Table of Contents Major Structures
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List of Majors, Sub-Majors and Electives
5
Current Student Interviews
Accounting
6
Advertising and Marketing Communications
8
Business Law
10
Economics
12
Finance
14
Human Resource Management
16
Information Technology
18
Management
20
Marketing
22
Major Selection FAQ
24
Major Selection and Career Path
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Introduction
Congratulations on almost making all the way through your core business subjects! This means that you’ll be going through the process of selecting your majors when 2018 enrolment opens on Monday the 16th of October. It can be a bit of a daunting decision seeing as this could be the point that sets the tone for the remainder of your studies and forges the direction of your future career. It is a big decision to make and I would encourage you to seek out as much information as you can before making a choice. This guide should only serve as a single resource for you to use. Be sure to research subject content and details further in the UTS Handbook (the most definitive source of information). Its also good to chat to any other students you know who might already be completing a particular major.
In creating this guide we hoped to create a resource that covered each major in a more subjective light that can’t be found in the UTS Handbook already. Each standard major has been discussed by a current student who offer their thoughts on their major of choice. As such, some information, especially the ‘At a Glace’ graphs, are based on personal experiences and may differ between students. If you are particularly interested in the International Business major, we encourage you to seek out information in the Handbook as well as potentially reach out to current students via the UTS BSoc Discussion Page.
What you study is an important part of what recruiters look at, but if you are also looking to bolster your extra-curricular involvement and experience be sure to keep an eye out for the UTS Business Society general committee applications opening next week on our Facebook page.
Lachlan Peden 2017 Education Director
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Major Structures First Year Core Subjects Note: Some majors will have different a number of elective and core subjects. For example Accounting is made up solely of core subjects with no electives.
8 Core Subjects
Major 4 Core Major Subjects 3 Major Elective Subjects
Be sure to check in the UTS Handbook for more detail.
Capstone
Sub-Major
Sub-Major
4 Core Sub-major Subjects
4 Core Sub-major Subjects
Sub-Major
Electives
4 Core Sub-major Subjects
24 Credit points
Second Major
4 Core Major Subjects 3 Major Elective Subjects Capstone
Majors
Accounting
Human Resource Management
Advertising and Marketing Communications
International Business
Management
Economics
Marketing
Finance
Extended Majors
Extended Economics
Extended Management
Extended Finance
Extended Marketing
Electives Electives or structured elective sequences (totalling 24 credit points) can be taken from any faculty in the University, or from another university or its equivalent, with UTS Business School approval. Check out the full list of UTS subjects here
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Note: Structures will differ slightly between majors and for those completing most combined degrees. E.g. B Business and B Law students will only have the option of one business major/two sub-majors/one sub-major and electives
First Year Core Subjects 8 Core Subjects
Extended Major
4 Core Major Subjects 7 Major Elective Subjects Capstone
Sub-Major
Electives
4 Core Sub-major Subjects
24 Credit points
Sub-Majors
Accounting in Practice
International Business Studies
Advanced Advertising
International Management
Advertising
International Studies
Business Information Systems
Language other than English
Business Innovation and Financial Management
Management Consulting
Management
Business Law
Marketing
Econometrics
Mathematics
Economics
Quantitative Management
Event Management
Specialist Country Studies
Finance
Sport Management
Financial Reporting
Statistics
Financial Services
Strategic Marketing
Human Resource Management
Taxation Law
Information Technology
Tourism Management
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Accounting Ashleigh Blumor Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Law
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight?
What is the most challenging thing about your major? I would have to say the most challenging but exciting thing about an Accounting major is the practicality.
I won’t have done anything differently in terms of my major choice. When I was faced with the decision after completing my cores, I thought it was actually quite easy to choose.
It is always nice to apply what you had read or listened to in a lecture to a real-life example, but at times this can be tough, especially when the concepts do not correlate to exactly what you have learnt.
I personally don’t enjoy maths, so I ruled out major’s leading on from FBF and Business Statistics. The core Economics, Management and Marketing subjects weren’t really my forte but I was good at Accounting A and B and found them interesting.
For example, in Financial Statement Analysis (Capstone) part of your individual assignment involves reformatting financial statements. You cover this thoroughly in the lecture and in your tutorial but when it comes to apply the concepts learnt to your chosen business (in my case Flight Centre), not everything matches up exactly textbook. It involves a lot more reading and a thorough understanding to be able to do this well.
I enjoyed the practicality of the subjects and the teaching staff so I thought, why not? What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you?
What is the most rewarding thing about your major?
After graduation, I am planning on pursuing a career in commercial law and am particularly interested in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Definitely, the most rewarding aspect of an Accounting Major is the opportunities and career pathways it opens up for you.
My Accounting major has been and will be very useful for this chosen career. For example, in Accounting for Business Combinations you look at principles of consolidation, the consolidation of multiple companies and the acquisition and sale of companies and their major assets. It was extremely useful in gaining a practical understanding of how and why companies merge.
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect? I would also have to say that the major is a lot more diverse than Accounting A and B. It covers a variety of areas and is definitely practical and tailored towards you obtaining the best skills possible to excel in your chosen career.
I have definitely developed a real interest in understanding of what drives a business, what businesses are trying to achieve and how to anticipate issues that may affect a business as a result of my accounting degree.
There are many other aspects of the Accounting major that you wouldn’t expect based on first year experiences. One example comes to mind from the Auditing subject. As part of your assessment, you are required to complete a video interview. Not only does this allow you to practice your video interview skills but it is a fun, innovative and exciting way to partake in an assignment.
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Any other general advice for choosing a major?
Be open minded. Do not choose a major based on what the majority of your friends are doing or because you were good at it. Choose something because you enjoy the subject and you think it could be useful to a career you might be interested in. And if worse comes to worst and you have absolutely no idea, do not panic or get your knickers in a twist, you can always change your major. Accounting major career streams: - Audit and Assurance
- Forensic accounting
- Consulting
- Transaction Services
- Enterprise risk management - Financial Advisory
Accounting at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Advertising and Marketing Communication (AMC) Emily Munro Bachelor of Business - AMC and Business Law
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you?
What is the most challenging thing about your major? The most important thing to remember when doing a marketing communications major is learning how to manage your time effectively.
I would love to go into a marketing position within a large business. My major definitely helped cement my thoughts towards trying to enter the marketing industry.
Sometime the assignment workload can feel like a lot, so making sure you are prepared in advance makes life a little less stressful.
Any other general advice for choosing a major?
What is the most rewarding thing about the major?
Choose what you’re good at not what makes you the most money. You are never going to excel at something that doesn’t feel right for you, so make sure you listen to your gut instincts.
Being able to interact with likeminded people and use your creative skills is exciting. Coming from a design and arts background, I can use those skills within my advertising subjects.
I would also highly recommend finding a mentor in your final year. They can introduce up to relevant people within the industry you are trying to enter as well as guiding you towards choosing the right career path.
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect? There are going to be a lot of group projects encountered along the way. Making sure you work well in a team and can communicate to group members is key.
Regularly checking Careers Hub for internships can be a great way to get your foot in the door as well as always being open to getting involved on campus. .
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight? I would make sure that group members always pull their weight evenly. Knowing I can talk to my tutors if I feel I am falling behind in class is always helpful, remember that they’re here to help you.
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Marketing Communication at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
Difference between Marketing and AMC majors Whilst both majors cover many of the same topics and have common subjects, AMC focuses on the strategic decisions that must be made to manage a firm's advertising and promotion activities. Understanding how to devise communications with consumers about goods, services and ideas and deliver them via traditional and digital media is a cornerstone of this major. Marketing has a greater focus on the understanding of marketing so that managers can drive organisational growth through a profitable implementation of marketing thinking and strategies. In short, AMC focuses more specifically on devising advertising and communication strategies.
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Business Law
(Only available as a second major)
Shera Malhi
Heri Pearl
Bachelor of Business - Business Law and Accounting
Bachelor of Business - Business Law and Economics
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
There are a couple of challenging things about business law. For example, the difference in essay style and referencing between Business and Law subjects.
One thing that caught me off guard was the introduction of seminars rather than tutorials. But in the end the only real difference was that seminars are longer and tend to be more interactive. Seminars are quite useful as you’re not simply being told the content; instead you’re actively involved in its discussion. The amount of class discussion was not something I was used to, but it gets easier over time. To be able to contribute effectively, it is advised that you do the readings.
