University of Technology SydneyHandbook 2005

Undergraduate course information

Pass and Honours degrees
Majors in the generic Bachelor of Science
Sub-majors
Combined degrees

Pass 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.

Pass degree courses – continuing students

All students who commenced before 1997 should refer to the 1998 handbook for the Faculty of Science for old course and subject descriptions and transitional arrangements.

Copies of previous years' handbooks for the Faculty of Science are available for viewing in all Department offices and from the Faculty of Science offices at St Leonards and City campuses.

Effective at the commencement of the 2006 academic year, the Faculty of Science will consolidate all its education and research activities to City campus. Students should be aware that St Leonards campus will cease to offer any Faculty of Science courses at the commencement of the 2006 academic year.

Honours degree courses

Honours programs provide basic training in research and introduce students to advanced areas of study in the relevant discipline. Graduates generally enter occupations for which an Honours degree is the minimum requirement, or continue with postgraduate research.

Admission requirements

Since 1999 all Honours courses, except the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Chemistry – Forensic Science and the Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Honours) courses, are one-year, full-time or equivalent part-time courses. They are open to students who possess or have fulfilled all the requirements for a relevant Bachelor's degree from UTS, or equivalent qualification, with at least a Credit average over the final third of the undergraduate program.

Commencement date

Students commencing their Honours course in Autumn semester are normally required to commence work on their Honours program on the first Monday in February. This applies even when formal enrolment is held after this date. Students should contact their supervisor for details.

Award

Honours degrees may be awarded in the following grades: First Class, Second Class Division 1, Second Class Division 2, and Third Class. They are referred to as Bachelor of Science (Honours) with the abbreviation BSc(Hons).

Other information

Interested students should discuss the program and possible research projects available with the relevant Head of Department or Honours Course Coordinator, or with individual members of academic staff.

Majors in the generic Bachelor of Science

A major is defined as a fixed suite of subjects totalling 48 credit points. Twenty-four credit points are taken in each of the second and third years of the degree, though there is scope to vary that prescription by 6 credit points.

The benefits to students of formal majors include:

  • the Faculty provides direction in the choice of subjects, so the variety and complexity of programs is diminished
  • a greater clarity in defining a graduate's capabilities, compared to a situation where choice of subjects is totally free, and
  • students receive a testamur that identifies their area or areas of study.

The Faculty of Science will, from time to time, approve the offering of named majors within the Bachelor of Science. Students who have completed at least 36 credit points of Introductory-level subjects may, on re-enrolment, apply to enrol in one or two majors. Majors are identified on each student's testamur.

In the case of overlap between majors (i.e. when one or more subjects are essential for two majors in which a student is enrolled), the total number of credit points must be made up from subjects offered by the Faculty of Science.

The Faculty does not guarantee that any one major can be timetabled with all other majors, so not all combinations are possible if a student wishes to complete in minimum time. Course Directors can advise on the timetable compatibility of major combinations.

Students who were enrolled in the Bachelor of Science prior to 2003 and who satisfy the requirements for a major will be enrolled in that major upon application to the Faculty.

Listed below are the majors within the Bachelor of Science, grouped under the following areas of interest: Physical Sciences; Environmental Sciences; and Medical and Molecular Biosciences.

Physical Sciences

Environmental Sciences

Medical, Health and Molecular Biosciences

Sub-majors

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Biotechnology degrees in the Faculty of Science are normally expected to undertake a sub-major as part of their course. Each sub-major comprises a coherent sequence of subjects offered by the Faculty of Science, another faculty of the University, or the Institute for International Studies. The purpose of the sub-major is to give students the opportunity to broaden their studies into other areas of interest or to pursue studies in particular disciplines to greater depth.

Examples of possible sub-majors (24 credit points each) are listed below, but it should be noted that not all of them are necessarily appropriate to every course and that normal prerequisite conditions and timetabling constraints apply in all cases. In addition, quotas may be applied to the forensic biology subjects specified below. Students should consult their Course Directors for advice on selecting sub-majors. Students should note that sub-major titles cannot be identified on testamurs.

