SPECIALISATION

ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS STUDIES

 

IN THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE STUDY PROGRAMME

"ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS SCIENCES"

 

The specialisation Economic and business studies in the study programme “Economic and Business Sciences”, delivered by the University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business (UM FEB), is three year undergraduate university study. The comprehensive curricula prepares students for various professional challenges in global business environment.

UM FEB bachelor's programme specialisation Economic and Business Studies is taught in English. The curriculum integrates major economic and business disciplines, including economics, international business, entrepreneurship, marketing, management, supply chain, project management, e-business solutions etc. The study is practice-oriented. It examines the most up-to-date concepts in all major economic and business study fields. The students gain both basic knowledge and practical skills, required for their proffesional careers.

To meet the needs of graduates in the field of business management and provide them with knowledge in line with the evolving business landscape and the standards of modern business schools (especially in the context of global business, digital transformation, and associated new business models, as well as environmental challenges), students in their second year choose between the two modules:

Modul A: Business Management

We have placed a particular emphasis on the management of small and medium-sized enterprises, primarily due to the specific characteristics of these enterprises (SMEs) in the economy, which serve as key drivers of economic growth and job creation in many countries. The curriculum also addresses the specific challenges faced by such companies, including limited resources, financial constraints, adaptation to rapid changes, and competition in their environments. This module is designed to provide students with knowledge of various business models, enabling them to gain a broader understanding of management approaches, which will enhance their adaptability and ability to adjust to various organizational environments. Additionally, an important subset of small and medium-sized enterprises consists of family businesses, which are a significant part of the economy in many countries. However, they face unique challenges such as managing family relationships, ownership transitions, and leadership in subsequent generations.

Modul B: Management and Governance in Health Care

We have also developed this module because the environment is characterized by significant demographic changes. This module allows students to learn how to effectively manage healthcare organizations and improve the quality of care. Understanding how to develop effective strategies for growth and competitiveness in the business world is of paramount importance, along with strengthening interdisciplinary knowledge. The introduction of the Management and Governance in Health Care module enables the integration of knowledge with a crucial sector of the economy, providing students with a better understanding of complex challenges. Students who possess knowledge in both business management and the healthcare sector are more attractive to employers and have a broader range of career opportunities.

After fulfilling all the requirements of the programme, the students are awarded the professional title ‘Bachelor of Arts’.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

Year 1

Semester 1 (Winter)

Course ECTS
Introduction to Economics and Microeconomics 5
Accounting 6
Mathematics for Economists 6
Applied Business Statistics 7
Basics of Organisation and Management 6

Semester 2 (Summer)

Course ECTS
Fundamentals of Finance 5
International Economic Relations 7
Fundamentals of International Business and Tourism 5
Entrepreneurship 6
Human Resource Management 7

Year 2

Semester 3 (winter)

Course ECTS
E- Business Information Systems 6
Management Information Systems 7
Project Management 6
Information Management 5
Supply Chain Management 6

Semester 4 (summer)

Course ECTS
Innovating 7
Customer Behaviour 7
Corporate Entrepreneurship 5
Brand Management 5
Total Quality Management 6

Semester 5 (winter)

Course ECTS
Marketing Research 6
European Law 6
Elective Course 1 6
Elective Course 2 6
Elective Course 3 6

Semester 6 (summer)

Course ECTS
Fundamentals of Governance and Strategic Management 5
Elective Course 4 6
Elective Course 5 6
Project Work 5
Graduate Thesis 8
8

Elective course 1 (Year 3., semester 5 winter)

Course ECTS
Decision-making Analysis 7
Technology Management and Environmental Protection 6

Elective course 2 (Year 3., semester 5 winter)

Course ECTS
Economic Diplomacy 6
Open Economy Macroeconomics 6

Elective course 3 (Year 3., semester 5. winter)

Course ECTS
Business Processes 6
Integrated Business Information Systems – ERP Solutions 6
Dynamic Entrepreneurship 7
Marketing Communications 6

Elective course 4 (Year 3., semester 6. summer)

Course ECTS
Business Processes 6
Integrated Business Information Systems – ERP Solutions 6
Dynamic Entrepreneurship 7
Marketing Communications 6

Elective course 5 (Year 3., semester 6. summer)