The Law aspect was not as hard as I had thought it would be, but keeping up with the large amounts of content is crucial. Regardless of how ‘naturally smart’ you think you are, without the willingness to do hard work and display dedication, this major may not be for you. On the other hand, being organised and dedicated can attain you marks that you may not have thought were achievable. Like I said the content is not as difficult as you think.
The style of referencing also did catch me off guard but it’s a skill you acquire over time.
Another challenging aspect is finding the right balance between preparing for both accounting and business law subjects with my double major. The law subjects are heavy with readings and analysis, whereas accounting subjects usually have a lot more number crunching. The most challenging thing about my major is definitely switching headspace between two very different disciplines.
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight? One thing I would have done is go to all the firstyear law writing classes that were on offer, as they would have helped a lot with the assignments. I would have also dedicated greater time to doing my readings. I understand they can take a long time, but in terms of assisting you, they’re your best resource.
What is the most rewarding thing about the major?
From experience, making notes on a consistent basis, rather than the last minute is also advised. Law is not excessively hard, but cramming large amounts of content will not usually end well in any subject.
The major allows for one to acquire the essential legal knowledge that is needed in the business world whilst not having to actually do a law degree - a business and law double degree would extend your time at university to 5 years. The legal knowledge enhances my understanding of the business world. To establish a thriving business, everything must be done in accordance with the law and failure to do so can lead to catastrophic outcomes for the business, regardless of how effective a business model may be. Being able to analyse different challenges in a legal mindset as well as a business mindset has significantly enhanced my critical thinking skills and consequently my ability to solve business problems.
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you? Not quite sure what I want to do in the business world, but I know that having legal knowledge of it will be a major advantage.
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Any other general advice for choosing a major? Do what you think is interesting rather than what you think will get you a job. Passion is extremely important and it will be further important when you are feeling burnt out near the end of your degree. You are going to get higher marks if you enjoy your major and higher marks are more likely to make you more employable than doing another major you think is in demand. Furthermore, whilst there is a changing business dynamic and the requirements of specific majors as the only way to get into specific industries, your major is still important in your personal and career development. It is essential you research the hands-on applications of the role you are looking at, rather than just what you are told in class. It would be extremely demotivating to pick a major that is simply not suited to your strengths and interests. The more research you do, the more informed your choice can be.
Business Law at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Economics Peter Clark Bachelor of Business - Economics and Accounting
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight?
The most challenging thing about an economics major, isn’t so much the work load it’s more so the difficulty in getting your head around quite difficult and foreign concepts.
There isn’t much I would change in terms of my major and subject selection. I picked my two majors based off the core subjects I most enjoyed throughout first year uni which I think worked well.
The economics major is also has a large focus on mathematics. Personally, I find some of the maths challenging to learn and requires a bit of extra time and practice to understand.
However as mentioned above, I was surprised by how big a step up it was from first year eco to where I am now. I probably should have spoken to people who had already done the major and prepare myself for what was coming instead of finding out the hard way.
For many of the subjects within the economics major, the concepts build upon one another. To succeed, you need to maintain a level of attention/revision to keep on top of weekly classes.
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you?
What is the most rewarding thing about the major? By far the most rewarding thing from the economics major would be the satisfaction you get from when you learn and understand a topic that was previously foreign or too complex for you. In my case, many of the subjects have concepts that I had never heard of.
I’m currently interning with one of the Big 4 accounting firms, so I will most likely be working in accounting as a graduate. Despite this, I still believe I’ll be able to apply what I’ve learnt about diligence and hard work, as well as the technical and analytical skills I developed throughout my economics major.
For example, Econometrics took me a good 7 weeks to fully understand and once it finally clicked, it really resonated with me. It has since become one of the most enjoyable subjects that I have studied at uni so far!
That being said, economics is a changing field with many opportunities, so would still be interested in potentially moving into it at some point in future. Any other general advice for choosing a major?
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
Pick what you’re good at and what you are interested in. Talk to people who do the major and get an idea of whether it actually suits you. Don’t worry if you pick the wrong major and want to change down the line, it’s easy to swap things around (just do it before census date).
