3520 - Bachelor of Science Advanced with Honours

The BScAdv(Hons) is a high-profile, flexible single-degree course with a strong coordinated foundation of studies in the basic sciences, leading to advanced studies in at least two different areas of science. The course is primarily aimed at high-achieving students who expect to pursue honours studies in science. The course encourages the development of research, communication and team work skills.

Course progression requirements

A sustained high level of achievement must be demonstrated throughout the course. Students in the program are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70 per cent) across their best 48 points in each calendar year to remain in the program. Students who do not meet this standard will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science course.

To be eligible to progress to the honours program students must have completed the core unit at level two and all the requirements for the major sequence in the area of study in which they wish to undertake honours (including the level three project unit), with a distinction grade average (70 percent in at least 24 points of studies in this area of study at level three).

Upon completion of this course, students will have achieved honours-level research studies in one contemporary specialised area of science study, founded upon an advanced level of understanding of at least two areas of science. Graduates will have specialist training in one or more science disciplines, with the potential for postgraduate study, leading to employment opportunities in any of the traditional or emerging careers for scientists. Overall, the course provides students with improved life and employment skills through a general appreciation of science and demonstrated competence in science graduate attributes, which include information literacy, the effective use of information technology, problem solving, data handling, and laboratory skills, and a capacity to apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking to analyse and solve complex problems.

Areas of study

The BScAdv(Hons) is a high-profile, flexible single-degree course with a strong coordinated foundation of studies in the basic sciences, leading to advanced studies in at least two different areas of science. The course is primarily aimed at high-achieving students who expect to pursue honours studies in science. The course encourages the development of research, communication and team work skills.

The first two stages of the course provide strong and coordinated foundation studies in some of the basic sciences. The second two stages concentrate on the development of research skills, leading to the completion of the honours year.

Over the four stages of the course students must complete an approved program of study of 192 credit points including all of the following:

• at least two major sequences in a science area of study or a minor plus a double-major sequence in different science areas of study, including one level three research project unit and at least 12 points at level two and at least 36 points at level three
• the core unit SCI2020 (Scientific methodologies and research techniques)
• 48 points of level four science units in a science area of study, in accordance with the normal requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours).

No more than 60 points of level one units may be taken overall towards the course.

Stage one

Clayton

Students at the Clayton campus must normally complete one of the five 48-point 'packages' of level one units that are listed in the groups below. Where possible, students should complete at least three 12-point science sequences at stage one. Details of the level one 'earth processes', 'physical processes' and 'life processes' units can be found under the entry for the Bachelor of Science.

Biosciences

• BIO1011 Biology I
• BIO1022 Biology II or BIO1042 Environmental biology
• CHM1011 Chemistry and CHM1022 Chemistry, or CHM1031 The world of chemistry I and CHM1042 The world of chemistry II
• a level one sequence in a science area of study, or STA1010 (Statistical methods for science) plus at least one 'earth processes' or 'physical processes' level one unit
• two 6-point elective units

Chemical sciences

• CHM1011 Chemistry and CHM1022 Chemistry

and two of:

• STA1010 Statistical methods for science
• MTH1020 Analysis of change
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
• MTH2010 Multivariable calculus

plus:

• a level one sequence in either 'biological sciences' (BIO1011 and BIO1022), or (BIO1011 and BIO1042), an 'earth processes' or 'physical processes' area of study
• two 6-point elective units

Earth and environmental sciences

• BIO1011 Biology I and BIO1022 Biology II, or BIO1042 Environmental biology

plus:

• ESC1011 Planet earth and its environment: the cosmic connection, and ESC1022 Planet earth: dynamic systems, environmental change and resources, or
• GES1070 Extremes: natural hazards and human vulnerability, and GES1020 Australian physical environments: evolution, status and management, or GES1050 The global challenge

plus:

• a level one sequence in a science area of study, or STA1010 (Statistical methods for science) plus at least one 'physical processes' level one unit
• two 6-point elective units

Mathematical and computational sciences

• FIT1002 Computer programming
• FIT1015 Computer science or STA1010 Statistical methods for science

plus:

• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling, and MTH1020 Analysis of change, or MTH2010 Multivariable calculus

plus:

• a level one sequence in either a 'physical processes' or 'earth processes' area of study
• two 6-point elective units

Physical sciences

• PHS1011 Physics and PHS1022 Physics

plus:

• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling, and MTH1020 Analysis of change, or MTH2010 Multivariable calculus

plus:

• a level one sequence in a science area of study
• two 6-point elective units

Gippsland

Students at the Gippsland campus must normally complete one of the three 48-point packages of level one units listed below.

Applied biological and chemical sciences

• BIO1711 Human biology and BIO1722 Cell biology
• CHM1731 Foundations of chemistry* and CHM1742 Chemistry

plus:

• a level one sequence in a science area of study, or STA1010 Statistical methods for science and ENV1711 Environmental science 1 - the dynamic environment
• two 6-point elective units

Environmental science and resource management

• BIO1722 Human biology and STA1010 Statistical methods for science
• CHM1731 Foundations of chemistry* and CHM1742 Chemistry
• ENV1711 Environmental Science 1 and ENV1722 Environmental science 2- resource management issues
• two 6-point elective units

* Students who have completed VCE Chemistry will be individually counselled on whether they need to complete CHM1731 or may select an additional elective science unit.

Mathematical sciences and computing

• FIT1001 Computer systems and FIT1002 Computer programming
• MAT1055 Mathematics 1A and MAT1085 Mathematics 1B
• STA1010 Statistical methods for scienceand MAT1077 Discrete Mathematics
• two 6-point elective units

Stage two (both campuses)

Students must complete 24 points of level two science units to complete minor sequences in two different science areas of study:

• for students enrolled at the Clayton campus this will include at least one minor in biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences, geography, materials science, mathematical sciences, molecular biology or physics.
• for students enrolled at the Gippsland campus this will include at least one minor in applied biochemistry, applied chemistry, applied microbiology, applied statistics, mathematics and modelling, human physiology or environmental science and resource management.

In addition, all students must complete:

• SCI2020 Scientific methodologies and research techniques

plus one of (if not completed at stage one):

• STA1010 Statistical methods for science
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
• MAT1085 Mathematics 1B

plus:

• two or three 6-point elective units, to provide a total of at least 48 points of studies at stage two.

Stage three (both campuses)

Students must complete 48 points of science units at level two or level three to complete two major sequences, or one double major and a minor sequence, in different science areas of study, including no more than 12 points at level two and at least 36 points of level three science units. At least one major sequence should include a 6-point level three research project unit in an area of research strength of science at Monash.

Students completing a major sequence in psychology as part of the course should also complete a major sequence in another science area of study, as a place in the honours year in psychology cannot be guaranteed.

Stage four (both campuses)

Students complete 48 points of level four science units in a science area of study, in accordance with the normal requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours).

Bachelor of Science Advanced with Honours

* 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.