www.HocBongAnh.co.

uk

London School of Commerce

Tel: 020 7357 0077
Fax: 020 7403 1163

Course Leader: Ms Sue McKay

e-mail: sue.mckay@stmlondon.co.uk

Degree Foundation Programme

Course Overview and Subject

Outlines
June 2008

Assignment Deadline: 18 August

2008
 Degree Foundation Programme – Course Overview

The two-semester Degree Foundation Diploma has been designed to provide

school leavers and mature students a relevant framework for further studies at
degree level. Participants follow a broad but rigorous programme of study in
subject areas they will require for first degree study.

The broad aims of the Degree Foundation course are:

(i) To develop knowledge, skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes
to enable participants to perform effectively in higher studies;
(ii) To provide access for school leavers and mature students lacking formal
qualifications to degree courses;
(iii) To ease international students’ entry into the British Higher Education system;
(iv) To provide small group supervision with close attention to particular needs;
(v) To introduce business related subjects required for first degree study;
(vi) To introduce students to a variety of study techniques to enhance their
academic performance and to become independent learners;
(vii) To develop critical thinking and problem-solving ability;
(viii) To provide the opportunity through a mixture of delivery strategies for
students to gain personal satisfaction from their studies.

To obtain the Degree Foundation Diploma, students must pass all TEN modules;
these are delivered over two semesters.
To move onto the main course students must achieve equivalent of IELTS score of
6.
Semester I
Fundamentals of Mathematics
Study Skills
Introduction to Information Technology
Business Communication
English for Academic Purposes

Semester II
Introduction to Accounting
Legal Framework
Introduction to Economics
Introduction to Marketing
English for Higher Education

This session, the modules identified under semester 1 will be studied. The
Subject Outlines for these modules are provided in this document. A further
document will be distributed next semester.

2
School of Technology and Management
Degree Foundation Program

Contents

Business Communication -
4

Introduction to Information Technology -

7

Fundamentals of Mathematics -
11

Study Skills - 15

English for Academic Purposes -

3
Business Communication
Lecturer: Judy Parkes

Course Description:
This course provides an opportunity for the student to learn about effective
communication exchanges in business and covers the main communication tasks
with which students are likely to be confronted – telephoning, interviewing ,
meetings, giving talks and oral presentations, listening and reading and the use of
visual aids. Students will learn and understand the importance of effective
communications in the work place and in their academic environment.

Students will be introduced to successful writing strategies and techniques through

in-class lectures, exercises, individual writing assignments and team-based
exercises. Participants should become more competent and confident as effective
communicators in business and academic settings.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:
1. Analyze a communication situation and the audience, make choices about
the most effective and efficient way to communicate, and deliver that
communication in a highly skilled manner.
2. Be more experienced and comfortable in oral presentations both individual
and in teams, using visual aids.
3. Critique communication of others, provide feedback, accept feedback, and
use the feedback to improve communication skills.
4. Write business documents that are grammatically correct and use
appropriate business style.
5. Actively participate as a member or facilitator of teams; provide feedback in
teams, manage team meetings.
6. Develop professional interpersonal skills.

Course Goals:
This course is designed to help you:

4
 1. Develop communication skills you need to write effectively, make oral
presentations, communicate interpersonally, and work effectively in teams.
2. Understand the differences between yourself and others and to employ that
understanding and respect to improve the quality of your communication.
3. Set communication goals and demonstrate flexibility in adjusting those goals
in response to feedback or changes in the business environment.
4. Recognize and value the diverse contributions of all members of an
organization.
5. Know and be able to use a variety of media for communication that includes
new technologies in addition to writing and speaking.

Assessment:
The formal assessment of this course will be conducted through one assignment
and a closed-book examination.
• Assignment (30%)
• Closed book examination (70%)
The objective of the assignment is to test the student’s ability to research a topic
area, provide an analysis of the issues raised and reach a reasoned conclusion. The
closed-book examination will be of three hours’ duration and will examine the main
aspects of this unit. The overall pass mark is 50%, subject to a minimum of 50% in
the written examination and a minimum of 50% in the assignment.

