0530 - Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science

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 progression requirements

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.

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.

Areas of study

Students must complete minor and major sequences in both arts and science, 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 outlined at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/undergrad/arts-ug-areas-of-study.html.

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 Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science.

Students are required to complete 96 points of units from each faculty as outlined below.

Level one

Students must complete:

• 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.

Majors and minors

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.

Core BSc requirement

Students must satisfy the core requirement for the Bachelor of Science as part of their science studies by completing:

• SCI2010 The practice and application of science

and at least one mathematics or statistics unit from:

• SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning
• STA1010 Statistical methods for science
• 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).

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.

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.