Skip to content | Change text size
Handbooks Courses Units
 
Monash University

Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws

Course code: 0086 ~ Course abbreviation: BSc/LLB ~ Total credit points required: 252 ~ 5 years full-time, 10 years part-time ~ Managing faculty: Law

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

This double-degree program allows students to qualify with both the Bachelor of Science degree and the Bachelor of Laws degree in a minimum of five years of study. The study of law develops problem-solving skills and powers of analysis. It teaches precise and imaginative use of language. It also promotes ethical thinking and a focus on justice and fairness. It enhances students' thinking, reasoning and expressive abilities within legal and related contexts, leading to employment in the legal profession, law reform agencies, government service or other relevant areas of employment.

Course objectives

The objectives of the LLB program at Monash are to enable students to gain an understanding of basic legal concepts and legal institutions and of the historical, social, political and economic factors influencing their development. Upon completion of the LLB, students will be able to identify, use and evaluate the concepts, principles, rules and methods used in legal argument and will have developed oral and written skills, especially of legal argument, legal research and critical analysis. Students will have gained an understanding of concepts of justice, a concern to promote justice and an appreciation of their professional responsibilities. Upon completion of the science component, students will have advanced knowledge and skills in at least one area of science. Graduates will have improved life and employment skills including generic skills necessary to critically analyse and communicate ideas and information, and a capacity to apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking to define and analyse problems, and develop effective solutions.

Course structure

The Bachelor of Laws course consists of 12 compulsory units which must be completed by all students enrolled in an LLB program plus a further six 'quasi-compulsory' units which must be completed by students who wish to be qualified for admission to practice as a barrister or solicitor in Victoria. The remainder of the program consists of law elective units chosen by the student. The science component requires students to complete 96 points of science units, including a major sequence in a science area of study, a minor sequence in a different science area of study, a level-one mathematics/statistics unit, a level-two science core unit and two elective science units. Students must satisfy the core requirements for the Bachelor of Science as part of their science studies by completing SCI2010 (The practice and application of science) and at least one level-one mathematics or statistics unit from SCI1020 (Introduction to statistical reasoning), MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) or STA1010 (Statistical methods for science). The level-one mathematics/statistics unit taken will depend on the mathematics background and interests. The statistics units SCI1020 and STA1010 are normally recommended for students planning to study areas where experimental design and data analysis skills are particularly important, such as life sciences. SCI1020 is for students without a strong mathematics background, while STA1010 requires the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent). The mathematical methods unit MTH1030 requires VCE Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 or MTH1020 (or equivalent).

No more than 36 points of level-one science units may be taken, and students must complete at least 24 points of level-three science units. The Faculty of Science requires science studies to be chosen from the science units listed in the section 'Science areas of study and sequences' in this handbook.

Course requirements

First year - 48 points

  • LAW1101 Introduction to legal reasoning
  • LAW1104 Research and writing
  • 36 points of science units including at least one of SCI1020 (Introduction to statistical reasoning), MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) or STA1010 (Statistical methods for science) and satisfy the level-one requirements for a major sequence and a minor sequence in different science areas of study

Second year - 48 points

  • LAW2101 Contract A
  • LAW2102 Contract B
  • SCI2010 The practice and application of science
  • 24 points of level-two units towards two minor sequences in different science areas of study.
  • Science elective unit

Third year - 48 points

  • LAW3301 Criminal law and procedure A
  • LAW3302 Criminal law B
  • LAW2201 Torts A
  • LAW2202 Torts B
  • 24 points of level-three units towards a major sequence in a science area of study.

Fourth year - 54 points

Fifth year - 54 points

Students have a maximum time limit of 10 years to complete the course from the date of commencement.

Course progression requirements

Students may graduate with the Bachelor of Science, or undertake honours in science at the end of three years of study, provided that they have met the requirements of the Bachelor of Science program and completed a minimum of 144 points of total study.

Contact details

Undergraduate student services, telephone +61 3 9905 3300, visit http://www.law.monash.edu.au/undergraduate/courses.html or email enquiries@law.monash.edu.au.