Course ECTS
Business Processes 6
Integrated Business Information Systems – ERP Solutions 6
Dynamic Entrepreneurship 7
Marketing Communications 6

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/2025

MODUL A: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Year 1

COURSE ECTS Semester
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS AND MICROECONOMICS 6 Winter
ACCOUNTING 6 Winter
MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMISTS 6 Winter
APPLIED BUSINESS STATISTICS 6 Winter
BASICS OF ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCE 6 Summer
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS 6 Summer
BASICS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND TOURISM 6 Summer
ENTREPRENEURSHIP  6 Summer
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 6 Summer

Year 2

COURSE ECTS Semester
WEB-BASED INFORMATION SOLUTIONS 6 Winter
EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS LAW 6 Winter
PROJECT MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
IT/IS GOVERNANCE 6 Winter
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
INNOVATING 6 Summer
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY BUSINESSES 6 Summer
DYNAMIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP 6 Summer
BRAND MANAGEMENT 6 Summer
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT 6 Summer

Year 3

COURSE ECTS Semester
PECULIARITIES OF SME GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
MARKETING RESEARCH 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 1 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 2 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 3 6 Winter
GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 5 Summer
ELECTIVE COURSE 4 6 Summer
FREE ELECTIVE COURSE 5 6 Summer
PROJECT WORK – ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS STUDIES (MODULE A) 5 Summer
GRADUATE THESIS 8 Summer

ELECTIVE COURSE 1, 2, 3

COURSE ECTS Semester
FINANCING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS 6 Winter
INTRODUCTION TO THE ECONOMICS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR 6 Winter
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE 6 Winter
BUSINESS GERMAN 6 Winter

ELECTIVE COURSE 4, 5*

COURSE ECTS Semester
CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR IN HEALTHCARE 6 Summer
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN HEALTHCARE 6 Summer
BUSINESS ENGLISH 6 Summer
OPEN ECONOMY MACROECONOMICS 6 Summer

 

*Within the Elective Course 5, students have the option to choose any other course from the offerings of the undergraduate programs at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EPF), other members of the University of Maribor, or other universities.

MODUL B: MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE IN HEALTH CARE

Year 1

COURSE ECTS Semester
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS AND MICROECONOMICS 6 Winter
ACCOUNTING 6 Winter
MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMISTS 6 Winter
APPLIED BUSINESS STATISTICS 6 Winter
BASICS OF ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCE 6 Summer
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS 6 Summer
BASICS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND TOURISM 6 Summer
ENTREPRENEURSHIP  6 Summer
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 6 Summer

Year 2

COURSE ECTS Semester
WEB-BASED INFORMATION SOLUTIONS 6 Winter
EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS LAW 6 Winter
PROJECT MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
FINANCING HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS 6 Winter
INTRODUCTION TO THE ECONOMICS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR 6 Winter
INNOVATING 6 Summer
CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR IN HELTHCARE 6 Summer
DYNAMIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP 6 Summer
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE IN HELTHCARE 6 Summer
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT 6 Summer

Year 3

COURSE ECTS Semester
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE 6 Winter
MARKETING RESEARCH 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 1 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 2 6 Winter
ELECTIVE COURSE 3 6 Winter
GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 5 Summer
ELECTIVE COURSE 4 6 Summer
FREE ELECTIVE COURSE 5 6 Summer
PROJECT WORK – ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS STUDIES (MODULE B) 5 Summer
GRADUATE THESIS 8 Summer

ELECTIVE COURSE 1, 2, 3

COURSE ECTS Semester
IT/IS GOVERNANCE 6 Winter
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
PECULIARITIES OF SME GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 6 Winter
BUSINESS GERMAN 6 Winter

ELECTIVE COURSE 4, 5*

 

COURSE ECTS Semester
GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY BUSINESSES 6 Summer
BRAND MANAGEMENT 6 Summer
BUSINESS ENGLISH 6 Summer
OPEN ECONOMY MACROECONOMICS 6 Summer

 

*Within the Elective Course 5, students have the option to choose any other course from the offerings of the undergraduate programs at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EPF), other members of the University of Maribor, or other universities.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026

We are planning to introduce Supply Chain and Logistics Management.