Nothing was overly shocking to me, although I felt that there was a little bit of a jump from first year economics in terms of difficulty and workload, but nothing unmanageable.
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Economics at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
Economics major potential career paths:
Graduate:
Career Progression:
- Economic consultant team member
- Policy maker
- Data analysis
- Senior policy analyst
- Economic markets reporter
- Econometrician
- Policy analyst
- Economic natural resources manager
- Market analyst/researcher
- Finance manager - International trade analyst - Academic economist
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Finance Christopher Hammett Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Law
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
I would say the most challenging thing about the finance major is the high level of mathematical problem solving. If you are not so good with numbers and data, it will be quite difficult grasp some concepts. In saying that, where there is a will, there is a way. UTS has resources that can be utilised to help you grasp mathematical concepts, but there must still be a level of dedication.
Well even though this subject is mainly mathematics, there is a decent amount of theoretical knowledge which was at times challenging to understand.
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight? I would practice more problem questions that the subjects give you. Not only will you attain higher marks, but by the end of the examination period you won’t have forgotten most of the content already.
Another challenging thing about the finance major is learning to synthesise views between what a calculation is telling you and what this means for a company/economy. As you become more confident and get further into the major, a lot of the things you learn are reiterated and developed upon.
I believe not being complacent is vital. In essence, the moment I did not understand something, I would go back and spend time trying to figure it out, rather than rote learning a topic. It’s good to get to the bottom of something you do not understand before concepts build on one another and get too complex.
What is the most rewarding thing about the major? The most rewarding thing about this major would probably be the knowledge of finance and its application in businesses and the economy. Finance is such a diverse subject that looks at how many different variables interact to create the financial and economic conditions that we find ourselves in. A great aspect to this major is that it allows you to make real world decisions in regard to schools, hospitals and business, consequently adding a human element to the field, which is very rewarding.
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you? I plan on working at an Investment Bank, where a major in finance will be of a lot of help, particularly considering that the lingo and techniques used in the banking sector is analogous to that used in the finance major. For example, the valuation techniques we are taught are all used in some form or another within the working environment.
Another rewarding thing about the finance major is the understanding of all the real world implications. You have the opportunity to study the factors that influence a share price, how to value companies and the implications of investments. Working through complex problems individually or as a group and eventually coming to a correct answer is also one of the most important real world skills that the finance major teaches you.
Finance opens many doors and can lead to many opportunities, despite the specific content making you think that it has a narrow focus.
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Any other general advice for choosing a major? I would recommend choosing a major that is related to the career that you have in mind or the major that best suited your abilities. A great tool that would help you is your first-year subjects. All of them provide foundation knowledge and experience to most of the majors. So, if you think that you are a good fit for a major, look at how you enjoyed the foundational subject/s of that major. Also, researching different jobs that are related to the major is a way to go. You may discover a career option you would never have otherwise known about. A good way to do this is by going to as many networking events as possible and speaking to the individuals who actually work in the field of work you are considering. This allows you to grasp the day to day intricacies of the field that may not be introduced in class. Finance at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
Finance major potential career streams
Corporate Finance: Working with a company to find and manage the capital needed to run the enterprise while maximising corporate value and minimising risk.
Investment Banking: Facilitating the issuance of corporate securities
Private Equity and Venture Capital: Helping businesses find capital for expansion and
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion. 15
Human Resource Management (HRM) Erin Meier Bachelor of Business - HRM and Marketing
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
The most challenging thing about HRM is being able to put yourself in other people’s shoes and realising that all the theory you are learning has to actually correspond with real world scenarios.
Firstly, I didn’t except the major to incorporate as many psychological theories as it does. In many of the subjects you study, you’ll touch on aspects of psychology and human behaviour, learn about the origins of such theories, the research that supports them and learn how they are applied in an organisational context. This is important to understand in order to be successfully implement HR policies within organisations.
When completing assessments you must consider how what you are writing about would affect the lives of real people and therefore isn’t just as straightforward as learning concepts and analysing them on paper.
Secondly, I did not expect that a major in HRM would incorporate subjects studied in the management major. I believe however this is beneficial as it keeps what you are learning interesting and allows you to gain a more holistic view of how organisations operate and the role employees play within this operation.
