Course description
Course Description
The MSc in Corporate Governance is intended for students interested in following advanced study in accounting and corporate governance. The compulsory modules offer students the opportunity to discuss critically many of the recent developments in both theoretical and empirical approaches to corporate governance.
Modules and Options
The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.
Stage 1
ASSET PRICING
AUDIT THEORY
BANK STRATEGY AND RISK
BEHAVIOURAL FINANCE
Compulsory: BUSINESS ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Compulsory: ISSUES IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN MANAGEMENT
Core: MSC/MA DISSERTATION
Core: PERSPECTIVES ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Core: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES IN ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT
CORPORATE FINANCE
CRITICAL MARKETING
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE
DERIVATIVE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE RATES AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
FINANCIAL MODELLING
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
ISSUES IN FINANCIAL REPORTING
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
MANAGEMENT IN ORGANISATIONS
MANAGEMENT PSYCHOLOGY
MODERN BANKING
PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION AND PERFORMANCE
PROFESSIONALISM AND THE ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSION
RESEARCH METHODS IN FINANCE: FOUNDATIONS IN FINANCE
STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: A CASE STUDY APPROACH
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Teaching and Assessment Methods
A: Knowledge and Understanding
Learning Outcomes
A1 : Understand the role and natue of corporate governance
A2 : Understand the key theoretical issues in the study of corporate governance
A3 : Understand the key theoretical issues in the study of corporate governance
A4 : Distinguish between various approaches to the subject
A5 : Analyse the contexts, both endogenous and exogenous, that underpin and contribute to corporate governance structures locally and internationally
A6 : Consider the epistemelogical and social scientific influences and interpretations of corporate governance issues
A7 : Reflect on various research methodologies available to investigate corporate governance issues in business organisations, and the influences of these methods on the understandings generated
Teaching Methods
Outcomes A1-A6 are acquired through lectures, seminars, group and individual tasks, and directed independent study. The development of the dissertation in consultation with a supervisor provides an additional opportunity for achieving learning outcomes A1 to A6.
Lectures and seminars introduce the required theories and understandings to facilitate students' exploration of the character, contexts, practices and interpretations of corporate governance related issues, while demonstrating and encouraging a critical and reflexive approach.
Directed independent study and reading, along with individual and group tasks, enable the further exploration of relevant areas.
Students are expected to extend and enhance the knowledge and understanding they acquire from lectures and classes by regularly consulting library materials relating to course.
Assessment Methods
Informal:
Outcomes A1-A6 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations. The associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understandings, and develop presentation skills
Formal:
Outcomes A1-A6 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments.
B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
Learning Outcomes
B1 : Capacity to appraise theoretical ideas.
B2 : Assimilate and synthesise advanced theories and concepts from a variety of relevant frameworks.
B3 : Formulate logical and coherent arguments
B4 : Interpret and critically evaluate empirical evidence.
B5 : Plan and undertake a substantial piece of independent research.
Teaching Methods
Skills B1-B4 are acquired and enhanced primarily through directed independent study, reading, group and individual tasks given for their courses, although lectures and seminars provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Students independent study and preparation for tasks involves the reading, interpretation and critical evaluation of relevant accounting theories and the analysis of empirical evidence.
Lecturers provide necessary feedback on student work. Lecturers also engage students outside the classroom through office hours, appointments and e-mails.
Skill B5 is acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation. The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills B1-B4.
Assessment Methods
Informal:
Skills B1-B4 are informally assessed via group work and oral presentations. The associated informal feedback provided enable students to explore and enhance their understanding, and develop presentation skills.
Formal:
Skills B1-B4 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments. The MSc/MA Dissertation provides a further opportunity to assess skills B1-B4.
Skill B5 is assessed through the dissertation.
C: Practical Skills
Learning Outcomes
C1 : Analyse and evaluate empirical data
C2 : Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different approaches to corporate governance
C3 : Hypotesise about corporate governance issues and events in a wider context
C4 : Access and retrieve information from a variety of primary and secondary sources.
C5 : Research presentation and written presentation skills.
C6 : Undertake independent research
Teaching Methods
Skills C1-C6 are acquired and enhanced primarily through the work that students do for their courses, although lectures provide a means for teachers to demonstrate these skills through examples.
Skill C6 is further acquired through the work that students do for the dissertation. The dissertation further provides an opportunity for students to acquire skills C1-C5.
Assessment Methods
Assessment methods
Informal:
Skills C1-C5 are informally assessed through group work and oral presentations along with the associated informal feedback. This further enable students to explore and enhance their understanding, and develop research and presentation skills
Formal:
Skills C1-C5 are formally assessed via unseen written examinations and coursework assignments. This enables the demonstration of the relevant theories and empirical evidence and facilitates the demonstration of a critical and reflexive approach to empirical evidence.
Skill C6 is assessed through the dissertation.
D: Key Skills
Learning Outcomes
D1 : Communicate ideas and arguments in a coherent and effective manner
D2 : Use information technology, such as word processing, databases and the web to locate and analyse data and other relevant information
D3 : Basic skills in quantitative research
D4 : Problem solving and analytical skills in building coherent arguments.
D5 : Participating in group work in undertaking research and preparing informal presentations.
D6 : Time management, task prioritisation and working to deadlines.
Teaching Methods
Verbal communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through group tasks involving oral presentation and group discussion in the lecture.
Written communication skills (D1) are developed primarily through small group project reports and individual tasks.
IT skills (D2) are developed as individual tasks require extensive research involving web-based material, internet and various electronic medias.
Numeracy skills (D3) are introduced in research methodology course, and may be developed, if appropriate, in the dissertation.
Problem solving skills (D4) are developed principally through specific problem based exercise and project given to the students.
Planning and organisation, enterprise and resourcefulness (D5-D6) are essential to any learning process dependent on independent study and to some extent individual advice from teachers. These skills are further developed as students pursue the learning activities associated with their courses.
Assessment Methods
Informal:
The assessment of the majority of key transferable skills forms an integral part of the overall assessment of the accounting/corporate governance degree schemes; however the approach to assessemnt varies. Written communication skils are assessed directly throughout the degree programme. Verbal communication skills are not formally assessed although feedback on communication skills forms part of the formatice feedback provied on small group tutorial presentations.
Formal:
Skills D1-D6 are formall assessed via corusework assignments: in relation both to process and product. Skills D1-D4 will be assessed through the content of submitted work. Skills D5 and D6 may be demonstrated through process issues, such as meeting submission deadlines and demonstrating collaborative work with others during the research phase of coursework.
