Bachelor of Arts (BA)

in Business Studies
Arab Open University, KSA - Riyadh

BUSINESS STUDIES PROGRAM

This is a broad-based business program which aims to provide students with:

 an introduction to the world of business, including an understanding of

markets and market economies;
 an understanding of the structures, cultures and functioning of business
organisations and the complex nature of key business functions and
processes;
 a recognition of the processes and outcomes of organisational decision-
making, how organisational strategies both develop and diversify, and the
nature and role of policies which impact on business;
 a range of important business graduate skills both quantitative and
qualitative, which you can bring to your employment in businesses or
organisations;
 an understanding of the recording of financial transactions and financial
information needed to support business decisions;
 professional skills in accountancy practice;
 support and guidance to develop as independent learners.

Program Mission:

The mission of the program of Business Studies aims at qualifying the student of
this program of study to be capable of professional engagement in various fields
of practice in areas of Business Administration. This is achieved via the study of a
set of integrated courses in accordance with a dynamically-evolving plan of study
and associated learning mechanisms. In turn, the program seeks to equip the
graduate with a number of necessary skills for a career in a dynamically changing
business market. Furthermore, program design and delivery shall be guided by
certain adopted measures and standards of quality assurance.

Program Goals:

1. The program contributes to firm development of basic components in

understanding business behavior and business functions, characteristic of
modern business practices. In addition, other aspects such as those
dealing with building strategies of firms and managing required human
resources constitute other important elements of the program.
2. Furthermore, the program offers students opportunities of creating
specific areas of concentration as they choose to follow one of five available
 tracks: systems, economics, accounting, marketing and Business Studies;
thereby offering added opportunities for more in-depth qualifications in
certain areas of business studies.
3. Through suitable learning methodologies and resources, and verified by
appropriate student assessment strategies, it is hoped to achieve the set
learning outcomes intended for this program of study.

Program Objectives

The program attempts to prepare graduates for a breadth of careers in today’s

markets. It develops up-to-date certain cognitive skills such as critical thinking,
and methodical analysis and evaluation methodologies. In addition, the
development of communication and ICT skills are also targeted.

In turn, it is hoped that the graduate can find a job opportunity in a wide range of
market needs such as business, finance, marketing, management, and human
resources. The design and delivery of this program of study seek to mold a
learner, always seeking to learn.

STUDY PLAN
Different Tracks of Business Program

Business Studies at AOU offers one academic program at under graduate level i.e.
Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies (BABS) with five tracks as following:

1- BA in Business Studies with Systems Practice

2- BA in Business Studies with Economics
3- BA in Business Studies with Accounting
4- BA in Business Studies with Marketing
5- BA in Business Studies

All the tracks have common courses. Students on all the tracks will benefit from
these common courses by gaining basic understanding of business behavior in
general, business functions and business behavior in a changing world.

The track-specific courses, however, provide students with the opportunity to

concentrate on specific courses and learn specialized skills. The program is
closely linked to the business studies program of the Open University, UK. The
structure of the program and the learning materials are the same. However, the
AOU tutors are encouraged to add value to the courses by promoting business
concepts related to all five tracks in relation to local market and business
conditions.
Degree Requirements

The BA degree in Business Studies [B.A.] has been developed and is delivered by
AOU. It has been validated through a process of external peer review by UKOU as
being of an appropriate standard and quality to lead to the Open University
validated award of: B.A. (Hons) BS (OUVA).

The degree comprises a 128 - 135 credit hours which can be completed over a
four-year period of full-time study. The breakdown of credit hours, courses
needed to complete the program, as well as the graduation plan for Business
Studies are presented below.

