UNISA Decision sciences Course Module

UNISA Decision sciences Course Module

Decision Sciences Major Combinations for the BCom (Generic) and BCom (Quantitative Management)
NQF Level 5: DSC1520
NQF Level 6: DSC1630, DSC2602, DSC2605, DSC2606, any of DSC2604, DSC2607
NQF Level 7: Any FIVE of DSC3702, DSC3703, DSC3704, DSC3705, DSC3706, DSC3707
Decision Sciences Combinations for the BSc (General)
NQF Level 5: DSC1520
NQF Level 6: DSC1630, DSC2602, DSC2604, DSC2605, DSC2606
NQF Level 7: At least FOUR of DSC3702, DSC3703, DSC3704, DSC3705, DSC3706, DSC3707


Financial Modelling 1 – DSC4825
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of the module is to introduce the student to the derivative investment environment. After completion of the module the student should: understand the characteristics of derivatives; be able to model and price derivatives and understand how futures and options can be used to manage profits and reduce risks.
Business Numerical Skills A – FBN1501
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To introduce the student to numerical manipulation, elementary descriptive statistics and index numbers.
Discrete Financial Modelling – HONCS1Y
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To introduce the student to the financial theory of security markets through discrete time models.
Financial Modelling 2 – DSC4826
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: DSC4821 & DSC4825
Purpose: The purpose of the module is to introduce the student to the mathematical modelling of portfolio risk and financial price processes. After completion of the module the student should: be able to construct Markowitz efficient frontiers; understand the concept and use of arbitrage arguments; be able to compute martingale measures; construct discrete-time (Cox-Ross-Rubinstein) and continuous-time pricing models for share; prices and derivative values; be able to derive and apply the Black-Scholes formula and be able to characterise stopping times for American options.
Business Numerical Skills B – FBN1502
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: FBN1501
Purpose: To introduce the student to concepts of financial mathematics, basic modelling and elementary differentiation.
Decision Analysis – HONDANE
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To familiarise students with modelling techniques for solving decision problems in practice.
Research Project – DSC4830
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 36
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip the student with technical writing skills and to introduce the student to the practice of Operations Research or Financial Modelling. The latter includes the identification and modelling of a problem, the solution thereof by using mathematical and statistical techniques and the presentation of the results in a scientific manner.
Elementary Quantitative Methods – QMI1500
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate,Higher Certificate Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Recommendation: Should be taken together with or follow on BNU1501 (Only applicable to 98237)
Purpose: To introduce the student to numerical manipulation, elementary descriptive statistics and index numbers.
Financial Mathematics – HONFIN6
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To enable students to do advanced interest rate calculations; specifically annuity and yield calculations (including the effects of capital gains tax).
Introductory Financial Mathematics – DSC1630
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English,Afrikaans
Purpose: To enable the student to derive and apply the fundamental formulae of financial mathematics.
Linear Programming – HONLINR
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To familiarise students with the simplex method and related topics and enable them to solve concrete linear programming problems.
Rational Decision Making – DSC2602
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D
Purpose: To introduce the student to basic statistical concepts and to familiarise the student with the use of selected techniques from Operations Research, including decision analysis, project management and network modelling.
Introduction to the Mathematical Modelling of Derivatives I – HONMD1Y
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To introduce students to the derivative investment environment; including the mathematical models used in pricing the instruments and the use of the instruments to increase profits and reduce risk.
Financial Modelling – DSC2604
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC1630 or QMG102Q
Purpose: To introduce the student to the essential approaches and concepts of financial management, analysis and decision-making.
Introduction to the Mathematical Modelling of Derivatives II – HONMD23
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: HONSM1A & HONMD1Y
Purpose: To develop in students the ability to derive and determine the movement of asset prices (and the prices of derived instruments based on them) by using certain stochastic processes, including the Wiener and Poisson processes.
Linear Mathematical Programm – DSC2605
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D
Purpose: To enable the student to model and solve optimisation problems with linear programming techniques and to introduce the learner to basic linear algebra.
Neural Networks – HONNNSH
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To familiarise students with the theoretical background and various models of artificial neural networks.
Nonlinear Mathematical Programming – DSC2606
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D
Purpose: To enable the student to model and solve optimisation problems with techniques of differential calculus and nonlinear programming.
Optimisation – HONOPTR
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To introduce students to combinatorial optimisation and the study of efficient algorithms as applied to networks and other discrete problems.
Production Modelling – DSC2607
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620
Purpose: To introduce the student to a mathematical approach to operations management in a production environment.
Project II – HONPR2C
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: HONPR1B or DSC4810
Purpose: To introduce students to the application of Operations Research techniques to real-life problems.
Simulation – HONSIMG
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To familiarise students with the modelling and operational analysis of industrial processes through simulation.
Simulation – DSC3703
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To provide the student with a theoretical basis for structuring and solving simulation models in practice.
Stochastic Modelling I – HONSM1A
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: HONASMB
Purpose: To familiarise students with stochastic processes and their applications in discrete Markov chains and queuing theory.
Models for Strategic Decision-Making – DSC3704
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To introduce the student to the theory and practice of multi-criteria decision-making.
Research Support Tools – DSC4810
Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to enable the student to develop technical report writing skills, including the use of the packages LaTeX and R, conducting a literature study and producing a report.
Financial Risk Modelling – DSC3705
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 & DSC2604 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To introduce the student to principles and methodologies for the treatment of uncertainty and risk in Financial Modelling.
Forecasting – DSC4812
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to enable the student to develop an understanding and knowledge of the theory of forecasting models and its applications in real world situations.
Selected Topics for Operations Research – DSC3706
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (either DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To familiarise the student with the philosophy of Operations Research and some aspects of heuristics, game theory and forecasting.
Stochastic Modelling – DSC4821
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: This module is developed to enable students to acquire an understanding and knowledge of the introductory theories of stochastic modelling and their applications in Markov chains, counting processes, queues and reliability theory.
Basic Numeracy – BNU1501
Higher Certificate,Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To introduce the student to basic decision numeracy skills in a business and personal environment.
Optimisation of Resources – DSC3702
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To equip the student with the skills to formulate, solve and analyse the results of linear, goal and integer programming models.
Mathematical Modelling II – DSC3707
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (either DSC2601 or DCS2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To introduce the student to a wide-ranging overview of elementary mathematical modelling in the economic and financial environments.
Discrete Optimisation – DSC4823
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: This module is developed to enable students to acquire an understanding and technical ability in optimisation and its applications.
Quantitative Modelling I – DSC1520
Under Graduate Degree,Diploma Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To introduce the student to basic mathematical modelling and computational skills for application in the business world.
Applied Stochastic Modelling – HONASMB
Honours Year module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: HONSM1A
Purpose: To familiarise students with the applications of stochastic theory in practical situations.
Introduction to Heuristics – DSC4824
Honours,Post Graduate Diploma Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: This module is developed to enable students to acquire an understanding and technical ability in heuristic methodologies and meta-heuristic computations.