C10166v2 Bachelor of Science

Overview

The Bachelor of Science is designed for future scientists wanting to develop skills and knowledge in a range of scientific disciplines. It aims to produce professional scientists with highly adaptable and practical scientific and field skills, accompanied by a thorough grounding in theory.

Students undertake introductory subjects in many areas of science and may later focus on a specific area of interest. The flexible program allows students to nominate their own first-year subjects. This course provides the perfect balance of theory and practice so greatly valued by employers.

Career options

Career options include science-based work in chemical industries, conservation, environmental consulting, government departments, medical laboratories, mining, patents, product development, quality control, research, resource managment, sales and marketing. Career options depend largely on the range of subjects chosen and the individual specialisation.

Additional assumed knowledge

Mathematics and at least one science subject.

Course duration and attendance

Students can complete the course over three years full time, six years part time, four years full time with successful completion of the Diploma in Scientific Practice (not available to international students), or four years full time with Honours.

Other patterns of attendance may also be permitted.

Course structure

Subjects currently offered by the University have been classified as Introductory (normally taken in Stages 1 and 2), Intermediate (Stages 3 and 4) and Advanced (Stages 5 and 6 or later).

In the Bachelor of Science, students complete:

1. a minimum of 12 credit points of Mathematics/Statistics and Computing subjects, normally in their first year,
2. at least another 96 credit points of Science subjects, of which 24 credit points must be at Advanced level, and
3. an additional 12 credit points of Advanced level subjects from any area.

Students' choice of Introductory level subjects is meant to be flexible, however, the Faculty recommends four Introductory level programs, designed for students who identify their areas of interest as the Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Materials Technology and related areas), Environmental Sciences (Biology, Earth Sciences), Medical and Molecular Biosciences (Medical and Biomedical Science, Biotechnology) and Computational Science. The recommended Introductory subjects are indicative, not prescriptive, and allow seamless transfer to the named science degrees.

In addition to the 12 credit points of Mathematics/Statistics and Computing subjects, all students in the program, apart from those interested in mathematics, are expected to enrol in at least 6 credit points (12 credit points is recommended) of Chemistry in their first year, as progression in many areas of science is problematic without introductory chemistry.

Industrial training/professional practice

Course completion requirements

Course program

A large number of pathways are supported in this course. Students commence with one of four foundation streams and can then either choose a major or select a coherent set of Science subjects that matches their interests and aspirations. The programs for each foundation stream are given below (Year 1 for students undertaking the course full time). An example is then given of a student undertaking majors in Applied Microbiology and Health Sciences.

Honours

Available as an additional year to meritorious students.

Other information

Further information is available from: