The University of Limerick operates a modular system with continuous assessment. A module is a self-contained package of education taught during a single academic semester. Visiting students may choose from a wide range of modules and may cross register between faculties and departments. Acceptance on these modules is subject to academic prerequisites, timetabling constraints and ceilings on enrolments. The module descriptions that follow present an outline of the salient topics covered in each module.
Normal course load is 5 modules per semester.
MODULE CODES
The first two letters of the code indicate the subject area to which the module belongs. The FINAL numerical digit of the code corresponds to the semester of study in which the module is normally taken by Irish students i.e. year one modules end in 1 (Autumn semester) and 2 (Spring semester). year two modules end in 3 (Autumn semester) and 4 (Spring semester) and so on until year four. These codes should be used as a guide to the level of each course.
The three digit codes found at the right of a module title represents the number of corresponding Lecture, Tutorial and Laboratory hours (in this order).
KEY
* Prerequisite standard is necessary for entry into these modules
+ A minimum number of students are necessary before these modules are offered
The contents of this booklet are for information purposes only and should not be viewed as the basis of a contract between student and the University. No guarantee is given that modules may not be altered, cancelled or otherwise amended at any time.
AUTUMN
SEMESTER
MODULES
Kemmy Business School – Autumn
AC4001 Principles of Accounting (Autumn/1)
3 hours per week; 13 weeks/1stsemester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
This module introduces the student to the fundamental concepts and practices of financial accounting. Accounting is presented as a manifestation of various social and political pressures, which required that techniques be developed to account for trading and wealth. The topics covered include accounting in its political, regulatory, historical, social, economic, corporate governance and international contexts; introduction to the theoretical, conceptual and regulatory frameworks of accounting; traditional accounting model; capital, income and profit and measurement; principles of double entry bookkeeping; books of prime entry, ledgers, trial balance, internal controls, use of computers in recording and control of data, construction of final accounts for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies; accruals, prepayments and adjustments; depreciation and stocks; distribution of profits; profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, cashflow statements; nature, purpose, scope and framework of auditing.
AC4007 Advanced Financial Reporting (Autumn/4)
3 hours per week; 13 weeks/1st semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
This module considers accounting principles and policies that apply to certain international accounting standards, from the perspective of external users of financial information (including equity holders). The pedagogic approach adopted here is the joint application of a theoretical and practical exploration of these specific international accounting standards. These advanced financial accounting issues include lease agreements, the cost of retirement benefits, earnings per share, group financial statements, accounting for provisions, contingent liabilities and assets, and the treatment of events after the reporting date. The complex accounting treatment of financial instruments is also examined, along with its continuous revisions. The accounting treatment of deferred tax is analysed to demonstrate how accounting rules differ from tax rules when calculating profit for tax purposes. These international accounting standards and issues are studied in light of their historical development and students are encouraged to critically examine current accounting regulations. Prerequisite AC4014 AC4213 Financial Accounting (non-business) (Autumn/ 2) 4 hours per week; 13 weeks/3rd semester; 26L/26T; ECTS credits:6
This module introduces the non-specialist student to the fundamental concepts and practices of financial accounting. Accounting is presented as a manifestation of various social and political pressures, which required that techniques be developed to account for trading and wealth. The topics covered include accounting and auditing in their political, regulatory, historical, social, economic and international contexts; introduction to the theoretical, conceptual and regulatory frameworks of accounting; corporate governance; traditional accounting model; nature, purpose, scope and framework of auditing; the impact of information technology on accounting systems; capital, income and profit measurement; accruals, prepayments and adjustments; depreciation and stocks; distribution of profits; profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, cash flow statements; reconciliation of operating cash flows to operating profits; financial statements analysis, financial ratios and performance analysis. This module is designed to be a prerequisite for the module AC4204 Management Accounting and Finance, offered in the spring semester.
AC4305 Financial Information Analysis (Autumn/3) 3 hours per week; 13 weeks/5th semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
User needs, corporate report, decision-usefulness approach; accounting information and capital markets, efficient markets hypothesis; accounting information and security prices; financial market information; presentation of accounting information; companies acts, EU directives; analysis of financial statements; recognition and measurement issues; substance over form; performance indicators; ratio analysis; uses and limitations, of-balance sheet financing, creative accounting; corporate social reporting; forecasts and budgets. Prerequisite AC4204 AC4417 Management Accounting 1 (Autumn/4) 3 hours per week; 13 weeks/7th semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
Objectives, scope and framework of management accounting; management accounting and organisation control; cost accumulation for stock valuation and profit measurement; product costing systems; application of cost-volume-profit techniques; marginal costing and non-routine decision making; accounting information for pricing decisions.
Communications in its social, economic and cultural context: information society; role of new technologies; media; postmodernism; argument analysis, reasoning, structuring and defending arguments; persuasion: psychology of persuasion and motivation; advertising as persuasion, including codes of visual communication; persuasion and the spoken word; style: effective writing strategies for various contexts (academic, journalistic, informative, persuasive etc.); presentation.
EC4003 Intermediate Microeconomics (Autumn/2) 3 hours per week; 13 weeks/3th semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
This module builds on the introductory microeconomics module. It extends the analysis of producer and cost theory. It also extends the analysis of market structures (focusing on imperfect market structures) and introduces the issue of pricing and allocation of the factors of production. The latter part of the module looks at the economics of information and how choices are made under conditions of uncertainty. Finally, the student is introduced to the notion of general equilibrium and welfare. Using this framework, market failure and the rationale for government intervention (government sector) are examined. Theory of production and costs. Models of imperfect competition and game theory. Factor markets. The economics of information and choice under uncertainty. General equilibrium and welfare.
EC4004 Economics for Business (Autumn/2) 3 hours per week; 13 weeks/3th semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
The module begins by extending the analysis of production and cost theory developed in first year microeconomics. Imperfect market structures of the firm are explored including analysis of game theory. Labour market decisions are analysed with respect to the supply and demand for labour and wage determination, the latter forms the key link between the micro and macro sections of the module. An overview of the theoretical and practical exposition of business objectives along with key issues facing the firm in the business environment in addition to the role of government are then explored. Section two of the module is concerned with the macroeconomy. The topics covered include: the expectations-augmented Phillips curve, purchasing power parity, interest rate parity and the Fisher effect. These theories are combined to obtain what is known as the “open economy monetary model”. This model is then used to evaluate particular issues including the long-run performance of the Irish economy and the factors underlying the “Celtic Tiger” period.
EC4027 The European Economy (Autumn/) 3 hours per week; 13 weeks/3th semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6
This module examines the economic, political and social aspects of the European Union, from the perspective of the Union as a whole, and from an Irish perspective. An understanding of the economic motives driving European integration and the effects of greater fusion of European national economies requires knowledge of markets in their microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects. This module is policy- rather than theory-based. The limitations of markets and the institutional initiatives and policies taken by the EU to modify market processes, in order to ensure spatial and social cohesion, are among other themes addressed in this course.
EC4035 Economics of Integration (Autumn/2)
3 hours per week; 13 weeks/ semester; 26L/13T; ECTS credits:6