Concise Indicative Reading List:

Core Texts:
• Stanton, Nicky (2004) Mastering Communication (4th edn), Palgrave
Macmillan
Additional Reading

• Blake, G. (2006) The Elements of Business Writing: New York, Collier Books.
• Christensen, G., Jacobi E. On-the-job Communication for Business: The
Professions, Government, and Industry.
• Buchanan D & Huczinski A (2007) Organisational Behaviour, (6th edn)
Prentice Hall.

LECTURE SEQUENCE

Cohort: Degree Foundation

Lecturer: Ms Judy Parkes
Subject: Business Communication

5
Core text: Stanton, Nicky (2004) Mastering Communication, (4th edn), Palgrave
Macmillan

LECTURE TOPICS

Unit 1 The Communication Process in

Business situations

• Purposes of communication
• Different media
• The affect of communication on
Unit 2 business relationships

Speaking effectively and the skill of

listening
• Basic speaking skills
Unit 3 • Reasons for improving listening
• Qualities that make a good
speaker

Giving a talk
Unit 4 • Techniques of public speaking
• Preparation, development &
closing the talk
• Visual aids

Non-verbal communication
Unit 5 • Importance of appearance
• Body Language
• Conflict between verbal & non-
verbal communication
• Barriers
Unit 6 Communicating orally in an effective
way
• Telephone problems
• Making a call
• Answering the telephone
• Face to face communication,
formal and informal

6
 Business Letters

Unit 7 Writing reports

Unit 8 Presentation for Assignments

Unit 9 Memos, Forms & Questionnaires
Unit 10 Getting to grips with grammar and
punctuation
Unit 11 Running meetings
• Communicating in groups
• Running and taking part in
meetings
• Agenda, Minutes
Unit 12 Revision

ASSIGNMENT

This assignment is to be a précis of a topical article from a newspaper.

It should be accurate, with correct punctuation using modern business style.
Students should also do some research around the subject and include this in the
essay.
A presentation to the group will be part of this assessment.

Introduction to Information Technology

7
Lecturer: Chandranna Rayadurg

Course Description:
This course aims to provide students with the fundamentals of Information
Technology. With Information Technology being used widely all over the globe, this
course will help students to develop a good understanding of various application
areas of information technology.

This course is designed to provide students an understanding of the functions of

different units of the computer systems and their interaction with different types of
software and the computer user. The students also get introductory exposure to
the database systems management, data communications and working of the
Internet. This course will also provide a good foundation for pursuing more
advanced IT courses.

Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject a student will understand:
• Frequently used Computing terminologies;
• Different types of programming languages;
• Ethical and social issues associated with Information Technology;
• Types of networks and the growth and use of the Internet
• The Role of Information Technology and Management
• To understand and appreciate the different stages of systems development;

Indicative Content:
• Fundamentals of Information Technology; Brief history on Computing,
Generations of Computers, different parts of a computer.
• Number System; Binary, Octal, Decimal, Hexa-decimal number systems,
Binary arithmetic.
• Basic Assembly coding; Write simple assembly codes using statements like
Store, Load, Rotate, Move, Halt
• Understanding Operating System; function, properties of Operating Systems,
types of Operating Systems,
• Programming languages; Understanding different types of programming
languages
• Networking fundamentals; Introduction to networking, LAN and WAN,
Internet
• Protecting data and ways to prevent unauthorized access.
• Ethical and Social Issues of Information Technology.

Assessment:
The formal assessment of this course will be conducted through one assignment
and a closed-book examination.
• Assignment (30%)
• Closed book examination (70%)

8
The object of this assignment is to test the student’s ability to research a topic
area, provide an analysis of the issues raised and reach a reasoned conclusion. The
closed-book examination will be of three hours’ duration and will examine the main
aspects of this unit. The overall pass mark is 40%, subject to a minimum of 40% in
the written examination and a minimum of 40% in the assignment.

Indicative Reading List

Core Texts:
• Capron, H.L Johnson. JA (2004), Computers: Tools for an Information
Age, Prentice Hall

Online resources:
1. http://www.evergreen.edu/biophysics/technotes/misc/bin_math.htm

Additional Reading List:

• Connolly, Thomas, and Begg, Carolyn, (2005) Database System - A

practical approach to design, implementation and management, (4th
edn), Addison Wesley
• Hunt, Roger, and Shelley, John, (2000) Computers and Common Sense,
(4th edn) Edition, Prentice-Hall

• Hutchinson, S. E. and Coulthard, G. J. (1996) Microsoft Office Professional

- simply windows. Irwin: Boston.
• Hutchison and Sawyer,(1999) Computers, Communications, and
Information , (7th edn) , Addison-Wesley
• Trainor, Timothy N and Krasnewitch, Diane (2000) Computers! An
Overview, McGraw-Hill

9
 Lecture Sequence

Lect Subject Reading/C

ure ore Text
No
1 Tools for an Information Age: Chapter 1
• Nature of Computers, Computer
applications, The basic hardware
• The Internet, Classification of Computers
2 Number systems, Open
• Binary, Octal, and Hexadecimal. source
Conversions Online
resources
• Binary arithmetic
Applications software
• Task oriented software, Business software
Chapter 2
• Ethics and Application software
Computers and people
3 Operating Systems Chapter 3
• Microsoft Windows
• Mac OS, Unix, Linux, OS for Networks, and
Large Computers, Resource Allocation
Computer Hardware
• CPU ALU, CU and Registers Chapter 4
• Memory, How the CPU executes
instructions, Data Representation: On/Off
• The System Unit, Speed and power
4 Input and Output Chapter 5
• Input, Output
• Terminals, Computer Graphics
Storage and Multimedia Chapter 6
• Magnetic Disk Storage, Optical Disk
Storage, CDs, DVDs
• Multimedia, Magnetic tape storage,
Backup Systems
• Organising and Accessing Stored Data,
Processing Stored Data

10
5 Networking Chapter 7
• Data Transmissions, Communication
Media
• Network topologies, WANS, LANS
The Internet Chapter8
• Getting started, Searching the internet,
Branching out,
• The world of e-commerce, Payments and
Taxes, Portals and advertising, Intranets
6 Social and Ethical Issues in Computing Chapter 9
• Workplace issues, Legal Issues, Ethics in
computing, Professional ethics
• Ethical use of computers, Intellectual
property rights
Security and privacy Chapter 10
• Computer crime, Security, Viruses
• Privacy, The Internet
7 Word Processing and Desktop Chapter 11
Publishing

8 Spread sheets and business graphics Chapter 12

9 Database Management Systems Chapter 13

10 Revision

11
Introduction to Mathematics
Lecturer: Dr. Uma Mohan

Course Description:
This course introduces the basic number systems, algebra, coordinates
geometry and trigonometry and their applications. The broad aim of
this course is to give students an introduction to the practice of
mathematics, statistics and statistical concepts.
This course is problem-oriented. There will be a variety of learning
activities including problem solving, coursework assignments, and the
use of computer software to analyse data and present information
succinctly.

Learning Objectives:

The key objectives in this introductory course include:

• Use of the calculator. Numbers in standard form. Simple equation, formulae and
arithmetical operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
and exponentiation.
• Transposition of formulae and precedence rules; square roots and fractions.
• Substitution and evaluation of algebraic expressions.
• Simultaneous linear equations in two unknowns.
• Simplification of algebraic expressions, including rearranging brackets; addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division of algebraic fractions.
• Distance between two points and Pythagoras Theorem.
• Equation of a straight line, graphical representation.
• Angles; degrees and radian measures. Formulae for arc length, area of a sector
and circle.
• Trigonometric ratios and functions.

Indicative Reading List:

Core Texts:

• Croft, A (2006) Foundation Math (4th edn) Prentice Hall

• Ramsley, F (2007) The Foundations of Mathematics Verlag
Dr. Mueller
• Booth, Dexter J (1998) Foundation Mathematics Addison and
Wesley Publishers,Third Edition

Requirements:

 Readings as assigned. Readings are as assigned and detailed in

the course outline. Reading assignments are to be read prior to the

12
 class session for which they are assigned. These readings will be
discussed thoroughly in class, primarily in the form of lecture and
group discussions. Therefore, it is very important that you read the
material before the class session in which it is assigned so that you
may participate in the discussions. You will also be quizzed on
these reading assignments. There may also be additional reading
assignments distributed in the form of handouts in class. Due dates
for such readings will be assigned upon distribution.

