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DECISION SCIENCES (INCLUDE OPERATIONS RESEARCH AND QUANTITATIVE MANAGEMENT)

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

Elementary Quantitative Methods - QMI1500
Diploma,Higher Certificate,Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Co-requisite: BNU1501
Recommendation: Should be taken together with or follow on BNU1501 (Only applicable to 98237)
Purpose: Qualifying students will be able to do basic elementary mathematical modelling that includes the collection, presentation and description of quantitative data. They will be able to do the basic numerical calculations necessary to correctly use variables, fractions, powers, roots, rations, proportions, percentages and correctly apply units to measure area and volume. Students will also be able to apply the basic concepts of financial mathematics and some elementary diffentiation rules to solve elementary practical financial problems.
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.
Introductory Financial Mathematics - DSC1630
Advanced Certificate,Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: This module provides fundamental introductory knowledge, and skills to identify which mathematical formulas to use in a specific financial problem. Students who complete this module will be able to solve problems involving for interest rates, annuities, amortisation, stock pricing and capital budgeting.
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.
Rational Decision Making - DSC2602
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC1520
Purpose: Qualifying students will be able to use selected data analysis techniques to manipulate and process data into meaningful information. Students will be able to apply these techniques and solve problems from selected topics in operations research such as decision analysis, project management, network modelling, as well as statistical quality management.
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.
Financial Modelling - DSC2604
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC1520, DSC1630
Purpose: Students who complete this module can model and solve decision-making problems in the financial environment with techniques of spreadsheet modelling, sensitivity analysis, statistical data, portfolio analysis and decision support tool creation within a spreadsheet.
Applied Data Science - DSC4828
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: Data science encompasses the collection, manipulation, analysis, modelling and visualisation of structured and unstructured data to extract insight and knowledge, and to improve decision making. To accomplish this, it uses tools from mathematics, statistics and computer science, and is therefore multi-disciplinary in nature. The purpose of this module is to provide a broad overview of data science for decision making from both a classical and a more modern (machine learning) perspective. Students will develop an understanding of the basic mathematical, statistical and computer concepts of data analytics and its applications. They will gain practical experience in the sourcing, preparation, analysis, visualisation, modelling, and evaluation of data in a variety of real-world contexts.
Linear Mathematical Programming - DSC2605
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC1520
Purpose: Qualifying students will be able to model and solve linear optimisation problems by using techniques of linear programming and computer software packages. The students will also be familiar with linear algebra.
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.
Nonlinear Mathematical Programming - DSC2606
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC1520
Purpose: Qualifying students will be able to model and solve optimisation problems with techniques of differential calculus and nonlinear programming.
Applied quantitative modelling - DSC2608
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC1520
Purpose: Qualifying students will be able to apply detailed knowledge and specified skills of data science and apply an appropriate programming language to solve problems in the field of Econometrics.
Optimisation of Resources - DSC3702
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: Students will be able to formulate, solve and analyse the results of linear, goal and integer programming models.
Simulation - DSC3703
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: Students will be able to use relevant theory for structuring and solving simulation models in practice.
Models for Strategic Decision-Making - DSC3704
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: Student will be able to select and apply relevant criteria decision-making to the problem of selecting one from a number of contenders where the most important information is human judgement.
Financial Risk Modelling - DSC3705
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 & DSC2604 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: Students can interpret and apply principles and methodologies for the treatment of uncertainty and risk in Financial Modelling.
Selected Topics for Operations Research - DSC3706
Under Graduate Degree,Certificate Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (either DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: Students will be able to interpret and apply the philosophy and methods of Operations Research. Students will be able to apply and interpret techniques of zero-sum game theory and cooperative game theory to competitive and cooperative games respectively. Students will also be able to apply and interpret the standard Meta-Heuristics of the Tabu-method, Genetic algorithms and Simulated Annealing to problems in which exhaustive searches are unfeasible. Students will also be able to implement these algorithms in the software R and interpret the output.
Mathematical Modelling - DSC3707
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Pre-requisite: DSC2601 or (DCS2605 & DSC2606)
Purpose: To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of elementary mathematical modelling in economic and financial environments. By successfully completing this module, students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to select and apply mathematical models to analyse and solve real-world problems in economic and financial contexts.
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.
Basic Numeracy - BNU1501
Higher Certificate Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: Students who complete this module will have skills, knowledge and competencies related to basic decision numeracy in a business and personal environment. Students will be able to solve every day mathematical and financial problems by applying basic calculations.
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.
Quantitative Modelling I - DSC1520
Under Graduate Degree,Diploma Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: A qualifying student will be able to apply basic mathematical modelling and computational skills in the business world.
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.