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 that 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 (any). 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 and internet access 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 that 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 off-campus learning 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 off-campus learning
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, namely
biotechnology and environmental management.
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 level-one studies, and at least 24 points of level-three science 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 BSc have credit value of six
points.
(b) Complete a science major sequence of at least 48 points of studies in
a discipline, including at least 36 points at levels 2 and 3 with at least 18
points of those studies at level 3. Examples of possible structures include:
| 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 of at least 24 points in a second
discipline, with no more than 12 points of these studies at level 1. (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; further details are available in the 2004 undergraduate handbook, from the Faculty of Science office, Gippsland, or on the Monash website.
Units offered by off-campus learning in 2004 are indicated by ; other units listed will run in off-campus learning mode in 2005.
This sequence builds on first-level biology studies to cover biochemistry and molecular biology together with microbiology, emphasising medical and industrial applications.
This sequence has a focus on the chemistry of biological materials, instrumental techniques and industrial applications.
* Compulsory for major sequence.
This sequence covers the scientific basis for the conservation and management of natural resources.
This sequence provides a grounding in the mathematical techniques relevant to modelling and problem analysis, spanning continuous and discrete mathematics and both deterministic and stochastic modelling.
This minor sequence covers a range of data analysis approaches and techniques, relevant to students of the biological, environmental and behavioural sciences.
This sequence in behavioural science spans the biological, social and cognitive aspects of the discipline.
Note that APS accreditation requires completion of all core units plus one elective, a total of 60 points.
This sequence covers computer technology, programming and system development, with a range of more specialised options at third level.
Minor sequence in computing (30 points):
GCO1811, GCO1812, GCO1815 and GCO2812, GCO2815
Major sequence in computing (54 points):
Minor sequence in computing, and either GCO2814 and any three of GCO3812, GCO3813, GCO3817, GCO3823, GCO3824, GCO3828 or any four of GCO3812, GCO3817, GCO3823, GCO3824, GCO3828.
The unit MAT1077 Discrete mathematics - provides useful mathematics background to support these studies.
This minor sequence covers physiological communication and function on the basis of first-level studies in cell biology and human biology.
The units available by off-campus learning in 2004 for meeting the BSc course requirement (e) are as follows:
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