Departments and locations
Undergraduate and Honours degrees
Combined degrees
Postgraduate degrees
Research
Links with industry

The Faculty of Science has established a sound tradition of providing quality teaching, research and consultancy. Graduates are renowned for their adaptability and work readiness.

Departments and locations

The Faculty consists of several departments in biological and biomedical sciences as well as in physical, chemical, earth, and environmental sciences. The Departments of Applied Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Health Sciences and Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science as well as the main Faculty Office are located at the City campus. The St Leonards campus houses the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and a Dean's office. The Department of Health Sciences works on both campuses while operating the UTS College of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Harris Street and running the Acupuncture Clinic in Building 4 and Herbal Medicine Clinic at 645 Harris Street. The Department of Environmental Sciences is located on both campuses.

The Faculty provides high quality professional education in the physical, chemical, earth, environmental, biological and biomedical sciences, and engages in high-level research, scholarship and community service activities in support of the UTS mission, with a view to bringing social and economic benefit to the Australian community.

Note: During 2004/05, UTS will be refurbishing Building 4, City campus. This may affect the location of some Departments within the Faculty of Science during 2004. From the beginning of 2005, it is planned that all science courses will be taught at City campus.

Undergraduate and Honours degrees

The Faculty offers a number of undergraduate and Honours degree programs developed to produce graduates for professional and vocational practice with an ability to continue their studies by research and to contribute to the knowledge base of their scientific discipline. Bachelor of Science and Honours programs are offered in applied chemistry, applied chemistry/forensic science, applied physics, mathematics, mathematics and finance, mathematics and computing, biomedical science, biotechnology, earth and environmental science, environmental biology, environmental and urban horticulture, medical science, nanotechnology and computational science. A Bachelor of Health Science and Honours program is offered in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Professional Experience is offered as an optional and additional component of all of the Bachelor of Science degree courses and leads to the award of a Diploma in Scientific Practice.

Combined degrees

The Faculty is involved in the teaching of science to other faculties, including Engineering and Nursing, Midwifery and Health. The Faculty is also involved in offering the following joint undergraduate degree programs:

• The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws degree course is offered in conjunction with the Faculty of Law. In order to qualify for separate awards in science and law, students are required to select an area of specialisation in science so that they can proceed to more advanced studies and thereby obtain recognition in relevant professional fields. Graduates from the course are qualified for professional practice as either scientists or lawyers and especially in areas where a knowledge of both disciplines is desirable.
• The Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Laws double degree courses are similar in structure to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws course but with a specialisation in medical science or biotechnology. Graduates qualify for professional practice in either field but may expect to be in most demand in those areas of law in which a knowledge of medical science or biotechnology is a particular advantage or, conversely, in areas of science such as the pharmaceutical industries where a knowledge of the law has special value.
• The combined degrees Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies; Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies; and Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies provide students specialising in science, medical science and biotechnology with additional practical skills, in particular those that increase awareness of their international contexts through providing the opportunity to acquire knowledge and understanding of a language and culture other than English. Students are required to select an area of specialisation in science and a region or country of specialisation within the International Studies program. The length of these combined degrees is five years, full time, which includes one year of Incountry Study. Graduates may work as professionals in their area of scientific expertise particularly in specialist positions where an understanding of a particular culture may be highly desirable.
• The combined degree Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies provides acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine students with greater exposure to, and understanding of, China's culture and a working knowledge of Chinese. The program makes it easier for Traditional Chinese Medicine graduates to practise outside Australia.
• The combined degree Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering; Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Engineering; or Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Engineering integrates the theory and application of science and engineering to produce well-rounded graduates. In five years of full-time study, students choose from one of the Engineering majors and from one of the Science Programs. Depending on the combinations chosen, graduates are qualified to work in professional practice as well as in research and development.
• The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business requires completion of Bachelor of Business core subjects, and subjects in one selected major with an equal subject load from one of the Science programs over four years of full-time study. Graduates may work as professional scientists or as business professionals. Career areas include management, marketing, finance, accounting or economics in enterprises in which high-level scientific expertise is desirable; the program also provides business expertise for scientists who wish to be administrators in research or other scientific institutions. The Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Business are similar in structure to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business with the science specialisation in medical science or biotechnology.

Postgraduate degrees

In the postgraduate area, the Faculty offers PhD and Master's degrees (by thesis), a Doctor of Technology, Master's programs (by coursework), Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates. Prospective students should discuss possible topics of research with the relevant Associate Dean or Head of the appropriate department in the first instance. The research programs may be carried out on either a full-time or a part-time basis and it is possible for part-time students to undertake a portion of their research at a site external to UTS, provided appropriate supervisory arrangements can be made. Details of current research in progress can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean (Research and Development).

Research

The Faculty has a strong record of research and development, essential to the strength of both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Competitive research funding is obtained across a wide range of areas of expertise. The Faculty wins a substantial part of the competitive grants awarded to the University. Much of the Faculty's research focuses on the activities of its research centres and units, including the Centre for Ecotoxicology (run jointly with the Environment Protection Authority), the Centre for Forensic Science, the Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy, and the National Centre for Groundwater Management. This concentration of research has enabled the Faculty to improve significantly the quality of its major equipment in recent years, to the obvious benefit of its students.

Links with industry

In the development of all of the above programs the Faculty is assisted by appropriate advisory committees with members drawn from the wider community. The courses are regularly reviewed to ensure currency and relevance to industrial and commercial practice.

The Faculty has strong links with industry. Staff members maintain contact with industry by undertaking appropriate research and consulting activities.

For the Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Biotechnology and all Bachelor of Science degree courses, students have the option to spend a further 12 months working in a relevant industry. This leads to an additional award, the Diploma in Scientific Practice. The Faculty provides assistance to students in finding these professional experience positions. Part-time students may combine the Diploma with their normal work if it is relevant to their degree.