Course code: 2005 Gippsland campus HECS fees applicable Attendance compulsory for some laboratory-based units
The BSc provides specialist training in one or more science disciplines, with the potential for honours and postgraduate study, leading to employment opportunities in a wide range of career areas. The degree also promotes a basic understanding of scientific disciplines other than those in which students intend to specialise and major. There is also training in broad generic science skills which include numeracy, data analysis and presentation skills together with the capacity to work in teams. This will give a broad range of science knowledge and training which will also enhance students' future prospects beyond the conventional careers for scientists.
On completion of the BSc, students will have:
Students who complete appropriate courses with approved units and supporting studies will fulfil the educational requirements for membership of professional societies such as the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Australian Institute of Energy.
The
normal requirement for entry to the Bachelor of Science course is satisfactory
completion of secondary studies equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of
Education, with a study score of at least 25 in English. Under alternative
category entry, applicants will be considered for admission if they have
satisfactorily completed at least two approved university-level units including
many open learning units.
The BSc course can be tailored to students' individual backgrounds in science
and mathematics by taking appropriate first-level units. MAT1049 (Basic
mathematics) is offered for students lacking a background in Year 12
calculus-based mathematics.
Course advisers can suggest appropriate first-level science units in line with
students' backgrounds.
Access to a personal computer is essential. Some units require access to a PC and modem for use of software, electronic communication with academic staff and other students or assignment submission etc.
Students enrolled in units with on-campus laboratory work must provide appropriate protective clothing and eye wear. Many first-level laboratory-based units use an experimental kit which is loaned to students by the university, and which enables all laboratory work to be completed off-campus. A refundable deposit is payable for each of these kits. Further details are available from the Faculty of Science.
Students
enrolling in all laboratory-based second or third-level units, as well as some
first-level units, must attend on-campus laboratory sessions. The majority of
these sessions are conducted in residential schools which are held once per
semester, and are typically from three to seven days duration. For some units,
laboratory work is conducted twice per semester during weekend schools.
In addition, in some units, optional weekend school sessions are conducted for
the benefit of students who are able to attend. These sessions are typically of
two to four hours duration per unit, and, in some cases, run at all three
weekend schools per semester.
The
Bachelor of Science course normally requires six years of part-time distance
education study to complete, but variation to suit individual circumstances is
possible. In addition to the normal beginning-of-year entry, it is possible to
commence the course mid-year (July), with a reduced range of available
units.
Major studies may be chosen from the biological sciences (biochemistry,
microbiology), chemical sciences, resource/environmental management,
mathematics (including applied statistics), computing or psychology. The
flexible structure of the BSc makes it possible to complete two major studies,
such as resource management and chemistry or mathematics and computing. The
course also provides for students to include some studies from such fields as
languages, business, economics, journalism and other humanities and social
sciences.
An honours year of advanced study and research training, leading to the honours
degree of Bachelor of Science, is available for graduates with good results.
(The honours year is not currently offered in the distance education mode, but
is available by both full-time and part-time study.)
Two associated tagged BSc degrees, detailed separately, have particular career
focuses in areas of strength in the Faculty of Science. BSc students may apply
for entry to one of these tagged degrees at the end of their first year of
studies:
Alternatively, students may continue in the general BSc course, constructing their own study program within the flexible degree structure.
Students
must complete the following requirements to be awarded the degree of Bachelor
of Science:
(a) Complete at least 144 credit points including between 48 and 60 points of
first-level studies, and at least 24 points of third-level studies. (Up to 48
points of studies may be taken from outside the Schedule of Approved Science
units; students wishing to choose any such studies should consult a course
adviser.) All science units in the new BSc have credit value of six points.
(b) Complete a science major sequence of at least 48 points, structured as
follows:
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total | |||
12 |
+ |
18 |
+ |
24 |
= |
54 |
or |
||||||
12 |
+ |
12 |
+ |
24 |
= |
48 |
or |
||||||
12 |
+ |
18 |
+ |
18 |
= |
48 |
(c) Complete a science minor sequence in a second discipline, consisting of 12
points at level one and 12 points at levels two and three. (Many students will
extend this minor to a second major.)
(d) Complete two core units:
(e) Complete at least one level-one six-point unit from each of the following three groups:
(The chosen major and minor sequences may cover part of this requirement.)
Science major and minor sequences are available in the disciplines/interdisciplinary areas listed below; details of the second and third-level units are available in the 2001 undergraduate handbook or from the Faculty of Science office, Gippsland.
The units available by distance education in 2001 for meeting the BSc course requirement (e) are as follows:
Other level-one units in the Schedule of Approved Science Units available by distance education are as follows:
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