Z2D Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation)

The information on this page is for current students. If you are applying for our next intake, please view our active course offerings here.

Overview 2020

Entry Requirements: See entry requirements

Duration: Minimum 2 Years, up to a maximum of 5 Years
Duration
Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Hobart: Term 1, Term 3
Launceston: Term 1, Term 3
Cradle Coast: Term 1, Term 3

Commonwealth Supported places available

This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students

Graduation from the Associate Degree in Applied Business can provide an entry opportunity for those who have not worked in business settings, accelerate progression through a graduate's present organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities.

The Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation) is for aspiring future leaders and managers in one of four areas: Sport, Recreation and Leisure, Tourism and Events, Local Leadership and Supply Chain Management.

The Sport, Recreation and Leisure specialisation focuses on the management, planning and business of sport, recreation and leisure. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge of key business management concepts in practical environments such as sporting and recreation clubs, leisure centres and local government. This specialisation is ideal for those already working in the industry who wish to progress to management roles.

The Tourism and Events specialisation focuses on tourism and event organisation, their significance to governments, businesses and the community and the social, financial and cultural impacts of these crucial sectors of the Tasmanian economy. Students learn key business concepts in both traditional and rapidly evolving tourism and events markets while developing the skills to apply them in real world situations.

The Local Leadership specialisation is aimed at people with a strong community focus who are interested in acquiring the business skills necessary to manage the people and resources involved in the local delivery of services to the community. Students gain valuable skills and experience in areas such as good governance, compliance and regulation, managing volunteers, leisure planning and event management.

The Supply Chain Management specialisation is focused on preparing people employed within industry to manage the supply of goods and services from the point of origin to the end customer more efficiently. Students are exposed to all elements of the supply chain, including inventory planning, procurement, transportation, distribution and global logistics.

Whether you’re currently working in one of these areas or you’ve always wanted to, this program is a great stepping stone to a new or accelerated career.

The first year of the program serves as a foundation year, while the second year provides students with a pathway to employment in organisations relevant to their specialisation such as event management companies, tourism operators, sporting clubs, leisure centres and local government.

A key feature of the course is the focus on hands-on learning, where students develop knowledge and skills through work integrated learning opportunities such as industry placements, fieldwork, case studies and applied research. This aims to enhance students’ problem solving, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills by allowing them to ‘learn through practice’. It has been designed to make university study a little less daunting—and a lot more practical.

Industry experts have helped to develop the course and are actively involved in its delivery. You’ll learn about contemporary business concepts and practices while developing problem solving and project management skills through industry placements and case studies.

The program is available for full-time and part-time study (depending on specialisation) across all campuses in Tasmania and is delivered through a combination of online study, face-to-face classes, practical workshops and tutorials.

Completing our Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation) will give you:

a pathway to a great career in sport, recreation & leisure, tourism & events or local leadership.
an opportunity to accelerate progression in a current organisation
an opportunity to open up a new career path
a pathway into further study at the University of Tasmania.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation), graduates will be able to:

Identify, analyse, and evaluate personal goals and pathways for paraprofessional employment and further learning.
Articulate evidence and value of learned academic and practice knowledge and skill to a range of audiences.
Apply and communicate academic knowledge of business disciplines within the contemporary business environment.
Apply and communicate practical business skills within the contemporary business environment.
Demonstrate adaptability in the context of emerging digital and innovative landscapes through cognitive, technical, and creative thinking skills.
Model the principles of sustainable business practice and resource management through ethical and professional conduct within a collaborative framework.

Practical experience

Experiential education and work integrated learning approaches are central to the Associate Degree in Applied Business. Students will therefore learn through project and problem-based learning activities such as field work, case studies (local and international), action learning, design thinking, simulated environments, placements, data for decision making, wicked problems and more. These approaches ensure practical experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment and that students have the opportunity to develop work-related skills, knowledge and behaviours.

In the first year of an associate degree, students are introduced to learning through practice and exposed to authentic experiences that develop skills and understandings related to industry, community or global needs. Students engage with (i) a range of methods and approaches to practice, (ii) principles and perspectives such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership in real world scenarios, (iii) reflection and deliberative thinking as a means of developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations, and (iv) ways of understanding problems and developing solutions through active inquiry.

A key component of the course, which is established in the first year, is a Practice Manual. The Practice Manual contains all portfolio requirements for the course, including the Professional Development Plan (PDP) and is a collection of evidence that highlights personal, academic and professional development. Dedicated teachers are in coaching roles to support you to continuously develop your Practice Manual over the duration of the course. This involves working with you to determine what evidence best highlights your ability to apply theory in practice, and what activities and experiences showcase your achievement in terms of transferable skills, professional attributes, technical skills and knowledge, and so forth.

The second year of an associate degree builds on the concept of learning through practice by introducing students to more complex learning experiences. Students are therefore introduced to (i) discipline-based skills and knowledge in dynamic practice situations, (ii) concepts of managing effective relationships and communicating with others, (iii) the development and use of adaptive leadership skills and how these skills relate to innovative and entrepreneurial practice, and (iv) the nature of responsible, accountable and reflective workplace skills, and creative and critical thinking relevant to para-professional practice. In addition, students are expected to exercise self-awareness, initiative and judgement to manage themselves and professional relationships effectively. On completion of the two years, students are expected to have a fully developed Practice Manual that highlights all their achievements, including the development of transferable skills and professional attributes, so they leave with a tangible asset that showcases what industry are looking for.

Career outcomes

The nature of what I am learning I can apply directly to my workplace. There are so many aspects of what I am studying that are transferable.

Lisa Granger
Associate Degree in Applied Business

Read more

Graduation from the Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation) can provide an entry opportunity for those who have not worked in business settings, accelerate progression through a graduate's present organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities. This course provides graduates with paraprofessional level of business knowledge and practice applicable across industries. The career options of graduates may also be influenced by their chosen specialisation. A graduate's chosen specialisation might lead them to paraprofessional-level roles within that industry.

New to Applied Business and never worked in the industry before?

For those graduates new to Applied Business, this qualification could assist you to gain roles such as trainee positions with managers, team leaders, field officers, and researchers.

Already working and want to fast track or leverage off past experience?

For those graduates already working in business, an Applied Business qualification may enable them to progress from assistant positions to managerial roles, lead a small team, become specialists, salespersons and liaise better with suppliers or customers

Potential types of employers:

Small and medium businesses;
Accountancy firms;
Financial services;
Event organisations;
Sport organisations;
Tourism organisations;
Health and well-being consultants;
Non-for-profit organisations; and
Project management companies.

Course structure

Please note: the delivery of individual specialisations is subject to sufficient enrolment numbers

The Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation) is a two-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) course comprising of a combination of 16 topic areas, each with an embedded work integrated learning component. The program is offered over four teaching terms of 10 weeks.

The course structure includes eight compulsory subjects in Applied Business, along with a choice of eight subjects in a chosen specialisation. Students may choose one of the following specialisations:

Sport, Recreation and Leisure
Tourism and Events
Local Leadership*
Supply Chain Management*

*These specialisations are not offered in 2020

Students wishing to study the general business stream will need to enrol in Z2C Associate Degree in Applied Business.

For assistance with enrolment, please email U.Connect@utas.edu.au or call 1300 826 663.

Z2D Applied Business (Local Leadership)

Students are required to take two units in each term, if studying full time.

Year 1

Term 1

ZAA131

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Term 1
Hobart	Term 3
Launceston	Term 1
Launceston	Term 3
Cradle Coast	Term 1
Cradle Coast	Term 3

Associate Degree in Applied Business (Specialisation) (Z2D)

Overview 2020

Entry Requirements

Duration

Duration

Location

Career outcomes

Course structure

Contemporary Business Environments

Good Governance

Managing People

Contract Management

Contemporary Business Environments

Business Finance

Sport and Recreation Administration

Health and Community Services in Australia

Quality Management

Design Thinking & Digital Innovation

Business Marketing

Lean Thinking

Designing Events

Agribusiness and Feasibility

Data for Decision Making

Leading People

Business Planning and Decision Making

Leisure Planning

Digital Tourism Visitor Economy

Industry Project

Managing Projects

Managing Revenue

Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking

Industry Project

Valuing the Volunteer

Contemporary Business Environments

The Business of Leisure

Managing People

Organisation of Sport and Recreation

Contemporary Business Environments

Business Finance

Sport and Recreation Administration

Business Marketing

Designing Events

Data for Decision Making

Managing Events

Leading People

Business Planning and Decision Making

Leisure Planning

Industry Project

Managing Projects

Leisure for Community Development

Leisure Facility Management

Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking

Industry Project

Valuing the Volunteer

Contemporary Business Environments

Supplier Relationship Management

Managing People

Procurement Processes and Strategies

Contemporary Business Environments

Business Finance

Supply Chain Management in Contemporary Organisations

Business Marketing

Inventory Control and Warehousing

Data for Decision Making

Category Management

Business Planning and Decision Making

Supply Chain Management Industry Project

Managing Projects

Transport and Freight Strategies

Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking

Contract Management

Year 1

Contemporary Business Environments

The Business of Leisure

Managing People

Contemporary Tourism

Contemporary Business Environments

Business Finance

Tourism Visitor Engagement

Business Marketing