Credit
No Category Hours
1 Mandatory General University Requirements 18
2 Faculty Requirements and University Electives 14 - 28
3 Core Progamme Courses (Common Core Courses) 64
4 Core Track (Specialized) Courses 32
Total 128 - 135

(1) Mandatory General University Requirements (18 credit hours)

The following six courses comprise the Mandatory General University

Requirements (18 credit hours)

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisites

Number hours
GR101 Independent Study Skills 3
AR111 Arabic Communication Skills (I) 3
AR112 Arabic Communication Skills (II) 3 AR111
EL111 English Communication Skills (I) 3
EL112 English Communication Skills (II) 3 EL111
TU170 Learning On-Line 3
Total 18
(2) Faculty Requirements & University Electives (14 credit hours)

A minimum of 14 and a maximum of 21 credits are to be selected from the

following list. The list includes optional courses from which the student can
choose the courses that support his/her area of specialization or the requirements
of the Ministry of Higher Education. Some courses are local, and others are UK-
based courses.

Course Course Credit Pre-

Number Title Hours requisites Remarks
GR 131 Branch Requirement 3 Not more than two GRs
should be taken as
GR 111 Arab Islamic Civilization 3 electives
GR112 Issues of Development in the 3
Arab world
BE 200 Marketing Management 3 Obligatory Faculty
BE 201 Consumer Behavior 3 Requirement for the
Marketing Track
BE 300 Marketing Research 3 BE 200
BE 210 Financial Accounting 3 Obligatory Faculty
BE211 Managerial Accounting 3 BE 210 Requirement for the
Accounting Track
BE 310 Cost Accounting 3 BE 210
BE 220 Money & Banking 3 Faculty Requirement
BE 230 Financial Institutions 3 for the tracks of
Systems, Economics
BE 231 Financial Management 3 and Business Studies.
BE 320 Islamic Finance 3 Students of these
tracks can choose any
BE 322 Small Business Management 3 elective of Marketing
Bu130* Managing in the Workplace 8 and Accounting too.
M150 A* Data computing & information 4 Offered by IT &
M150 B* Data computing & information 4 M150 A Computing
Department.

* UK – based electives.

Notes:
1- Obligatory courses in a certain track can be taken as elective courses in other tracks.
2- BE stands for "Business Essentials".

(3) Core Program (Specialized) Courses (64 credit hours):

The following list includes 8 courses (8 Credits/30 points each). All courses are
compulsory for all business students regardless of their track or area of
specialization.
 Course Credit
Course Title Prerequisite
Number Hours
LB160 Business English Communication 8 EL112
B120 An Introduction to Business Studies 8 EL112
B200A Understanding Business Behavior: Business 8 B120
Environments and Markets (I)

B200B Understanding Business Behavior: Business 8 B200A

Processes and Organizations (II)

B202A Understanding Business Functions (I) 8 B120

B202B Understanding Business Functions (II) 8 B202A
B300A Business Behavior in a Changing World (I) 8 B120
B300B Business Behavior in a Changing World (II) 8 B300A
Total 64

Note:
The two courses B200 and B202 will be replaced by B201 and B203 respectively in future.

(4) Core Track (specialized) Courses (32 Credits / 120 points)

4.1 - BA in Business Studies with Systems Practice

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisite

Number Hours
T 205* A Systems Thinking: Theory and Practice 8 Passing B120
T 205* B Systems Thinking: Theory & Practice 8 StudyingT205 A /
or T214 A
T 306 A Managing Complexity: A systems 8 Passing B120
Approach
T 306 B Managing Complexity: A systems 8 Studying T306 A
Approach
Total 32

Note: T205* will be replaced by T214 when available.

4.2 - BA in Business Studies with Economics

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisite

Number Hours
DD 202 A Economics and Economic Change: 8 Passing B120
Microeconomics
DD202 B Economics and Economic Change: 8 Studying DD202 A
Macroeconomics
D 319 A Understanding Economic Behaviour 8 Passing B120
D 319 B Understanding Economic Behaviour 8 Studying D319 A
Total 32

4.3 - BA in Business Studies with Accounting

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisite

Number Hours
B680 A Certificate in Accounting (Financial 8 Passing B120
Accounting and Reporting
B680 B Certificate in Accounting (Cost and 8 Studying B680 A
Management Accounting)
B321 Accounting Information for Strategy 8 Passing B120
Implementation
M248 Data Analysis 8
Total 32