  • Applied Chemistry (SMJ01013)
  • Applied Physics (SMJ01014)
    This sub-major is designed for Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Information Technology students who want to understand the ideas underlying much of modern technology.
  • Biochemistry (SMJ01015)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Environmental Sciences courses.
  • Biomedical Science (SMJ01016)
  • Biotechnology (SMJ01017)
  • Earth Science (SMJ01018)
  • Environmental Biology (SMJ01019)
  • Haematology (SMJ06014)
  • Immunology (SMJ06015)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Environmental Sciences courses.
  • Materials Science (SMJ03032)
  • Mathematics (SMJ01021)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Earth Science courses.
  • Medical Science (SMJ01022)
  • Microbiology (SMJ01023)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Environmental Sciences courses.
  • Molecular Biology (SMJ01024)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Environmental Sciences courses.
  • Nanotechnology (SMJ03033)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Physical, Chemical and Environmental Sciences courses.
  • Neurophysiology (SMJ06016)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in non-Bachelor of Medical Science courses.
  • Occupational Health and Safety Management (SMJ06017)
  • Operations Research (SMJ01025)
    This sub-major assumes students have completed 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science and 33290 Computing and Mathematics for Science.
  • Operations Theory and Applications (SMJ01026)
    This sub-major is intended to expose students to the theory and practice of operations research with application in an area of information technology, in particular: optimisation techniques, network optimisation or simulation techniques.
  • Pharmacology (SMJ01028) (18 credit points)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in the Biomedical Science and Biotechnology courses.
  • Physics (SMJ01027)
    This sub-major is of particular benefit to scientists who need to measure, record and analyse data from instrumentation interfaced to a computer.
  • Quantitative Methods (SMJ01029)
    This sub-major is intended to expose students to the theory and application of quantitative methods that are widely used by information technology professionals, especially techniques drawn from the disciplines of statistics and management science.
  • Scientific Computing (SMJ02054)
    This sub-major is intended to expose students to the theory and practice of computing as applied in the area of computational science.
  • Statistics (Life Sciences) (SMJ01030)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in Biological or Environmental Science courses who have completed 33101 Mathematics 1 (Life Sciences) and 33112 Statistical Design and Analysis – Part A.
  • Statistics (Physical Sciences) (SMJ01031)
    This sub-major is suitable for students in Physical and Chemical programs, and assumes they have completed 33190 Mathematical Modelling for Science and 33290 Computing and Mathematics for Science.
  • Statistical Modelling (SMJ01032)
    This sub-major is intended to expose students to the theory and practice of statistical modelling.

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 (C10126) 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 (C10131) and Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Laws (C10140) double degree courses are similar in structure to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Laws (C10126) 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 (C10161); Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10167); and Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10168) 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 In-country 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 (C10164) 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 degrees Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering (C10073); Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Engineering (C10078); and Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Engineering (C10075) integrate 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 (C10162) requires completion of Bachelor of Business (C10026) core subjects and subjects in one selected Business 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 (C10163) and the Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Business (C10169) are similar in structure to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business (C10162) with the science specialisation in medical science or biotechnology.

Recommended Science majors

The programs in these majors are indicative rather than prescriptive. Students may, with the approval of the Associate Dean or relevant Head of Department, undertake alternative programs in order to fulfil the academic requirements for the degree.

The exact order in which the subjects are undertaken may vary depending upon timetable constraints and the number of Science and Law subjects each student elects to study in any one semester.

Note: Quotas on some of the subjects in the majors may restrict enrolment.

Science/Business and Science/Law

The following majors (96 credit points each) are available in the combined Science/Business and Science/Law undergraduate courses:

Science/Engineering

The following majors (78 credit points each) are available in the combined Science/Engineering undergraduate courses: