[4 January 2001]
SMU Offers Double Degree In Business Management and Accountancy

For the first time in Singapore, students will be able to graduate with a double degree in Business Management and Accountancy through a special SMU programme.

In offering this programme, SMU aims to widen the educational options available and the marketability of students in the Finance industry, as well as to add value to the two individual undergraduate programmes. With a balanced curriculum comprising general education, life skills, business disciplines and accountancy, and practical experience, students graduating with the double degree will be well-equipped to meet the challenges of the New Economy.

The broad-based education system employed by SMU facilitates the offering of a double degree. Both the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) and the Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc) programmes require undergraduates to take similar courses including those from a University core, a Business core, General Education and Career Skills, as well as an internship programme. The only point of departure in the two programmes is that in the BBM programme, students have to select courses from the Business Concentration and Business Options as opposed to the Accountancy programme where students will have to take courses from the Accountancy core. In order to graduate with a double degree, students will take the shared courses and complete the Business Concentration and Options as well as the Accountancy core.

The modular system of the SMU curriculum allows for maximum flexibility. Both BBM and BAcc undergraduates with outstanding results may apply for the double degree programme after their first year. If successful, the students can concurrently take courses from both the Business Management and Accountancy programmes as there is no pre-set order in which one has to complete the required courses. The shortest time in which a student can complete the double degree programme is four years.

The pioneer intake of BBM students at SMU may apply for the programme only after their second year in 2002, graduating in 2004. SMU commenced its first intake of BBM students in August 2000 and will begin its BAcc programme in 2001. The BAcc programme is recognised by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore.