Course code: 2005 + Off-campus (Gippsland) + Commonwealth-supported (HECS) place contributions apply + 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:
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 each of the two
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 2005 undergraduate handbook, from the Faculty of Science Office,
Gippsland, or on the Monash website.
Units offered by off-campus learning in 2005 are indicated by #; other
units listed will run in off-campus learning mode in 2006.
This sequence considers the molecular basis of life. It explores how disturbances of normal biochemical pathways create disease and how biomolecules can be manipulated for diagnostic, industrial and environmental applications.
and at least one of:
This sequence covers the structure and function of micro-organisms and techniques for their detection, identification and control. The roles of micro-organisms in the natural environment, in industrial processes, in food manufacture and in medicine are investigated.
Any four of:
This sequence has a focus on the chemistry of biological materials, instrumental techniques and industrial and environmental applications.
* Compulsory for major sequence.
This sequence covers the scientific basis for the conservation and management of natural resources.
* Compulsory for major sequence.
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.
The APS-accredited major (60 points) requires completion of the nine core units
and one elective unit.
Availability may vary from year to year
This sequence covers computer technology, programming and system
development, with a range of more specialised options at third level.
Refer to the Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology for unit
offerings.
* Compulsory for major sequence.
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 2005 for meeting the BSc course requirement (e) are as follows:
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.
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