PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme provides an opportunity to obtain a more comprehensive foundation in Economics and widen the horizons in the field of business.

2. CAREER PROSPECTS

Bachelor of Commerce in Economics Honours Degree graduates can be absorbed in some of the following organizations and areas; Financial Institutions, Government Departments, Parastatals, private sector firms, non-governmental organizations, regional and international organizations, institutions of higher learning, consultancy firms and entrepreneurship.

After completing the Bachelor of Commerce in Economics Honours Degree, students are eligible to enrol for a Master of Commerce Degree in Economics, Finance, Investment and related programmes.

3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Normal Entry

To qualify for normal entry into the Bachelor of Commerce Economics Honours Degree programme, a candidate, in addition to satisfying the minimum requirements as prescribed under the General Regulations and the Faculty Regulations for English and Mathematics at ‘O’ Level, must have obtained at least two passes at ‘A’ level drawn from Commercials, Sciences or Arts.

• Mature Entry

Over and above the requirements stipulated in the General Regulations, students who get into the Bachelor of Commerce Economics Honours Degree through mature entry should at least have a ‘B’ in Ordinary Level Mathematics.

• Visiting/Harare Weekend School

To qualify for entry into the Bachelor of Commerce Economics Honours degree (Visiting/Harare Weekend School) programme, a candidate, in addition to satisfying the minimum conditions prescribed under the General Regulations must have:

either:

 A National Diploma in a Business-related field, Education, or any equivalent tertiary qualification.

or:

at least two (2) passes in relevant “A” level subjects

and:

Proof of employment in the relevant field.

Two (2) years of working experience

5. ASSESSMENT

Refer to Section 6 of the General Regulations and Section 5 of the Faculty Regulations.

6. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS

Refer to Section 9 of the General Regulations.

7. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION

Refer to Section 6 of the Faculty Regulations.

8. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

Refer to Section 12 of the Faculty Regulations.

9. DEGREE WEIGHTING

Refer to Section 13 of the Faculty Regulations.

11. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

MODULE SYNOPSES

EC131Economic Principles I
This module focuses on the principles of microeconomics. It covers the basic economic questions; scarcity, choice and opportunity cost; demand and supply; market equilibrium; consumer behaviour; production and costs; and market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly).

EC132 Statistics for Economists I
This is an introductory module in statistics designed to provide students with the basic concepts of data analysis and statistical computing. It is designed to prepare students for the Statistics for Economist II, econometrics and other modules taken in second and fourth year. It also complements the economics modules taken in by students in their first and second years. It provides an introduction to the topic of statistics, with reference to economics examples. Topics covered include basic descriptive measures, measures of association, and probability theory. This module provides students with pragmatic tools for assessing statistical claims and conducting their own statistical analyses.

EC133 Mathematics for Economists I
This is an introductory module in mathematics for economists. It gives students basic skills for implementation of the mathematical knowledge and expertise to the problems of economics. The module acquires the students’ knowledge in the field of mathematics and makes them ready to analyse simulated as well as real economic situations. The module covers properties of sets, vector spaces, functions, equations, differentiation and uses them to describe economic environments. Accordingly, this module systematically presents the underlying theory in each of these core areas, at an introductory level. The presentation of the theory is supported with several examples on their application to problem-solving.

CS131 Communication Skills (Refer to Centre for Communication Skills for the module synopsis)
BM131 Principles of Management (Refer to Department of Management Sciences for the module synopsis)
ACC135 Financial Accounting IA (Refer to Department Accounting Sciences for the module synopsis)
HCS135 Introduction to Information Technology (Refer to the Department of Information and Marketing Sciences for the module synopsis)
EC134 Economic Principles II
This module introduces an economic analysis of aggregate employment, income, and prices. Topics include major schools of economic thought; aggregate supply and demand; economic measures, fluctuations, and growth; money and banking; stabilization techniques; and international trade. Upon completion, students should be able to evaluate national economic components, conditions, and alternatives for achieving socioeconomic goals.

EC135 Statistics for Economists II
The module is designed to prepare students for the Econometrics and Computer & Statistical Analysis modules taken in the second and fourth years. It also complements the Economics modules taken by students in the previous semester. The topics include sampling methods, probability and distributions, point & interval estimation, and hypothesis testing – large sample and small sample test, t-test, correlation and regression analysis, time series analysis and index numbers. The module will mainly emphasize the various statistical methods which can be used to solve business/economic problems.

EC136 Mathematics for Economists II
This module gives students advanced skills for implementation of the mathematical knowledge and expertise to the problems of economics. The module builds on the foundation provided in the first-level module in Mathematics for Economists I. It concentrates on the mathematical methods that are required to understand current economics and to investigate economic models. Students learn how to use and apply mathematics by working with concrete examples and exercises. By the end of the module, students should have a complete understanding of integration techniques and optimisation and should be able to apply the Lagrange multipliers approach to constrained optimization problems.

ACC136 Financial Accounting IB
(Refer to Department of Accounting Sciences for the module synopsis)

MM131 Principles of Marketing
(Refer to Department of Information and Marketing Sciences for the module synopsis)

BM135 Commercial Law
(Refer to Department of Management Sciences for the module synopsis)

EC231 Microeconomics I
This module is designed to extend the knowledge of the basic microeconomic principles that provide the foundation for future work in economics. It gives insight into how economic models can help us think about important real-world phenomena. Microeconomics is the study of rational choice behaviour on the part of individual consumers and firms. In general, economists are interested in how market mechanisms solve extremely complex resource allocation problems. This module presents a logical and coherent framework in which to organize observed economic phenomena. Topics include supply and demand interaction, utility maximization, profit maximization, elasticity, perfect competition, monopoly power, imperfect competition, game theory and economics of information.

EC232 Monetary Economics
The module aims to introduce students to some tools to understand the operations of monetary policy in the economy. By so doing the student after completing the module must be in a position to make an analysis of existing monetary policies within the context in which they have been formulated. The module therefore explains the nature, definitions and value of money, the role of money in economic activity, the nature and role of financial intermediation, demand of and supply for money; theoretical and empirical issues, monetary policy and money supply control; Zimbabwe monetary policy since 1980, the role of the Central Bank and its independence particularly commitment and credibility, monetary policy transmission mechanisms, theory of and empirics on inflation, optimal stabilisation policy and optimal inflation rate and inflation persistence, open and closed economy monetary policies including efficiencies.

EC233 Quantitative Methods
It is a pre-requisite for students taking this module to have done basic mathematics for economists. Quantitative methods seek to strengthen the use of mathematics in analysing and interpreting economic phenomena. The module covers areas like comparative statistics, optimization theory, difference and differential equations, matrix algebra etc. At the end of this module, the student will be able to identify real economic problems and apply the learnt mathematical principles to solve them. This module will ensure that students will gain the critical 21st Century skills of problem-solving, creativity and innovation.

EC234 Macroeconomics I
Macroeconomics studies the aggregate behaviour of the economy. This module provides an introduction to the economic analysis of key macroeconomic variables such as output, employment, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates. The intent of the module is to provide the student with a basic level of economic literacy essential for a well-informed citizenship in the years ahead. It capacitates the students to develop competence in using macroeconomic models to explain the determination of aggregate output, prices, employment, and growth. In addition, students should learn to analyse the impact of monetary and fiscal policy on the macroeconomy. Extensive references to current macroeconomic developments and applications of macroeconomic models are essential elements of the module.

EC235 International Economics
The module intends to help students to understand theories and policies related to international trade. The theories will illustrate how gains or losses from international trade arise thereby giving rise to policies that encourage or restrict trade. Also focus will be made on the world economy institutions that deal with international trade. Therefore, the module covers an understanding of trade theories that form the basis for trade policy analysis. These theories include: classical theories, neoclassical theories and ‘new’ trade theories. The theory of trade protection, exchange rates and the balance of payments are also covered in this theory section. The policy section covers such topics as terms of trade and economic development, the global trading environment, regional co-operation and integration and the role world economy institutions in international trade. Current controversies in international trade policies are considered as well.

