B6023 Master of Commerce

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Research studies and Part B. Advanced research studies.

Part A. Research studies

These studies will enable you to develop a deep understanding of the latest research approaches within the discipline and develop your skills in conducting research on complex business issues.

Part B. Advanced research studies

These units will equip you with foundational expertise and advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge necessary for successful doctoral research within the discipline, with the opportunity to work with a range of academic staff to further develop your research skills and aspirations.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you must complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you must complete 48 credit points, comprising Part B.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 96 credit points structured into two parts: Part A. Research studies (48 credit points) and Part B. Advanced research studies (48 credit points).

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Accounting specialisation 

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points)

You must complete the following five units (42 credit points) 

• ACX4000 Research Methods 
• ACX4019 Honours research project (12 credit points) 
• ACX4020 Honours research project (12 credit points) 
• ACX4070 Issues in financial accounting and auditing 
• ACX4090 Issues in management accounting and systems  

You must complete one Level 5 Accounting unit (6 credit points), to be chosen in consultation with the Course coordinator.

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following five units (30 credit points): 

• ACF5401 Foundations of accounting research
• ACF5402 Current issues in accounting research  
• BEX5630 Philosophy of research 
• BEX5104 Research project 1 
• BEX5105 Research Project 2 

You must complete one methods unit from the following (6 credit points):

• BEX5610 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX5620 Advanced qualitative research methods
• BEX5106 Experimental research methods in business

You must complete twelve credit points of electives at level 5 as approved by the course coordinator.

Banking and finance specialisation

Part A: Research studies (48 credit credit points)

You must complete the following seven units (48 credit points):

• BFX5000 Research skills
• BFX5001 Corporate finance and intermediation theory
• BFX5002 Empirical corporate finance and banking
• BFX5003 Econometrics for finance
• BFX5004 Asset pricing theory
• BFX5005 Empirical asset pricing and investments
• BFX5006 Research in finance (12 credit points)

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points)

You must complete the following five units (42 credit points):

• BFX5011 Advanced asset pricing
• BFX5012 Advanced corporate finance
• BFX5014 Advanced behavioural finance
• BFX5015 Research project 1 (12 credit points)
• BFX5016 Research project 2 (12 credit points)

And you must complete one level 5 elective unit (6 credit points).

Econometrics and business statistics specialisation

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points)

You must complete the following unit (12 credit points):

• ETC5860 Honours research project (12 credit points)

You must complete three units (18 credit points) from the following, to be chosen in consultation with the Course coordinator:

• ETC5440 Statistical theory and practice
• ETX5441 Macroeconometrics
• ETC5420 Microeconometrics
• ETX5460 Advanced financial econometrics
• ETX5110 Actuarial practice 1
• ETX5120 Actuarial practice 2
• ETC5450 Advanced R programming
• ETC5410 Bayesian inference and data analysis
• ETF5200 Time series and panel data econometrics

You must complete an additional 18 credit points of electives subject to the approval of the course coordinator. These may be selected from units not already completed from the above or elective units may be chosen from the Faculty of Business and Economics as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolling in the units.  

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following five units (30 credit points):

• ETX5601 Statistical inference
• ETX5651 Foundations of econometrics
• BEX5104 Research project 1
• BEX5105 Research project 2
• ETX5553 Econometrics and business statistics research seminar

You must complete one unit from the following (6 credit points):

• ETX5551 Advanced topics in econometrics and business statistics 1
• ETX5552 Advanced topics in econometrics and business statistics 2

You must complete two elective units (12 credit points), from the following list (not already completed in Part A), or other level 5 units, subject to the approval of the course coordinator:

• ETC5440 Statistical theory and practice
• ETX5441 Macroeconometrics
• ETC5420 Microeconometrics
• ETX5460 Advanced financial econometrics
• ETX5110 Actuarial practice 1
• ETX5120 Actuarial practice 2
• ETC5450 Advanced R programming
• ETC5410 Bayesian inference and data analysis
• ETF5200 Time series and panel data econometrics

Economics specialisation

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete 48 credit points of units at Level 4 and 5 from Economics, Econometrics or other areas of study, to be chosen in consultation with the Course coordinator. These units may be selected from the below-recommended list: 

• ECC4650 Microeconomics or ECC5650 Microeconomic theory
• ECC4660 Macroeconomics or ECC5660 Macroeconomic theory
• ECX5479 Empirical strategies for policy evaluation or ETC5341 Applied econometrics or ETF5320 Applied econometrics or ETC5420 Microeconometrics or ETC5340 Principles of econometrics or ETX5441 Macroeconometrics or ETF5200 Time series and panel data Econometrics
• ECC4860 Honours research project (12CP) or ECF5060 Applied economics research and consulting (12 credit points)

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following four units (24 credit points): 

• BEX5104 Research project 1
• BEX5105 Research project 2
• ECC5665 Research topics in advanced microeconomics
• ECC5666 Research topics in advanced macroeconomics

You must complete one methods unit from the following (6 credit points):

• ECC5591 Economics research methods S1
• ECC5592 Economics research methods S2

You must complete 18 credit points of electives at level 5 as approved by the course coordinator.

Health economics specialisation

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete 48 credit points from Level 4 or 5 HEC, ETC, ETF, ECC, ECF or ECX coded units approved by the course coordinator.  

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following four units (36 credit points): 

• HEC5871 Topics in health economics
• HEC5873 Simulation modelling for policy evaluation
• HEC5880 Research project 1 (12 credit points)
• HEC5881 Research project 2 (12 credit points)

You must complete one methods unit from the following (6 credit points):

• ECX5479 Empirical Strategies for Policy Evaluation
• ECC5591 Economics research methods S1
• ECC5592 Economics research methods S2

You must complete one level 5 elective unit (6 credit points) to be chosen in consultation with the Course coordinator

Management specialisation

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following five units (48 credit points): 

• MGX4000 Introductory management research methods
• MGX4100 Perspectives and paradigms in management theory
• MGX4200 Data analysis for organisational research
• MGX4300 Contemporary issues in management
• MGX4400 Honours research thesis (24 credit points)

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following six units (36 credit points): 

• BEX5610 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX5620 Advanced qualitative research methods
• BEX5630 Philosophy of research
• MGF5003 Contemporary issues in management
• BEX5104 Research project 1
• BEX5105 Research project 2

You must complete 12 credit points of electives at level 5 as approved by the course coordinator.

Marketing studies specialisation

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A: Research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete 42 credit points of units at Level 4 and 5 from Marketing, to be chosen in consultation with the Course coordinator. These units may be selected from the below-recommended list:

• MKX4050 Marketing theory
• MKF5403 Advanced business research methods
• MKX4070 Qualitative research methods
• MKX4090 Honours thesis research proposal
• MKX4040 Research in marketing
• MKX4900 Honours research thesis (12 credit points)

You must complete one elective unit (6 credit points) at Level 3 or above which may be chosen from the Faculty of Business and Economics or across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolling in the unit, as approved by the course coordinator.

Part B: Advanced research studies (48 credit points) 

You must complete the following five units (30 credit points): 

• MKF5401 Theories in marketing 1
• MKF5402 Theories in marketing 2
• BEX5106 Experimental research methods in business
• BEX5104 Research project 1
• BEX5105 Research project 2

You must complete one methods unit from the following (6 credit points):

• BEX5610 Advanced quantitative research methods
• BEX5620 Advanced qualitative research methods

You must complete 12 credit points of electives at level 5 as approved by the course coordinator.

Units can be identified using the [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search][browse units]] tool and [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/][indexes of units]] in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.