4.4 - BA in Business Studies with Marketing

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisite

Number Hours
B 322 Investigating Entrepreneurial 8 Passing B120
Opportunities
B324 Marketing and Society 8 Passing B120
T175 Exploring Information and 8
Communication Technology
M248 Data Analysis 8
Total 32
4.5 - BA in Business Studies

Course Course Title Credit Prerequisite

Number Hours
T175 Exploring Information and 8
Communication Technology
M248 Data Analysis 8
B321 Accounting information for Strategy 8 Passing B120
Implementation
B 322 Investigating Entrepreneurial 8 Passing B120
Opportunities
Total 32
 COURSE DESCRIPTION
for Core Business Courses

LB160: Professional Communication Skills for Business Studies

– 30 points / 8 credit hours

This course has been specifically designed for students who want to develop
specialized reading and writing skills primarily for business study purposes. The
course can also benefit those who are starting out in their business career by
highlighting how business studies communication skills can be transferred to the
workplace.
It is a level one course and counts as 8 AOU credit hours or 30 OU points. The focus
is on written English and topics include areas of human resource management,
finance and accounting, marketing and a number of business analysis methods.
Online communication with tutor and other students is also an important element of
the course. Different styles of writing are introduced and student will learn how to
analyze case studies more effectively and to produce successful essays and powerful
reports.
LB160 is a practical course with a wide range of activities designed to develop and
practice skills in reading and writing for business studies and business. It puts what
students have learned and in a highly competitive market, aims to help students
acquire the skills that will distinguish them from their peers. The course deepens the
knowledge of the business world at the same time as developing written
communication skills, helping students succeed in both business studies and
business generally.
Professional communication skills for business studies is relevant to a wide range of
students who need help in understanding how to communicate effectively, or they
may feel that their previous education has not provided them with the skills to write
confidently.

B120-An introduction to Business Studies – 30 points / 8 credit hours

This course will introduce you to the different internal and external elements of a
business and help you to understand the context in which a business operates. You
will explore the common aims and characteristics of business and what makes them
different. Business structures, cultures and functions are identified and the political,
social, economic, technological and ethical considerations affecting business are
introduced. The course consists of five study books: What is a business?; An
introduction to human resources in business; An introduction to marketing in
business; An introduction to accounting and finance in business; Other ways of
looking at business, plus a Study Companion to guide you through the course.

B200 - Understanding Business Behavior – 60 points / 16 credit hours

This course explains how businesses are structured, how they work, how their
environments influence them, and how they try to control competitive market
pressures. Understanding the complexities and uncertainties of all this is not easy, so
the course discusses different approaches and ways of seeing organizations and
markets. It enables students to evaluate and use information and theories, thus
improving their capacity for rigorous assessment. Finally, the course defines and
develops three groups of related business skills: study and presentation, IT, and
numeracy. Much use is made of computer conferencing for learning and debate
between students and dedicated conferencing tutors. Course tutors are expected to
participate.

B202 – Understanding Business Functions – 60 points / 16 credit hours

This course develops an understanding of how organizations work through the

contributions of five key business functions – human resources, information,
marketing, operations, accounting and finance – and how those are integrated.
Working with a selection of textbooks, you will look at the key practices of the
‘traditional’ business functions and the contributions they make to organizations,
individually and collectively. Case studies and specially written texts enable you to
see the origins, rationale, limitations and strengths of business functions from the
perspectives of various stakeholders. You will develop skills in finding and
organizing information, preparing simple presentations, and using basic software
packages and computer conferencing. The student will need a personal computer
and access to the internet.

