UNISA Decision sciences Course Module 2025-2026
Decision Sciences Major Combinations for the BCom (Generic) and BCom (Quantitative Management)
NQF Level 5: DSC1520
NQF Level 6: DSC1630, DSC2602, DSC2605, DSC2606, any of DSC2604, DSC2607
NQF Level 7: Any FIVE of 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: At least FOUR of DSC3702, DSC3703, DSC3704, DSC3705, DSC3706, DSC3707
| 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. |
| Business Numerical Skills A – FBN1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce the student to numerical manipulation, elementary descriptive statistics and index numbers. |
| Discrete Financial Modelling – HONCS1Y |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce the student to the financial theory of security markets through discrete time models. |
| 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. |
| Business Numerical Skills B – FBN1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Pre-requisite: FBN1501 |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to concepts of financial mathematics, basic modelling and elementary differentiation. |
| Decision Analysis – HONDANE |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with modelling techniques for solving decision problems in practice. |
| 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. |
| Elementary Quantitative Methods – QMI1500 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate,Higher Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Recommendation: Should be taken together with or follow on BNU1501 (Only applicable to 98237) |
| Purpose: To introduce the student to numerical manipulation, elementary descriptive statistics and index numbers. |
| Financial Mathematics – HONFIN6 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To enable students to do advanced interest rate calculations; specifically annuity and yield calculations (including the effects of capital gains tax). |
| Introductory Financial Mathematics – DSC1630 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English,Afrikaans |
|
| Purpose: To enable the student to derive and apply the fundamental formulae of financial mathematics. |
| Linear Programming – HONLINR |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with the simplex method and related topics and enable them to solve concrete linear programming problems. |
| Rational Decision Making – DSC2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to basic statistical concepts and to familiarise the student with the use of selected techniques from Operations Research, including decision analysis, project management and network modelling. |
| Introduction to the Mathematical Modelling of Derivatives I – HONMD1Y |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce students to the derivative investment environment; including the mathematical models used in pricing the instruments and the use of the instruments to increase profits and reduce risk. |
| Financial Modelling – DSC2604 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC1630 or QMG102Q |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to the essential approaches and concepts of financial management, analysis and decision-making. |
| Introduction to the Mathematical Modelling of Derivatives II – HONMD23 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
|
Co-requisite: HONSM1A & HONMD1Y |
| Purpose: To develop in students the ability to derive and determine the movement of asset prices (and the prices of derived instruments based on them) by using certain stochastic processes, including the Wiener and Poisson processes. |
| Linear Mathematical Programm – DSC2605 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D |
|
| Purpose: To enable the student to model and solve optimisation problems with linear programming techniques and to introduce the learner to basic linear algebra. |
| Neural Networks – HONNNSH |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with the theoretical background and various models of artificial neural networks. |
| Nonlinear Mathematical Programming – DSC2606 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 or OPS101G or QMG101P or QMS101D |
|
| Purpose: To enable the student to model and solve optimisation problems with techniques of differential calculus and nonlinear programming. |
| Optimisation – HONOPTR |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To introduce students to combinatorial optimisation and the study of efficient algorithms as applied to networks and other discrete problems. |
| Production Modelling – DSC2607 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC1510 or DSC1520 or DSC1620 |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to a mathematical approach to operations management in a production environment. |
| Project II – HONPR2C |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
|
Co-requisite: HONPR1B or DSC4810 |
| Purpose: To introduce students to the application of Operations Research techniques to real-life problems. |
| Simulation – HONSIMG |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with the modelling and operational analysis of industrial processes through simulation. |
| Simulation – DSC3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To provide the student with a theoretical basis for structuring and solving simulation models in practice. |
| Stochastic Modelling I – HONSM1A |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
|
Co-requisite: HONASMB |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with stochastic processes and their applications in discrete Markov chains and queuing theory. |
| Models for Strategic Decision-Making – DSC3704 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to the theory and practice of multi-criteria decision-making. |
| Research Support Tools – DSC4810 |
| 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 technical report writing skills, including the use of the packages LaTeX and R, conducting a literature study and producing a report. |
| Financial Risk Modelling – DSC3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 & DSC2604 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to principles and methodologies for the treatment of uncertainty and risk in Financial Modelling. |
| 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. |
| Selected Topics for Operations Research – DSC3706 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (either DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To familiarise the student with the philosophy of Operations Research and some aspects of heuristics, game theory and forecasting. |
| 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. |
| Basic Numeracy – BNU1501 |
| Higher Certificate,Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to basic decision numeracy skills in a business and personal environment. |
| Optimisation of Resources – DSC3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Certificate |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (DSC2601 or DSC2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To equip the student with the skills to formulate, solve and analyse the results of linear, goal and integer programming models. |
| Mathematical Modelling II – DSC3707 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: DSC2602 and (either DSC2601 or DCS2605 & DSC2606) |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to a wide-ranging overview of elementary mathematical modelling in the economic and financial environments. |
| 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. |
| Quantitative Modelling I – DSC1520 |
| Under Graduate Degree,Diploma |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To introduce the student to basic mathematical modelling and computational skills for application in the business world. |
| Applied Stochastic Modelling – HONASMB |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
|
Co-requisite: HONSM1A |
| Purpose: To familiarise students with the applications of stochastic theory in practical situations. |
| 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. |