Program content
The degree program consists of general studies and course specific modules.
The general studies program will cover the following modules:
- General Business Administration
- Company Taxation
- Business Information Systems
- Mathematics, Statistics and Operations Research
- Economics
- Law
- Intercultural Competence
- Ethics and Corporate and Social Responsibility
Students will spend approximately 50% of their degree on these general courses.
The other 50% will be taken up by course specific modules.
The following courses, where students will be taught the fundamental aspects of controlling, finance and accounting, will be accomplished alongside the general studies program:
- Compilation and analysis of annual balance sheets
- Consolidated financial statements (according to national and international law)
- Compilation and analysis of cost and profit accounting (full cost, profit contribution and budgeted cost accounts)
- Cost management (activity based costing, target costing, life cycle costing)
- Financing (internal and external financing, financial management and policies)
- Investment control
- Balance sheet analysis and policies (detection of losses and weak points analysis)
- Operative and strategic company planning
- Information technology (for controlling and financial accounting)
- Tax law (tax accounting)
The study program enables students to create business plans, to analyse variances and to prepare management reports. Subsequently students will be able to independently determine and interpret both the investment and profitability of a company (for example an annual financial statement analysis). Furthermore the students will be able to apply the instruments of business financing (for example public offerings or issuing corporate bonds) and evaluate these from a cost and treasury perspective. Students will learn to compile financial statements and profit and loss accounts with reference to legal regulations and international standards.
A distinctive feature of the program is its international aspect. All students are obliged to spend at least 10 weeks abroad. This can be a voluntary internship of 10 weeks, or a internship for one semester abroad. Furthermore the Pforzheim University has a large network of partner universities around the world where students have the opportunity to spend one or more study semester. As companies are focusing more and more on internationalization a period of time abroad is not only important professionally but also for students’ personal development.
Apart from gaining specialist knowledge students will learn the importance of teamwork, develop presentation and facilitation skills as well as improve their social competence.