At times it can be difficult to separate your own emotions from your writing especially when making recommendation on how to improve HR practices as you tend to bring in your own experiences and desires. However I believe that all of these things just make the subject a whole lot more interesting to learn about as you are always learning things from multiple perspectives.
There is also common misconception that the first year subject Managing People and Organisations represents the exact style of content and assessment format that you will encounter in HRM subjects, but I can say from first-hand experience that this is not the case. If you didn’t enjoy MPO that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy HRM subjects.
What is the most rewarding thing about the major? The most rewarding thing about studying HRM is the understanding you gain about the role employee’s play within organisations and how you can use this knowledge to create greater working environment for yourself and those around you. All the concepts that you learn in the major can be applied in any workplace and are thus actually useful in the real world.
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight? No, I personally wouldn’t have done anything differently when it comes to choosing HRM as my major and have actually ended up enjoying it more than I expected to. You are constantly learning new ideas and discovering how they all interact and relate to another which keeps you interested in learning more. The major doesn’t just teach you about theories and concepts but actually shows you how they can work and be applied in the real world. The only thing I wish I had done differently was kept on top of readings each week and created summarises so when it came time to study for exams I wasn’t wasting all my team reading them I could have gone straight onto memorising and understanding.
For example in a subject called Managing Employee Relations you learn about how to negotiate greater pay and working conditions when bargaining individual or collective employment contracts. The subject also teaches you what your entitlements are as an employee and what you can do if you believe you have been treated unfairly within the workplace. Hence, the most rewarding part about studying HRM is learning about how you can make a positive difference in not only your own work life but also that of other people, which is something that is unique to the HRM major.
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What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you? I have not currently decided on what I want to do after graduation but am hoping to find a job that will allow me to make a difference within an organisation and help them to achieve their business outcomes. However, I know regardless of what job or industry I enter the skills I have acquired from studying a HRM major will be helpful as beyond the theories you learn in class you also gain an understanding on how organisations work and how to interact and work with others which is an essential part of building a successful career. Any advice for choosing a major? The most important thing is to choose something that you are passionate about or that you find interesting and not something that you think will help you get a high paying job. If you choose something you are passionate about you will be more likely to work harder at it and therefore develop a successful career. Also remember that just because you choose a particular major does not mean that you have to go into that industry after graduation and therefore another reason you should choose something you will enjoy studying.
HRM at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Information Technology
(Only available as a second major)
Kavipriya Manokaran Bachelor of Business - IT and Finance
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight?
The most challenging aspect of Information technology is the need to constantly problem solve and use my critical thinking skills.
I highly recommend really researching the subjects you will pick. Not only make sure you read the subject guide on the UTS website but also seek out external opinions such as StudentVIP and asking other students who have completed the subjects prior.
Coming from a finance background, I needed to learn that there isn’t always one answer to issues and there are multiple solutions to any problem. This is the case is all subjects (maybe except prog fund where the one line will let you move to the next test).
It really helps getting to know a student’s perspective on the subject to ensure you concentrate on the right things.
What is the most rewarding thing about the major?
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you?
The range of skills you develop was the most rewarding aspect of this major. Information technology is a very broad subject and this major structure allows you to follow the path you are most interested in.
Yes! Absolutely! I have a couple different options currently, however all entail at least a small degree of IT knowledge.
Whether you are interested in exploring software development or networking specialisation, there’s something for everyone to explore.
I am a finance student so I’m hoping to combine both so possible paths include business analyst or consulting specialising in technology.
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
Firstly, the technical skills you learn will help anyone in the future as the world becomes more globalised and dependant on technology.
Going into the major, I assumed that’d we be expected to have prior knowledge and that I wouldn’t be able to keep up due to my lack of studying IT throughout high school.
However, if you complete this major and choose to never do IT again, the soft skills developed through the course are transferable to any field. The combination of communication, analytical and problemsolving skills from this degree can assist anyone regardless of what job.
The subjects in IT really give students a strong foundation to Information technology especially if you are inexperienced. 18
Any other general advice for choosing a major? When starting the major go in with an open mind. The major is very broad so make sure you pick the subjects you think that your current skills align with as well as what interests you. Choose carefully to where you put your time as there are certain subjects that you can learn a lot from. Additionally, ask for help. IT is a subject that holds a variety of students in terms of technical skills. If you are unsure about anything, ask you tutors and your peers around you. Communicating with people in your class can definitely make it a more enjoyable and knowledgeable experience.
IT at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Management Ryan Orkin Bachelor of Business - Management and Finance
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you?
What is the most challenging thing about your major? There are a lot of challenging theories involved in the management major. Sometimes it can come across as being a bit abstract and hard to see the practical application.
I would love to work within an organisation on the strategic direction and growth. I feel the management major has many benefits in this regards as people are inherently resistant to change and it has taught me methods of dealing with this resistance and successfully implementing change within and organisation.
There is also a lot of group work where there is no right or wrong answer to a question so it forces you to consider other people’s opinions and perspectives.
Any other general advice for choosing a major?
What is the most rewarding thing about the major?
You really do need to think about your major from a variety of points of view.
Management teaches you how to analyse a company in a different way to other majors as you learn how to objectively analyse the internal workings of a company and employees in a more tangible way than numbers.
Don’t do something you hate, not only will you struggle to engage in class but there is a good chance it can lead into you working in a similar field once graduated.
It was also interesting learning about other people’s perspectives on the topic of internal structure.
Think about what you want to do after Uni, there is nothing wrong with not wanting a grad role in a big firm right out of Uni, ensure that your interests or passions are reflected in what you want to do in life.
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect?
Finally, take into account your skillsets Choosing a major that is in line with what you are good at will go a long way in making classes more enjoyable/understandable and easier to achieve better results in the subject.
I did not expect the depth with which you look at different principles and theories relating to organisations and people. It was intriguing learning about global trends and what potential opportunities they could offer for business in the future.
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight? Personally, I enjoy the management major however It isn’t something that would appeal to everyone. If you are analytically minded then you may be frustrated by the open-ended nature in which concepts and theories can be applied in the management major. 20
Management at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion.
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Marketing Nicole Staff Bachelor of Business - Marketing and Economics
What is the most challenging thing about your major?
The analytical parts of marketing are extremely important and you will find this sort of topic will come up again in various electives. Whilst you won’t be doing maths and statistics a lot of the time it is important to note that there will be some of this content. Don’t worry it’s not as scary as it seems and is very manageable.
In most marketing subjects there is a large volume of content and case studies to learn and understand. This can be challenging when it comes to exam time and you can often feel overwhelmed with all the new concepts, terminology, case studies and ideas and how they all interrelate.
Would you have done anything differently in hindsight?
My advice would be stay on top of notes otherwise you can spend a lot of time purely writing notes at exam time and not actually taking in the content, it’s about using your time effectively. A lot of time you wonder how you are going to remember it all but if you go about it studying it the right way it will be a lot easier for you. Break it all down into parts, learn small sections at time and it will all become clearer as you go. Use acronyms, make shorter notes of things to remember and use examples. It’s challenging but you will learn a lot.
Personally I wouldn’t have done anything differently, marketing was a great choice for me. It’s allowed me to pursue my interests and gain both theoretical and practical knowledge that I can further develop in the workforce. Completing a double major in distinctly different areas has allowed me to not only pursue my different interests but provided variety for me in my studies to keep things interesting. You may not think it but economics and marketing do relate and can help each other. I have also ended up with a broader knowledge of different business disciplines, which is always helpful.
What is the most rewarding thing about the major? In marketing you develop a range of skills and get to apply your knowledge to real case studies. Being able to propose solutions and implementation plans for real companies after thoroughly researching them and identifying problems allows you understand what marketing is like in real companies.
What are you planning to do after graduation and do you think your major selection will help you? Choosing the marketing major has definitely been a great help in securing intern roles for me and hopefully I will continue in the sales and marketing area after graduating.
You are able to gain experience and work with others to collaboratively solve issues that marketers do in their everyday lives. After completing a variety of subjects and projects you have something to take away and have a practical understanding, you’re not just reading a textbook.
Choosing marketing major and doing well in those subjects proves your aptitude and ability to think creatively and analytically, problem solve, and ultimately understand customers. These sort of transferable skills are what employers are looking for and have definitely helped me enter the sales and marketing world.
Are there any things that came up that you didn't expect? I think what most people wouldn’t expect is the more analytical side to marketing. In the major you’ll complete a subject called Marketing Research which uses statistical analysis, software such as SPSS and tools like regression to collate and interpret data. 22
Any other general advice for choosing a major? Pick what area you enjoy most and you find interesting, not what you think you should do or what you think would be best to help you get a job. Try something that challenges you and you will learn a lot of new skills, perspectives and get the most out of your time at uni. I would highly recommend choosing two distinctly different majors as it has helped me learn to think and understand problems in unique ways whilst giving me a variety of transferable skills. Marketing at a Glance*
Amount of Mathematical analysis
Difficulty of Maths
Amount of Essay and Reflection Writing
Group Work
Readings and Theoretical Content
Critical or Independent Thinking
In-class participation
Importance of Exams
Marketing major potential career paths: - Marketing Analyst
- Brand manager
- Insight Analyst
- Product manager
- Marketing coordinator
- Services experience and quality manager
- Social media advisor - Events coordinator
*Don’t Forget: All ‘At a Glance’ graphs are based on just one student’s experience and opinion. 23
Majors FAQ Some of the big questions you have about your major selection answered!
I’ve made great friends in first year and want to still hang out, should I choose a major just because my friend is?
Does it even matter which major I choose? Is there much overlap or can one be applicable to another?
The transition into your second year of university can be a daunting one. You may have already made friends in your core business units and now you’re worried you’ll have to start the process all over again. Given that you must pick a major, it is rare that many of your friends will in fact be picking the same major. This may be stressful, especially knowing the effort you have gone to forge relationships in your first year. This is a natural aspect of university life and such a challenge should not be feared but embraced.
Yes, it does matter which majors you choose as each one is a distinct discipline which will teach you different skills. With majors, there may be a little overlap in topics (for example in the finance and economic majors there are a few subjects containing similar math and problems), however due to the size and range of the topics you encounter in your majors the overlap isn’t prevalent enough to make your selection inconsequential. Each major will always have certain important topics that unique to it.
From personal experience, I have found that the friends I have made in first year will generally be on campus at the same time, at least once a week. There is always time for a quick coffee or lunch in our study breaks. Obviously, if your friends are not doing the same major, you will most likely be not sharing classes together. In saying that, there will be people you will recognise from your first-year classes and this would be a perfect opportunity to forge new friendships with them at the same time.
The major you choose contains the content that you will be focusing on for the rest of your studies and will likely be the direction of your future career. Therefore it is essential to consider whether a particular major is actually something you enjoy and will help you to reach your career objectives.
Is a first year subject indicative of what the major will be like? I felt first year helped me work out what I didn’t want to major in which is just as important. I discovered my strengths were in essay writing and more creative business reports, whereas mathematical subjects were my weakness. Don’t panic if you don’t ace first year, but let your assets guide you in the right directions.
I strongly believe that you should not choose a major based on what your friend is doing. Picking your major is something that should be prioritised over having friends in the same class as you. Whilst your major is not the be all, end all, the field you choose will help shape the flow of your career. Therefore, always go with the choice that is the best fit for your own interests.
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What if I don’t end up liking the major I choose? Can I change my mind and swap majors?
What if I decide business isn’t for me or I decide I want to do a combined degree? Can I still make changes to my degree?
If you choose a major you don’t like, you can change to a different one at any time before completing that major. Simply submit an eRequest on the My Student page (mystudent.uts.edu.au).
Having nearly finished your first year, you should now have a fair idea of whether you enjoy the degree you are in. If you’re a domestic student, and decide that you would prefer to study something else, or want to take up a combined degree, you can apply to transfer to a different course through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) in the same way you applied after leaving school.
Keep in mind that the required subjects for different majors may vary greatly, and changing majors may extend the duration of your degree. Academic and financial penalties may apply if you change your enrolment during a semester, so it’s best to make any changes before the census date if possible (Friday 11 May 2018 is the census date this coming Autumn Semester).
For international students who want to transfer to a different undergraduate degree, you’ll have to submit an internal course transfer application, rather than applying through UAC.
