UTS course code: C09025
UAC code: 607110
Testamur title: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Chemistry – Forensic Science
Abbreviation: BSc(Hons)
Course Director: Associate Professor Claude Roux
Course fee: HECS (local); $8,250 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 192

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Advanced standing
Attendance
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Assessment
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

This course provides a program of instruction that, together with a research project, prepares students for entry to professional work in the field of applied chemistry or as specialists in the forensic science area. The course includes a firm foundation of studies in the basic sciences, with in-depth development of the discipline of chemistry, emphasising its forensic applications.

Course aims

This course aims to produce professional forensic scientists and chemists with highly adaptable and practical scientific skills, accompanied by a thorough grounding in theory. Graduates can expect to find employment in a range of fields including private investigation, forensic science with the police service, drug enforcement and detection, environmental chemistry, pharmaceuticals and chemical industries. This degree program has an excellent record of graduate employment, with students highly demanded for their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Admission requirements

Australian students are required to apply for admission through the NSW University Admissions Centre (UAC). For school leavers, admission is based on UAI scores. We recommend that HSC studies include the following subjects: HSC Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Non-current school leavers should apply through UAC in addition to submitting a Personal Statement to UTS. Applications are taken from September to December each year.

International students should contact the UTS International Office for application procedures. In addition to academic requirements, students are required to meet English language proficiency requirements. Further details are available from the International Office.

Advanced standing

UTS recognises prior tertiary level learning, including that from other universities and TAFE (Associate Diploma and Diploma only). Once a student's application to study has been accepted, he or she may apply to receive recognition of successful prior learning, and may therefore be able to complete the course in less than the standard time. Applications for credits and exemptions should be made to the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Science.

Attendance

Full-time attendance involves approximately 24 hours each week at the University during the first year (Stages 1 and 2) and 18 hours per week in the second and third years (Stages 3–8). This enables a full stage of the course to be completed in one semester.

Course duration

This course is offered on a four-year, full-time basis (including Honours).

Course structure

The course consists of eight academic stages, including one stage for Honours. Stages 1–4 (first two years) of the program are similar, though not identical to the Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry course. Stages 5–8 (final two years) are strongly focused on forensic studies. Stage 8 comprises the Forensic Research Project necessary to graduate with this Honours program.

Course program

Each stage corresponds to one semester of full-time attendance.

Assessment

Depending on the subjects chosen, students can expect to undergo a variety of assessment types before completion of this course including formal and informal examinations, assignments and essays, practical reports and write-ups, and seminar presentations. Assessment tasks may be based on individual or group work. For further details on individual subjects, see the Subject Descriptions section, or contact the subject's coordinator.

Honours

This course is an Honours program. If the required standard for Honours is not achieved at the end of Stage 4 (i.e. a Credit average or better in Stage 3 and 4 subjects), students' enrolment in the course is discontinued and they are offered the option of full-credit transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry or to the Bachelor of Science.

Professional recognition

The course has been designed to meet the academic requirements for entry to corporate membership of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Other information

All academic inquiries should be made to:

Course Director, Forensic Science
Associate Professor Claude Roux
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science
telephone (02) 9514 1718
fax (02) 9514 1628
email Claude.Roux@uts.edu.au