EC236 Computer & Statistical Analysis
The module forms an enhanced strong prelude to Econometrics I. It covers issues such as probability models, univariate probability distributions, multivariate probability distributions, non-parametric tests, sampling and sampling distributions, asymptotic distributions, Analysis of Variance. The module also infuses the use of computer softwares for inputting and analysis of statistical data. Computer-aided techniques of data analysis shall include descriptive, computational techniques and simulations.

EC237 Econometrics I
The module forms the foundation for Econometrics II. It covers methodology of econometrics, linear regression model assumptions, properties of estimators, dummy variables, non-linear regression models hypothesis testing procedures, bi-variate and multivariate analysis, Gauss-Markov theorem.

EC238 Research Methods
The module seeks to provide students with the basic tools to undertake independent research as well as understand how research can be communicated to end users of analysis. It will focus on pertinent issues in research in Economics including elements such as literature reviews and data sources; the status and growth of economic knowledge; ethics of economic research; and overall design of a research project – aims, philosophy and methods, evaluating existing research (review of articles), and writing up and disseminating findings.

EC239Environmental Economics
This module seeks to equip students with skills to utilize the techniques covered in core modules such as microeconomics, macroeconomics and quantitative methods to analyse environmental problems. The module explains the role of environmental economics in the development process in general and in the integrated management of ecological–economic systems in particular. It covers topics such as the history of environmental economics, sustainable development, environmental accounting and valuation of natural resources.

GSB211Gender Studies for Business
The module empowers students with knowledge and skills that enable them to be gender sensitive in the university, workplace and in all social interactions. Topics covered include understanding gender, theories of gender inequalities, the historical development of gender, gender analysis, gender issues in society, redressing gender imbalances, empowerment and strategies for creating a gender-responsive environment. Every student has to pass the module in order to graduate.

ENT131 Entrepreneurship 1
The aim of this module is to develop entrepreneurial acumen in students, to appreciate the importance of entrepreneurship to the individual and in nation-building, to analyse and explain how PESTLEG factors affect the entrepreneur, design a bankable business plan.
Evaluate various options available to the entrepreneur to go global. The emphasis of this module is to define entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and innovation; understand the nature and importance of entrepreneurship for economic development; identify business opportunities and generate business ideas; develop a bankable business plan; understand the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur; and identify the challenges being faced by entrepreneurs.
EC340 Work-Related Learning Preliminary Report
The module is a preliminary report by the student during internship. The thrust of the report is to relate theory covered in the university to practice. It follows a formal report layout covering new concepts such as, company background, organisational structure, sections attached to, challenges encountered, new concepts learnt, any gaps between information covered in the University, conclusions and recommendations to the company and the University.

EC341 Work-Related Learning Continuous Assessment
Approved work-related learning of not less than ten (10) months and not more than twelve (12) is aimed at providing third year students with a practical exposure to all facets of the economic functions. The student is expected to rotate into all sections of related to economic sciences to which thy will be attached to enable them to be exposed to all economics areas. The student is supposed to produce and/ or facilitate the production of a logbook, assessment form and employer assessment booklet.

EC342 Work-Related Learning Report
The module is a report by the student during internship. The thrust of the report is to relate theory covered in the university to practice. It follows a formal report layout covering new concepts such as, company background, organisational structure, sections attached to, challenges encountered, new concepts learnt, any gaps between information covered in the University versus what is at the work-place, any gaps, conclusions and recommendations to the company and the University.

EC431 Microeconomics II
This module introduces the students to Advanced Microeconomics. It builds on the concepts of microeconomics covered in lower level. Some appreciation of basic economic calculus is greatly expected. The module links theoretical underpinnings with application and it teaches to; describe the technical progress, appreciate decision-making under imperfect markets, understand and appreciate game theory models, analyse the equilibrium between production and consumption, identify and understand welfare economics and understand market failure and to measure welfare changes.

EC432 Econometrics II
The modules cover univariate and bi-variate analysis and related topics. The topics covered are econometric problems and their formal tests, such as non-stationarity, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, model specification errors, etc. Also to be included are the weaknesses of regression models, problems of single equation models and simultaneous equation models. The module content focuses on the application of data analysis softwares to econometric techniques that provide students with the understanding they need in modern economics. Students will be given an opportunity to use modern statistical packages like STATA, PC Give, E-Views, SPSS – and these form part of their methodological toolkit for economic and development research.

EC433 Industrial Economics
This module presents the most traditional and recent principal concepts and methods of Industrial Economics/ Organisation. The module aims to provide an understanding of how theories from Industrial Economics can help one comprehend the behaviour of firms in perfect and imperfect competitive markets. The module covers the following issues: theory of the firm, structural and non-structural market assessment approaches, firm conduct and market structure, game theory, market concentration, market structure and profitability, technology and network markets, pricing and industrial strategies, anti-competitive strategies, competition policy and regulation, diversification and growth. More practical applications pertinent to Industrial Economics are covered through global and country-specific case studies, legal proceedings and rulings/outcomes.

EC434 Macroeconomics II
The module covers the closed economy models, determination of aggregate demand and aggregate supply, the inflation unemployment nexus, formation of expectations, overview of consumption theory, traditional macroeconomic policy models, theories of economic growth, structural adjustment models, open economy analysis, balance of payments approaches. The module also explores the government budget dynamics, including the strategies of funding government budget deficits.

EC435 Agricultural Economics
The module looks at the definitions of agricultural economics and related ideas, agriculture development in the African context, agricultural production theory, agriculture peasant household models (Chayanov and share tenancy models). The module also looks at agricultural policies; agricultural technology (innovation, transfer) and policy, food policy (food security and drought management), and land policy with particular reference to Zimbabwe.

EC436 Public Finance
The economic basis for government activity – efficiency markets and governments, externalities and government policy, provision of public goods, government expenditure and policy, budget deficits and the government taxation – theory and structure, taxes on consumption and sales, state and local government fiscal issues and inter-governmental fiscal relations.

EC437 Investment Analysis
The module is designed to cover an understanding of financial markets with reference to Zimbabwe. Topics covered include the financial system, financial mathematics, investment appraisal, valuation of financial securities, portfolio theory, trading of financial securities, and the efficiency of capital markets.

EC438 Managerial Economics
The module considers business objectives: optimization, the principle of margin, decision analysis, demand measurement and forecasting, cost measurement, economies of scale, the learning curve, pricing policies: joint product pricing, transfer pricing, loss leaders, price discrimination, public utility pricing, advertising and promotion decisions: Dorfman – Steiner theorem, the advertising – sales relationship, corporate strategies: vertical integration, diversification, growth and market share, the location decision, profit planning and control, game theory for managers.

EC439 Development Economics
The module covers institutional and political economy of development in both developed and developing countries, mainly focusing on the latter. Focus is directed toward drivers of development such as institutions, human capital, international trade, aid, bilateral & multilateral development financing and financial development. It also dwells on theories/models of development shaping developed, emerging and developing economies. Concepts covered include development in the short-run and long-run. The following topics are studied: Economic Growth and Development; Industrialization and Modernization: Agrarian Change and Agricultural Revolutions, poverty trap, Technological Change and Innovation; Infrastructural Developments; Demographic Change, Commercial and Financial Changes.

EC445 Research project
During the final year of study, students are required to write and submit a research project on a topic of their choice. The research project gives students an opportunity to seek solutions to problems affecting households, businesses, government, and society in general. It also enhances the student’s skills in terms of time management, academic writing, data analysis, and results interpretation. The grade of the research project will be based on oral examination (viva voce) before a panel of examiners, and a mark awarded for the write-up submitted to the department. The length of the research project shall not be less than 10000 words (excluding preliminary pages and appendices), and the department shall provide guidelines on the structure that should be followed by students.