 Exam:

There will be a closed book exam at the end of the

semester .The exam is worth 70% and must be taken at the
scheduled times.

 Assignment. You are required to solve a set of questioners at the

middle of the the semester which is worth 30% of your grade .This
will be an individual assignment. Hence, you are not allowed to
disscus or collabarate with anybody to solve this assignment. Any
students caught cheating on this assignment will automatically
receive “F” grade for the cours.

Grating:
• Assignment Solve a set of questioners 30% During Term 1
• Closed book examination 2 hours 70% During Term 2
• Total Points: 100%

Indicative Content:

Topics Reading/Assignment Due

1 Class Bureaucracy (syllabus, Module-1: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4

assignments, etc.) The
integers, decimal numbers
rational numbers, real and
imaginary numbers
2 Parallel scales, interpolation Module-3: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4
and extrapolation,
relationships and graphs

3 The straight line Module-4: Unit 1

13
4 Simultaneous liner equations, Module-4: Unit 2, 3
linear inequalities

Practice Module-4

5 Rhetorical problems, Terms, Module-6: Unit 1, 2, 3

coefficients, factors and
brackets, powers and
Multiplying Expressions

6 Fractions and dividing Module-6: Unit 4, 5, 6

expressions, expressions,
equations and graphs
Practice Module-6

7 Polynomial Module-7: Unit 1

8 Expressions Module-7: Unit 2

9 Solving equations Module-8: Unit 1, 2

graphically, Solving
equations algebraically

10 Solving quadratic equations Module-8: Unit 3

11 The factor theorem, partial Module-8: Unit 4, 5

fractions

Practice Module-8

12 The argand diagram, the Module-9: Unit 1, 2

arithmetic of complex
numbers
13 The triangle, Pythagoras’ Module-10: Unit 1, 2
theorem
14 The trigonometric ratios, Module-10: Unit 3, 4
compound angles and
trigonometric identities

14
15 The sine and Cosine rules Module-10: Unit 5

Practice Module-10

16 Input, process and output Module-11: Unit 1

17 Algebraic functions Module-11: Unit 2

18 The exponential function, the Module-14: Unit 1

logarithmic functions

19 Review of Geometry: degrees

and radian measures.
Formulae for arc length
20 Review of Geometry: area of
a sector and circle

15
Study Skills
Lecturer: Dr. Peter Mc.Gee

Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to install in students an understanding of
the importance of study skills. By the end of the module, you will be
expected to have:

1. Developed a good understanding of learning styles;

2. Improved your ability to write academic essays: and
3. Learned the importance of time management skills, referencing
skills, note-taking, reading skills, critical thinking and analysis.

Course Goals:
This course is designed to help you:

• Develop an awareness and understanding of the context, nature,

role and significance of good study habits
• Improve your critical thinking skills
• Identify possible blocks to effective study
• Develop interpersonal skills in carrying out case studies and
group projects
• Understand the role of critical reading
• Appreciate and understand the importance of efficient reading
skills
• Learn how to reference correctly
• Use your study time effectively

Course Policies:
Attendance: Class attendance is critical to your success in this
course, just as it will be critical when you get your first big job. Too,
this is a class in communication. We can’t communicate if you’re not
here.
Our attendance policy is simple: Come to class. I reserve the right to
implement punitive policies if I’m not happy with attendance.

16
Contacting the instructor:
You can contact your tutor in person, by phone, or by e-mail. I plan to
be in my office (Room 19) on most days when I am not teaching,
though I might well be in the library or at Kings Head Building.
Next best is by phone. Your final option is e-mail. I’ll check my e-mail
several times a day, but the best way to work something out with me
is by phone or in person. If your concern is urgent or particularly
important, don’t count on e-mail.

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Your professional conduct is an evaluation of your communication
performance in class. You communicate in class through what you do,
as well as by what you say. All aspects of your participation in class will
be considered as communication. These include attendance for class
and team meetings.
• Contribution and effort towards team project
• Attention to lecturer, class members, and guest lecturers
• Participation in class discussion and exercises to learn and to
contribute to the learning of others
• Timely completion of assignments and preparation for class
• Courteous and respectful communication to faculty, staff, guest
speakers, and fellow students
• Encouragement of others by asking questions, by allowing others
to complete their ideas, and by
• responding to what others have said
• Use of constructive feedback
• Respecting diversity of others
• Honest responses ( i.e. if you do not know something or have not
yet completed an assignment)
• Contributions of information and ideas that add to the value of
the class
• Behaviour consistent with that expected in any business meeting
(i.e. on time, stay until the end, no eating, etc.)

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The LSC faculties have no tolerance for acts of academic dishonesty.

The responsibilities of
both students and faculty with regard to academic dishonesty are
crucial.
By teaching this course, I have agreed to observe all of the faculty
responsibilities. By enrolling in this class, you have agreed to observe
all of the student responsibilities. Policy on Academic Dishonesty:

17
Students who violate University rules on academic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary penalties,
including the possibility of failure in the course an/or dismissal from
LSC/STM.

Academic dishonesty, a breach of the standards of academic integrity,

is broadly defined on this campus.
"Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and any act
designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student .

Plagiarism is defined to include any use of another's work and

submitting that work as one's own. This means not only copying
passages of writing or direct quotations but also paraphrasing or using
structure or ideas without citation. Learning how to paraphrase and
when and how to cite can be difficult, yet it is an essential step in
maintaining academic integrity.

Paraphrasing is the use of another's ideas to enhance one's own

work. For this reason, a paraphrase, just like a quotation, must be
cited. In a paraphrase, however, the author rewrites in his or her own
words the ideas taken from the source. Therefore, a paraphrase is not
set within quotation marks.

So, while the ideas may be borrowed, the borrower's writing must be
entirely original; merely changing a few words or rearranging words or
sentences is not paraphrasing. Even if properly cited, a paraphrase
that is too similar to the writing of the original is plagiarized.

Academic Integrity in the Information Age: An issue of growing

importance for student writing and research is the proliferation of
electronic documents and information sources. CD-ROMs
encyclopaedias, e-mail discussion lists, and web sites of all sorts have
opened a new world, on-line journals and of information to researchers,
as well as raised new concerns about academic integrity in the
information age. When using the new media as source information, you
must take extra care to provide the proper citation. Furthermore, when
taking notes on a computer from printed material, you must be
especially mindful not to incorporate the writing of the source material
into your notes, which you may then accidentally copy into your paper
as an unattributed quotation or paraphrase.

Such simple mistakes result from the failure to observe basic writing
procedures, especially proper note taking and proofreading. Good note
taking skills are particularly important with electronic documents,

18
because the ease of manipulating this information makes sloppiness
and mistakes more likely and the adverse consequences potentially
greater. "Cutting and pasting" is not an alternative to taking notes,
because note taking is not just about transferring information but
about arriving at and organizing original thoughts.

MARKING
Your marks on all assignments will be based on criteria discussed in
class, from your textbooks, and from accepted business practice. Some
criteria will be written; some will be delivered orally. This is because
you need to learn to respond to instructions delivered orally in the
workplace. You should never find yourself completing an
assignment without a complete understanding of how you will
be marked. If you do, contact me immediately. The formal
assessment of the course will be conducted through one
assignment and a closed-book examination.

• Assignment (30%)
• Closed book examination (70%)

How your work will be marked:

You will be marked based on your work’s overall effectiveness in

incorporating and executing the details of the assignment. The
objectives of the assignment are to test the student’s ability to
research a topic area, provide an analysis of the issues raised and to
reach a reasoned conclusion. The closed-book examination will be of
three hours duration and will examine the main aspects of this unit.
The overall pass mark is 40%, subject to a minimum of 40% in the
written examination and a minimum of 40% in the assignment.

Submitting Papers:
All papers must be typed or computer printed in the acceptable format
for that assignment. Always use block left format with jagged right
margins and proofread very carefully. Grammar, punctuation, and style
count heavily in this course. You’ll be amazed what Spell Check and
Grammar Check will either miss or ludicrously advise you to do.

Keep a disk or paper copy of your work.

Replacement of a lost assignment (even if I lost it) is your
responsibility.

19
Teams should also keep research from reports until after the reports
have been marked. I may need to see it. A good tool would be to keep
a semester portfolio that contains everything you turn in and handouts
received.

Late Assignments:
All work is required on the due date at the beginning of class, or it will
be considered late. For any work to be accepted late, there must be an
emergency or extenuating situation, and you must notify the
instructor, in writing (email is acceptable), prior to, or within 24
hours, of due date. There may still be a penalty of 10 % of the marks
being deducted for any work accepted late.

General Marking Criteria for Assignments:

You will be given criteria for assignments describing the nature of the
assignment and the specific criteria that will be used to mark it. Aside
from assignment-specific criteria, you will be marked on your ability to:

1. Write with appropriate formats

2. Write without errors in spelling, mechanics, grammar, punctuation,
and style
3. Write clearly, cohesively, emphatically, and concisely
4. Write effectively in different situations
5. Write tactfully, positively, credibly, and interestingly
6. Write accurately and include all and only relevant content material
7. Use appropriate references and bibliography.

Lecturer: Dr. Peter Mc.Gee

Subject: Study Skills
Core Texts:
• Cottrell, S (2003) The Study Skills Handbook (2nd edn)
Palgrave Macmillan
• Northedge, A (2005) The Good Study Guide (2nd edn) Open
University Worldwide
• Jordan (1998) English for Academic Purposes Cambridge
University Press

USEFUL WEB SITES

1. www.support4learning.org.uk/education/study
2. www.surrey.ac.uk/skills
3. www.skills4study.com
4. www.warwick.ac.uk/EAP/study_skills/index
5. www.prenhall.com/success

20
LECTURE SEQUENCE

1 Discussion of Module

2 Time Management

3 Learner Styles

4 Essence of Study

5 Procrastination

6 Group work/pair work/case studies/projects

7 Effective writing skills/stylistics

8 Essay writing/essay types

9 Reading Strategies

10 Referencing Skills/Bibliography

11
Note-taking/filing

12 Plagiarism/Paraphrasing

13 Research Skills/ Library/Internet

14 Academic Writing

15 Course Revision and Feedback

21
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES
Lecturer: Sue McKay

Assessment Type Duration/Length of Weighting of Assessment Approximate Date of

Assessment Type Submission
IELTS Examination for 2 hours 45 mins 100% End of Semester 1
formative assessment
Listening 30 mins 25% End of Semester 1
Reading 60 mins 25% End of Semester 1
Writing 60 mins 25% End of Semester 1
Speaking 15 mins 25% End of Semester 1

Aim(s)
To recognise and understand reasonably complex language and to put forward points of view in
controlled discussions. Expressing meaning clearly especially in familiar situations. In written work,
accuracy is best achieved through guided use of familiar structures and assimilated vocabulary.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• communicate fluently possessing a wide range of vocabulary.
• expand and develop ideas readily and interact with confidence in both written and spoken
English. S/he will be able to talk freely on specific topic areas.
• use vocabulary and sentence structures in written work appropriately and accurately.
• be familiar with a broad range of academic texts and the skills necessary to exploit them

Learning and Teaching Delivery Methods

Learners will be part of a class based setting.

Indicative Content
• Revision of tenses / dependent prepositions / question formation
• Infinitive and gerund - form and uses after verbs/ prepositions/ adjectives and as subjects
• Relative clauses - defining and non-defining
• Modal verbs - past and present/ use and form
• Passive form - formation and use
• Affixes - how to use prefixes and suffixes to guess meaning

Recommended Reading & Required Reading

• Porter, D, (2003) Check your vocabulary for Academic English, Peter Collin Publishing.
• McCarthy & O’Dell, (2002) English Vocabulary in Use Advanced, CUP
• Vince and Sunderland, (2003) Advanced Language Practice, Macmillan

22
Access to Specialist Requirements
Access to library and CD player

23