Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

NOTE: This course has been updated - please refer to the undergraduate handbook change register for details.

Course code: 0530 ~ Course abbreviation: BA/BSc ~ Total credit points required: 192 ~ 4 years full-time, 8 years part-time ~ Managing faculty: Science

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

This double degree course allows students to qualify with both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees.

The course provides students with an opportunity to combine studies within the very wide range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and communications in combination with studies in a number of areas of science. In the arts component of the course, students are encouraged to grasp the opportunity to develop their imaginations and gain a broad understanding of the new ideas and values with which they will be challenged, so that they may become flexible, well-informed graduates who are sophisticated communicators and analytical thinkers. The science component aims to provide a broad, general science education with an emphasis on generic skills, which include numeracy, data analysis and presentation skills, and the capacity to work in teams. Graduates will also have specialist training in at least one science and one arts discipline, in preparation for honours and postgraduate study, or for employment in any of the traditional careers for arts graduates or scientists.

Course objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will have advanced knowledge and skills in at least one area of science and arts. 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

Areas of study

Students must complete minor and major sequences in both arts and science towards the course, along with a specified number of electives from each faculty. Students must also complete at least one level one mathematics or statistics unit and SCI2010 (The practice and application of science). The Faculty of Arts requires arts studies to be chosen from the arts disciplines in the unit listings of majors and minors - refer to the 'Areas of study' section on the Arts faculty website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/current/study_areas/. 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. Students in the BA/BSc course may not take units from faculties other than the faculties of Arts and Science.

Course requirements

Students must study at least five level one sequences - at least two from the Faculty of Science and three from the Faculty of Arts; only four sequences will be taken in the first year of study and no more than 36 points of level one units may be taken from either faculty. These five level one sequences must be in different areas of study.

Students must complete at least one major sequence and one minor sequence in arts and at least one major sequence and one minor sequence in science. These four sequences must be in different areas of study, and must include at least 24 points of level three science units and 18 points of level three arts units in the major discipline.

Students are required to complete 96 points of units from each faculty. Students must satisfy the core requirement for the Bachelor of Science as part of their science studies by completing SCI2010 and at least one mathematics or statistics unit from SCI1020 (Introduction to statistical reasoning), STA1010 (Statistical methods for science), or MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling). 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 the life sciences. SCI1020 is for students without a strong mathematics background, while STA1010 requires the student to have completed VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent). The mathematical methods unit MTH1030 requires the student to have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics Units 3 and 4 or MTH1020 (or equivalent).

Course progression requirements

Students may be eligible to exit the double degree program and graduate with either a BA or a BSc after three years, depending on the units studied. Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Science, or undertake honours in science, prior to the completion of the full BA/BSc course must have completed at least 144 points of studies including all of the science requirements for the course.

Except with the permission of both faculties, the maximum time for completion of the course is 10 years, including intermissions.

Contact details

Email: enquiries@sci.monash.edu.au