Any subjects you have completed will remain on your academic record, and credit for subjects which apply to your new major will be recognised automatically. This means you won’t have to complete any subjects twice, and can simply continue any subjects that are part of both majors.
For more information on enrolment, get in touch with the UTS Student Centre. You can call 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887) or find them on campus in Building 5C, or Building 10.
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Major Selection and Career Path Stephanie Gonzales (Careers Consultant at UTS Careers) gives her thoughts on the impact that your selection in major will have on your future career.
Are most skills learnt on the job anyway, or is it essential to have them developed in your studies?
Will my choice in majors put me into box and force me down a specific career path? There is no real blanket statement, different companies may have different a criteria for specific roles. In my opinion, the purpose of the major isn’t to pigeon hole you or to restrict you to working in that specific area only. Its really an opportunity for you to learn about an area of interest and to explore different aspects of business. It’s to supplement the core work that you’ve already completed.
It does depend on the area but if you are interested in doing something outside of your major, there are definitely ways to bridge the skills and knowledge gap. That being said, there are a lot of the specific things you need to know are learnt on the job. As long as you keep yourself informed and look at the employers criteria, then you’ll be more aware of the gaps in knowledge that you might have and what to do to fill them.
So major’s can send you down a variety of different paths? For example, just because you major in accounting doesn’t mean you’ll have to become an accountant?
Were there any examples of how to build up professional skills outside of doing a major?
Yeah I’d definitely say that, especially when it comes to business. There tends to be a bit more fluidity as opposed to say engineering. You see a lot of people in different majors trying out and ending up in areas that they hadn’t necessarily majored in.
Yeah, for example if you’ve done a marketing major and later you want to go into finance to become a financial advisor for instance, you can do the RG146. There are definitely things out there that you can use to help shift over. If you can do short courses they are a great way to help transition between disciplines when you’ve already studied a particular major.
Do recruiters actually care what you major in?
A good guideline is to look at a job advertisement which will usually specify particular qualifications that they’re looking for.
Similar to before, it really depends on the role. What I would say is that a lot of the time they’re looking for more so than anything is skills, aptitude, a positive attitude and an interest in the specific role. Yes, if you were interested in applying to a role in finance and you major in it that’s great, but you’ll find that they often look beyond. They’ll look at the experience that you have outside of your study including extracurricular activities and work. Your competitiveness isn’t confined just to what you major in.
Do you think that certain majors will make you more employable than others? My recommendation would be to never choose a major based on job prospects alone. The job market always changes for one thing, so your choice should be around your interests and skills. Yes, some disciplines may have a higher number of graduate roles than others, but it should always come down to what your interests are. If you can choose something that you have a real passion for versus what seems to be the more lucrative at the time, you’ll always get more out of what you actually enjoy.
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So what advice would you have for someone who is passionate about a particular field, but they’re put off by the perceived lack of opportunities?
Any other advice to those choosing their majors? Definitely choose what you’re interested in. Also make sure to review each of the major options and get a broad idea of what each of them entail, not just the ones that you hear more about.
Networking, is definitely going to be one of the most effective strategies here. Definitely start early in your degree and don’t wait until the end. First thing would be to do your research on the type of organisations you were interested in, especially if its a niche area with only a couple companies.
I know it can be a stressful process for a lot of students because it can seem like they’re selecting their long-term career, but its really an opportunity to learn and explore different options.
Research who they are and try to connect and use things like Linkedin. Through that you can do things like informational interviews with people in the field. Find out from their experience and insight how they broke out into that specific area.
UTS Careers offers many programs and events that equip students with employability skills as well as knowledge and confidence for success. Some services include:
Resume checks
Mock interviews
LinkedIn labs
CareersHub access for all job opportunities
General career advice
Much more!
For more information, visit the Careers Service webpage. If you had any further questions about your major selection and career path, UTS Careers has a Drop-In centre where you can shat with a careers advisor, no appointment necessary. Open hours are weekdays, 10am-4pm in CB01.04.13 (entrance near the Harris St bridge)
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Special Thanks
To the Education Portfolio for their hard work in producing this guide.
To various other members of the UTS Business Society who have contributed and shared their thoughts.
To the UTS Business School, UTS Careers Service and ActivateUTS for their continued support of the UTS Business Society.
UTS Business School
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