Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Arts |
| Deakin course code | D385 |
| Course Credit Points | 32 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2020 to 2022 |
| Final Intake | The final intake for this course version was 2022. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS code | 0100819 Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
| Supplementary Information | Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Commerce degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Majors
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Combine complementary commerce and arts majors in Deakin's Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts to create a unique qualification built for your career.
Learn to think more critically as you develop a strong foundation in all aspects of commerce. You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work on real commercial projects through work placements domestically or internationally. At the same time, you can follow your passions into an arts major while building transferable skills that perfectly complement your commerce expertise.
Want versatile, job-ready skills in both the arts and commerce?
Students at Deakin's world-class business school graduate with work-ready skills and practical experience. Combine this with your arts major sequence and you be well-equipped with the transferable skills to launch a career in almost any industry.
In this combined course, you will study a range of topics across both areas. Develop your business knowledge through one of our commerce majors:
- accounting
- economics
- finance
- financial planning
- human resources management
- management
- management information systems
- marketing.
At the same time, explore a complementary area of the arts and strengthen your understanding of people, society, politics, language or the world. Choose from:
- anthropology
- criminology
- gender and sexuality studies
- history
- international politics and relations
- philosophy
- politics and policy studies
- sociology
- studies of religions
Because your teachers are active in their fields, you will enjoy a classroom that is innovative, contemporary and provides industry expertise. Plus, you'll have the chance to grow your connections through their professional networks.
Each degree offers opportunities to get involved in hands-on learning including overseas study tours, international and domestic internships, work placements and exchanges. Graduate with a well-rounded and global perspective employers will love.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School is in the top 1% of business schools globally by holding both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.
Depending on the major sequence you choose, your Bachelor of Commerce component may give you eligibility for a range of professional memberships and accreditations.
Students who complete the accounting major sequence are eligible to apply for:
- the CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Students who complete the marketing major sequence are eligible for a one-year credit reduction from the five years needed to become a Certified Practicing Marketer by the Australian Marketing Institute (AIM).
Students who complete the financial planning major sequence will satisfy the education standards prescribed by the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) to be able to provide financial advice in Australia and be eligible for entry into the certification programs of the professional financial planning associations – the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Certification Program offered by the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner designation offered by the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA).
Students should consult with a course adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.
Career opportunities
As a Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Arts graduate, you’ll be ready for a variety of career opportunities including:
- art centre manager
- artist agent
- careers counsellor
- image consultant
- import/export manager
- marketing and communications manager
- media analyst
- NGO advisor
- public relations manager
- public servant
- small business owner
- trade delegate.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working With Children Check or other check.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Arts (A300) | |
| Bachelor of Arts (A310) | |
| Bachelor of Commerce (M300) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of commerce and its applications | Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice. |
| Communication | Communicate commerce concepts and information effectively including in oral, written and visual forms in a cohesive and understandable manner to academic audiences, business professionals and laypersons | Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers. |
| Digital Literacy | Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate, synthesise and disseminate and communicate information in the field of commerce | Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment. |
| Critical thinking | Evaluate and critically analyse academic, professional and business information and values | Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts. |
| Problem Solving | Identify solutions to a diverse range of authentic problems in commerce | Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches. |
| Self-management | Take personal responsibility for actions, self-reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future professional development | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts. |
| Teamwork | Interact and collaborate with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds | Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community. |
| Global Citizenship | Engage effectively in different environments and contexts reflecting social, sustainable, ethical, economic, and global perspectives in the field of commerce | Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- MAI010 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) to be completed in the first trimester of study
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Commerce
- 8 credit points of core units
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Business and Law units at level 3
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts
- 2 majors (16 credit points)
Or;
- 1 major (8 credit points)
- 1 minor (4 credit points)
- A minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 of Arts coded units
- A maximum of 6 credit points at level 1 of Arts coded units
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Commerce (M300) and the Bachelor of Arts (A300) must be satisfied.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Majors
Students must complete one Bachelor of Commerce major sequence chosen from the below list. Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability:
- Accounting^
- Business Analytics*
- Commercial Law*
- Economics
- Finance
- Financial Planning^
- Human Resource Management
- International Trade*
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing^
^ These majors are the recommended pathway to qualify for membership of professional organisations.
* Offered to continuing students only
Students must complete one Bachelor of Arts major sequence chosen from the below list. Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability:
- Animation (Minor)
- Anthropology (Major and Minor)
- Arabic (Major and Minor)
- Chinese (Major and Minor)
- Criminology (Major and Minor)
- Design Thinking (Minor)
- Education (Major and Minor)
- English - Children's Literature (Major and Minor)
- English - Creative Writing (Major and Minor)
- English - Literature (Major and Minor)
- Film and Television Studies (Major and Minor)
- Gender and Sexuality Studies (Major and Minor)
- Global Challenges (Minor)
- History (Major and Minor)
- Indigenous Studies (Major and Minor)
- Indonesian (Major and Minor)
- International Relations (Major and Minor)
- Media and Communication (Major and Minor)
- Media Studies (Major and Minor)
- Middle East Studies (Major and Minor)
- Performing Arts (Major and Minor)
- Philosophy (Major and Minor)
- Politics and Policy Studies (Major and Minor)
- Public Relations Studies (Major and Minor)
- Religious Studies (Major and Minor)
- Social Media (Major and Minor)
- Sociology (Major and Minor)
- Spanish (Major and Minor)
- Sport and Society (Minor)
- Sport Journalism (Major and Minor)
- Strategic Advertising (Major and Minor)
- UX* Design (Minor)
- Visual Arts and Photography (Major and Minor)
- Visual Communication Design (Major and Minor)
- Web Design (Minor)
* UX refers to User Experience
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Core units
| MAA103 | Accounting for Decision Making |
| MAE101 | Economic Principles |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance |
| MIS171 | Business Analytics |
| MLC101 | Law for Commerce |
| MMK101 | Marketing Fundamentals |
| MMM132 | Management |
| MWL101 | Professional Insight |
Work experience
This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.
More Information: WIL Programs
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.