided that is based on the general education and qualification, but also gives a deep insight in the particular field of application and qualification. Beyond, individual profiling can be achieved in the category profile and experience ( 12). (3) Interdisciplinary competencies include cognitive and social abilities. Cognitive abilities are essential to identify problems and place them into the right context, as well as to think analytically and critically. Parts of the social abilities are the communication skills, especially the ability to discuss, cooperate and lead, as well as the ability for solidarity-based acting within social responsibility. (4) During the course of studies the international understanding of the students for political, economic and cultural regards shall be encouraged. This enables the students for professional life in a transnational context and international institutions. 6
(5) The willingness and ability of the students for lifelong learning shall be developed. 4 Languages (1) The study programme (general curriculum according to annex) is offered in German and English language. The knowledge in English respectively German on an appropriate level is required. In the context of studies the terminology is deepened. Further foreign languages shall be offered. (2) In the study programmes with the major field in business psychology and taxes and accounting the working language is German. 5 Admission Requirements and Procedure (1) The admission for the bachelor programme requires a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or an advanced technical college certificate. (2) The study places are assigned by a selection procedure at the SRH Hochschule Berlin. The university decides on an invitation to the selection procedure on the basis of an application. A selection committee does the selection procedure. The executive committee installs the selection committee. (3) The decision of approval is made by the director of teaching based on the recommendation of the selection committee. (4) For the approval in a German-speaking course, a certificate on sufficient knowledge in the German language is required, e.g. TestDaf Niveau 4 or another adequate certificate. For the approval in an English-speaking course, a certificate on sufficient knowledge in the English language is required, according to TOEFL-Standard of itb 79-80, within a two year transition phase of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or another adequate certificate. 7
6 Programmes and Organisation (1) Basic form of a lecture is the seminar. It is characterised by tutorials and discussions. (2) The seminarian lectures are extended by other practice-oriented teaching methods, which build up the student s initiative for self-study and teamwork (including case studies, business games, role plays, presentations, negotiation). (3) The organisation is characterised by web based, interactive study management of the SRH Hochschule Berlin. Though this, a high standard of teaching and research, and communication between lecturers and students, a well as communication between students is given. A high quality of managing the studies is ensured. Most important for studies is the willingness to make use of the interactive study management; an active participation for further development is desirable. (4) The organisation is structured in academic years. One academic year is divided into two semesters for the purpose of an organised implementation. One semester covers at least 14 lecture weeks and two examination weeks. (5) The temporal allocation of modules, its functional correlation, and the link to objectives is significant for the form and organisation of studies. Courses of one module are accomplished over a period of 4 to 18 weeks. As needed in profile and methodological concept, the modules may completely or partly be offered in weekly frequencies, in compact form, as well as in study groups or another form. Thereby, the guidelines for credits and contact level have to be guaranteed. (6) For every module, one student team of two to five students may be built up to support the lecturer in scheduling and managing the module. The lecturer takes final decisions. The selection of team members is up to the lecturer based on individual interests, diversity of the participants and general objectives. The goal of the assistance is to improve their responsible and project-oriented working skills. Every student shall be speaker of a module at least once during the course of study. The participation is documented in the Diploma Supplement. 7 Evaluation 8
The internal evaluation takes place continuously. The results are documented and used for the improvement of teaching and research, as well as for a further development of the study course Economics Business Administration. Furthermore, an external evaluation according to the peer-review-method is planned. 9
Section II Structure of Studies 8 Duration of Study, Extent of Academic Requirements (1) Standard period of study corresponds to three years. (2) The bachelor programme is divided into three academic years. The required duration of study is scheduled to 1.800 hours p.a. and 5.400 hours in total. The programme includes 138 study weeks. The period of 46 weeks p.a. is used for different courses and study methods. (3) The academic requirements are regulated in credits; the volume of completed academic requirements in terms of workload is measured by grading. The study programme Economics Business Administration includes 180 credits. (4) The contact level expresses the distribution of study time on the method of study. It is scheduled in the Curriculum and continuously evaluated. The amount of lectures per week result from credits and contact level. (5) The student decides, whether he or she studies according to the general Curriculum or according to one of the courses majoring in business psychology or taxes and accounting, which base on different Curricula (see Curricula in the annex). As long as at least one module beside bachelor examination is not fulfilled and no module is definitely failed, students can change the focus of study only one time in the first academic year. With regards to content passed exams of modules regulations are made by the examination regulation. 9 Structure: Knowledge, Method, Profile and Experience 10
The bachelor programme Economics - Business Administration is structured in three categories knowledge, method and profile and experience. In courses majoring in business psychology and taxes and accounting, the category knowledge is divided into knowledge I (general economic and jurisprudential courses) and knowledge II (courses with a focus on major field of study). For the profile apply three principles: - The role of knowledge acquisition is defined in two ways. First, the subjects are not wide and final in the particular discipline with a regard to the rapid change of knowledge demand, but fundamental, exemplary, cross-disciplinary and international oriented. Second, the content selection is determined by standards of disciplinary sustainability and application-oriented relevance of transfer. - The transfer of methodological competence is emphasised strongly for preparation of lifelong learning. - Professional qualification requires the link between knowledge and methodological skills, as well as the personal and social competency. This is achieved by the weighting of study content in the particular modules and especially in the category profile and experience. 11