B300 – Business Behavior in a Changing World – 60 points / 16 credit hours

This course is designed to develop an understanding and knowledge of strategic

organizational issues and how organizations respond to change in their
environments. The course has three main teaching modules: decision-making,
strategy and policy. Students look at how organizations make strategic decisions and
consider rationality and routines, decision methods and decision processes. They
analyze how organizations develop strategy, notions of core competence and
strategic innovation. A range of policy and environmental concepts and cases that
demonstrate the impact of the macro-environment on organizations are studied.
Students are made aware of the boundaries of strategy in terms of relationships
between strategies at the level of the firm, the industry, the nation, the region and
globally. Three groups of related business skills are developed: study and
presentation skills, IT and numeracy skills, and computer conferencing for learning
and debate. Course tutors are expected to participate.

DD202 – Economics and Changing Economies – 60 points / 16 credit hours

This introduction to economics examines important economic issues of our time and
how economists tackle them. It teaches both economic theory and an understanding
of changing economies. The course recognizes the increasing integration of the world
economy and draws on examples from the UK and other countries. Topics include
market competition and cooperation; market structures and firms’ decision-making;
the state’s role in the economy; money and financial markets; European integration;
booms and slumps; unemployment and inflation; managements of the national
economy; poverty, wealth and redistribution; ecological constraints on growth. The
course teaches basic techniques of economic analysis and data analysis.

D319 – Understanding Economic Behaviour:

Households, Firms and Markets- 60 points / 16 credit hours

This course is designed to be taken after DD202 Economics and changing

economies. Households, firms, and markets are three of the most important types of
institution making up the economy. This course develops a critical understanding of
fundamental economic issues relating to these three institutions by using
mainstream economic theory and less orthodox interdisciplinary approaches. The
course examines the behaviour of economic agents by investigating the outcomes of
their decisions and introduces ways of trying to model the processes of decision-
making as well as the outcomes.

T205 – Systems Thinking: Principles and Practice – 60 points / 16 credit

hours

T205 helps students make headway with complex situations they meet at work or in
the community: ‘How could we explore this opportunity?’ ‘How can I make sense of
this situation?’ ‘How could I improve things?’ Students learn to explore issues,
identify components, analyze interrelationships, develop an overall understanding,
and consider intervention possibilities. Cases include topical environmental,
organizational and information technology issues to do with e-commerce, the
environment, risk management and social support. The course includes Web
teaching and First-Class e-mail and conferencing.

T306 – Managing Complexity: A Systems Approach – 60 points / 16 credit

hours

This course is for anyone who wants to learn how to think differently and creatively
about complex issues, and to manage them in ways that lead to improvement. We are
confronted constantly by images of world as unknowable, random and complex, but
are given no means of understanding the complexity or revolving the problems it
creates. The systems approach was designed to deal with this. Building on the
discontinued course T301 Complexity, management and change, this course applies
the most recent and innovative developments in systems thinking to areas such as
information systems, organizational change and learning, sustainable development
and the environment, and professional practice.

B680 – Certificate in Accounting - 60 points / 16 credit hours

This is a Level 3 course and the skills taught will be specific to the requirements
of accounting. This course caters for the students who want a route into the
accounting profession, and who need fundamental accountancy skills. Students
will investigate the role of accounting in businesses organizations, developing
knowledge and understanding of basic financial, cost and management
accounting, computerized accounting, systems and spreadsheets. Students will
also learn how to prepare accounts for audit and use accounting information for
decision-making.

Course contents include: knowledge and understanding of the processes of

recording transactions; maintaining accounting records; basic financial, cost and
management accounting; computerized accounting, including accounting
systems and spreadsheets; role of accounting in business organizations;
accounting information for decision making; accounting statements for planning
and control; periodic accounting reports; accounting information for planning
and control; audit process; legal and regulatory environment; understanding of
the business and economic framework; organizational consequences of
accounting information; principles of office management; and human resource
management.

The course comprises sixteen books, each with accompanying CD-ROM material.
The books are arranged in three blocks: Financial Accounting, Management
Accounting and Managing Organizations. This course uses an integrated mix of
text and CD material and cannot be studied without the CDs. Seventy per cent of
the course is accounting and thirty per cent is management.