10 Category Knowledge The modules of the category knowledge shall pass through a development of core, deepening and extension segments during the course of studies. In the core segment, basic competences in the focus disciplines of the study programme are acquired. In the extension segment, the field of knowledge from other disciplines is developed, which contributes particular achievements to the study objectives. In the deepening segment, topics from the focus disciplines are deepened and exemplary developed. The content selection and its communication are especially targeted on practice-oriented cases and multidisciplinarity based on reality. Requirements in terms of disciplinary completeness are pushed into the background. 11 Category Method (1) The objective of this category is the reliable mastery of economic related methods, which are used and deepened in all modules of the study programmes. (2) The effectiveness of gained knowledge and methodical skills of the accomplishment in professional tasks shall be ensured by the development and strengthening of personal interdisciplinary skills. Techniques of self-management in work and time organisation and methods of scientific work are acquired. (3) To be capable of these techniques shall facilitate the handling of conflicts, the pressure to perform and the pressure of time. Through suitable study methods, interpersonal communication and working skills in manifold structured work environments, as well as intercultural competence in particular are acquired. Included are rhetoric and presentation trainings, project work in teams and conflict management. (4) Additional in the German-speaking study programme, efforts are made to achieve the correct and confident use of the English language in spoken and written form in professional tasks respectively in the corresponding terminology. The minimum target is the good oral and written language competence in the everyday communication. In the English-speaking study programme, efforts are made to achieve good language competence in the everyday communication and fundamentals in professional tasks in the German language or in another foreign language. 12
12 Category Profile and Experience The modules of this category support especially the professional and application-oriented profiling of the student. This is achieved by Ressort and project papers, as well as other practical phases. The courses may be accomplished within the scope of study visits or company visits abroad. Projects and project papers shall be performed together with courses from other modules. Thereby, student s prior work on application-oriented topics in project groups in a limited period of time. The results are documented. 13 Bachelor Thesis The bachelor thesis shall demonstrate that the students are able to handle a topic of a focus discipline according to scientific methods in detail and systematically. The results shall be presented and documented independently. The scope of investigations correlates to a workload of 300 hours (10 credits). A practice-oriented topic may be accomplished in cooperation with an institution. Further details are regulated in the examination rules. 14 Profile of Academic Years The Bachelor programme is divided into three academic years with an independent curricular profile. The first academic year is characterised by the disciplinary foundation in the core segment, cross disciplinary transfer of knowledge and the personal development of organisational and communication skills. It ceases with a 150 hour practical project I; the Ressort at SRH University. The second academic year prior deepens the practical and methodical knowledge by practical-oriented and case-oriented selection of content and method from the focus disciplines. It is strived for the networking of content, which normally includes the usage of rehashed material of partner universities or other providers. The course of studies is designed as such that a student exchange with a partner university and the individual profiling (according to 3 par. 2, clause 2) are supported. The transition from the second to the third semester takes place in project phase II, which is completed in an external institution. The third academic year serves as concluding practical and personal profiling of the student. His or her independence, professional and vocational competences are developed and consolidated. 15 Schedule of Studies The assignment of modules to academic years is determined according to appendix (Timetables of Studies - Scheduling of Modules). 13
Section III Final Clauses 16 Guarantee of Study Programme The SRH Hochschule Berlin guarantees a study programme, which enables matriculated students to finish their studies within the scheduled duration. 17 Commencement of Statutes These statutes for Bachelor study courses at SRH Hochschule Berlin are revealed to the senate administration for education, science and research according to 24 Federal Higher Education Act (Hochschulrahmengesetz) and becomes effective by simultaneous publication. 14
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Annex: Curricula Temporal Allocation of Modules Curriculum Overview: B.A. Module Course Description Semester 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Module Fundamentals number Knowledge 18 10 26 20 8 16 1 Business Economics Fundamentals I (Introduction and Production) 5 2 Business Economics Fundamentals II (Marketing, Financing and Investment) 5 3 National Economics Fundamentals 5 4 Economic Policy and Structural Change 5 5 PSH Philosophy, Social Science and History 8 Money and Ethics 4 Demography, Market- and Distribution Forms 4 11 Accounting 10 Bookkeeping, Annual Accounts and Internal Accounting 5 Introduction to Tax Law, Int. Accounting and Group Accounting 5 13 Logistics Management 4 14 Communication and Information Management, Data Banks and Web-based Services 4 15 Law 8 Business Law, Contract Design, Commercial Law Labour Law, Competition Law, Information and Communication Law, International Law 4 4 16 Financing 4 16
17 Controlling 4 18 Human Research Management and Organisation 4 19 Marketing 8 Marketing Mix, Buyer Behaviour and Strategic Marketing 4 Market Research, International Marketing, Online Marketing 4 21 Economic, Fiscal and Social Policy 4 22 Business Plan 4 4 23 Business Game 4 24 Innovation and Technology Management 4 25 Corporate Governance 4 (Continued on the next page) 17
General Curriculum continued Methods 12 16 4 10 2 2 6 Profile-Building Intercultural Communication and Teamwork Writing, Rhetoric and Creativity 6 3 3 7 Informatics 4 8 Quantitative Methods I 4 9 Quantitative Methods II 4 10 Study Techniques 6 Scientific Writing Project Management 3 3 12 Moderation and Conflict Management 2 20 Quantitative and Qualitative Research 8 Statistics: Descriptive and Inductive Methods 4 Explorative Research and Interview Techniques 4 26 Languages I 2 27 Languages II 2 28 Languages III 2 29 Languages IV 2 30 Languages V 2 31 Languages VI 2 Profile and Practical Experience 0 4 0 0 20 12 32 Ressort 4 33 Internship 20 34 Colloquium Bachelor 2 18
35 Bachelor Thesis 10 Credit Points/ Semester 30 30 30 30 30 30 SUM Semester hours 26 26 24 23 12 22 SUM Workload (WL) 900 900 900 900 900 900 WL-hours per week 1.800 1.800 1.800 19