Undergraduate Handbook 2009 - Faculty of Science
Science
Faculty information
- Structure and organisation of the faculty
- Introduction
- Faculty offices
- Course planning information for students in undergraduate science degrees
- Seeking advice and help
- The structure of science courses
- Course progression
- Science units and sequences
- Science units
- Sequences in an area of study
- Faculty academic policies
Areas of study
Course information
- Outline of undergraduate studies
- Courses offered in 2009
Course-related policies and rules
Science units and sequences - Faculty of Science
Science studies are offered in a broad range of ‘areas of study’, or ‘disciplines’, for which a selection of units are offered as part of coordinated sequences; the terms ‘area of study’ and ‘discipline’ can be used interchangeably in this context. Details of the ‘areas of study’ offered for the Bachelor of Science and associated courses are outlined in the Science areas of study and sequences-Clayton and Science areas of study and sequences-Gippsland (also available via www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/undergrad/sci.html).Science units
All science undergraduate courses are based on units worth six points at levels one to three. A ‘science unit’ is a unit that is listed under ‘units offered’ in one of the entries in the section ‘Science areas of study and sequences’ in this handbook. This includes some psychology, geography and computer science units, which count as ‘science units’ for the purposes of meeting the science course requirements. Note that the designation SCI on the top right of the unit handbook entry does not necessarily identify the units that are ‘science units’.
Sequences in an area of study
A sequence in a science ‘area of study’ can be of three types:
(a) units in the same area of study, usually with the same prefix (eg BIO, MTH, PSY), in an approved combination at levels one, two and three to satisfy a major or minor sequence requirement, or
(b) specific combinations of units at levels one, two and three that are defined as a minor or major sequence in that area of study, as listed in the relevant entry in the section Science areas of study and sequences offered, or
(c) deemed sequences, where units in the minor or major sequences for an area of study do not begin until levels two or three. Deemed sequences can include unspecified science units at the preceding level(s), which may or may not be prerequisite units from another area of study. Examples include cell biology and immunology.
The course requirements for most science courses are expressed in terms of four different types of sequences:
- a 'level one sequence' comprises approved combinations of two 6-point science units at level one in the same, or a closely related, area of study.
- a 'minor sequence' comprises approved combinations of four 6-point science units at levels one, two and three in the same, or a closely related, area of study.
- a 'major sequence' comprises approved combinations of eight 6-point science units at levels one, two and three in the same, or a closely related, area of study.
- a 'double major sequence' comprises approved combinations of 12 six-point science units at levels one, two and three in the same, or a closely related, area of study.
In addition, two additional types of sequences can be derived from these basic types of approved sequences:
- a 'major and minor sequence' in the same science area of study comprises 10 six-point science units, which includes separate approved major and minor sequences in that area of study but with two 6-point level one science units in common.
- a 'double major sequence' in a science area of study can also comprise 12 six-point science units, which includes two approved major sequences in that area of study but with a minor sequence in common and no more than two 6-point level one science units overall.
Instances of these last two types of sequences do not need to be approved separately but are based upon existing approved minor and major sequences.
Further details of each of these types of sequences are outlined below, and all approved sequences of each type are listed in the relevant entry in the section 'Science areas of study and sequences' in this handbook. It is not permissible for students to create their own sequences based on the properties of each type of sequence that are outlined below.
There are specific limits on the amount of credit that students can count for units not completed at Monash towards a science major sequence (including units completed as part of Study abroad, cross-institutional and/or exchange). For further information on Faculty of Science academic policies visit www.sci.monash.edu.au/policies/.
Level one sequence
A level one sequence in science comprises any approved pair of 6-point level one science units in the same, or a closely-related, area of study. Normally, this combination of units is among those required for the completion of a minor sequence in that area of study, but other appropriate combinations may be approved and published in this handbook. Details of the level one approved sequences are provided in the Bachelor of Science course entry.
Minor sequence
A minor sequence in science comprises an approved combination of four 6-point science units in the same, or a closely-related, area of study with no more that two of those units at level one. An example of a minor sequence in an area of study is two 6-point units at level one and two 6-point units in the same area at level two.
Major sequence
A major sequence in science comprises an approved combination of eight 6-point science units in the same, or closely-related, area of study over three years. These must include a total of at least six 6-point units at levels two and three, with at least three 6-point units at level three. Examples of major sequences are:
Example 1
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 12 points
Level three units 24 points
Total units 48 points
Example 2
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 18 points
Level three units 18 points
Total units 48 points
Studies towards a major sequence can be in a single area of study, or they may be in related areas of study, for example first-level biology followed by second and third-level studies in physiology. A major sequence may also contain units from a number of disciplines (referred to as 'multidisciplinary'). An example of a multidisciplinary major sequence is biotechnology.
Note that a unit at level two or three cannot be used to contribute towards two separate major sequences in different areas of study.
Double major sequence in same area of study
To complete a double major sequence in the same area of study, students need to complete at least 12 six-point units in the same, or closely-related, area of study. These must include a total of at least 10 six-point units at levels two and three, with at least six 6-point units at level three. Examples of double major sequences are:
Example 1
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 12 points
Level three units 48 points
Total units 72 points
Example 2
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 18 points
Level three units 42 points
Total units 72 points
Note that a unit at level two or three cannot be used to contribute towards two major sequences, except as part of a double major sequence in the same area of study.
Major and minor sequence in the same area of study
To complete a major and a minor sequence in the same area of study, students will need to complete at least 10 six-point units in the same, or a closely-related, area of study. These must include a total of at least eight six-point units at levels two and three, with at least three six-point units at level three. Examples of a major and minor sequence in the same area of study are:
Example 1
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 12 points
Level three units 36 points
Total units 60 points
Example 2
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 18 points
Level three units 30 points
Total units 60 points
Example 3
Level one units 12 points
Level two units 24 points
Level three units 24 points
Total units 60 points
Note that a unit at level two or three cannot be used to contribute towards both a minor and a major sequence except as part of a 60-point major or minor sequence in the same area of study.
Structure and organisation of the faculty - Faculty of Science
Introduction
The Faculty of Science offers a variety of courses, based either on conventional on-campus teaching at the Clayton, Gippsland or Sunway campuses or off-campus learning, or both.
The faculty has seven schools, each of which is responsible for carrying out teaching and research activities within the areas of expertise of their academic staff.
Studies in a broad range of science disciplines are offered at the Clayton campus. The schools within the faculty at the Clayton campus are Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physics. Science studies are also offered towards most science courses by some departments and schools in other faculties at the Clayton campus, including the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Materials Engineering, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Psychology and the schools of Information Technology, and Geography and Environmental Science.
The School of Applied Sciences and Engineering is located at the Gippsland campus and offers studies in applied biology, applied chemistry, mathematics and modelling (including applied statistics), and environmental science and resource management. Computing studies are offered by the Gippsland School of Information Technology towards the Bachelor of Science, and off-campus studies in psychology are also available at the Gippsland campus for science students.
The School of Arts and Sciences is located at the Sunway campus, Malaysia and offers science studies in biotechnology, environmental management and medical bioscience.
Faculty offices
Clayton
Location: Ground floor, building 19
Postal address:
Faculty of Science
Monash University Victoria 3800
Telephone: +61 3 9905 4604
Fax: +61 3 9905 1450
Email: enquiries@sci.monash.edu.au
Gippsland
Location: Level 2, building 2W
Postal address:
Faculty of Science
Monash University
Churchill Victoria 3842
Telephone: +61 3 9902 6431
Fax: +61 3 9902 6931
Email: scienceinquiries@sci.monash.edu.au
http://www.gippsland.monash.edu.au/science
Sunway
Location: School of Arts and Sciences, Level 2
Postal address:
School of Arts and Sciences
Monash University
2 Jalan Kolej
Bandar Sunway
46150 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone: +603 5636 0600 (extn 254)
Fax: +603 5632 9314
Email: info@monash.edu.my
Schools of the faculty
School of Applied Sciences and Engineering
Location: Level 2, building 3W, Gippsland campus
Postal address:
School of Applied Sciences and Engineering,
Faculty of Science
Monash University Gippsland campus
Northways Road
Churchill, Victoria 3842
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9902 6453
Fax: +61 3 9902 6738
Email: scienceinquiries@sci.monash.edu.au
http://www.gippsland.monash.edu.au/science
School of Biological Sciences
Location: First floor, building 18, Clayton campus
Postal address:
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 5647
Fax: +61 3 9905 5613
Email: enquiries.biol@sci.monash.edu.au
http://www.biolsci.monash.edu.au
School of Chemistry
Location: First floor, building 19, Clayton campus
Postal address:
School of Chemistry
Faculty of Science
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 4593
Fax: +61 3 9905 4597
Email: enquiries.biol@sci.monash.edu.au
http://www.chem.monash.edu.au/
School of Geosciences
Location: First floor, building 28, Clayton campus
Postal address:
School of Geosciences
Faculty of Science
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 4879
Fax: +61 3 9905 4903
Email: enquiries@mail.earth.monash.edu.au
http://www.earth.monash.edu.au/
School of Mathematical Sciences
Location: First floor, building 28, Clayton campus
Postal address:
School of Mathematical Sciences
Faculty of Science
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 4440
Fax: +61 3 9905 4403
Email: enquiries@maths.monash.edu.au
http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/
School of Physics
Location: First floor, building 19, Clayton campus
Postal address:
School of Physics
Faculty of Science
Monash University, Victoria 3800
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9905 3651
Fax: +61 3 9905 4940
Email: Physics.Enquiries@sci.monash.edu.au
http://www.physics.monash.edu.au
School of Arts and Sciences
Location: Level, 2, Sunway campus
Postal address:
School of Arts and Sciences
Monash University, Sunway Campus
Jalan Lagoon Selatan
Bandar Sunway 46150
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia
Telephone: +60 3 5636 0600 (extn 254)
Fax: +60 3 5632 9314
Email: info@monash.edu.my
http://www.artsci.monash.edu.my/
Course planning information for students in undergraduate science degrees - Faculty of Science
Seeking advice and help
All students enrolled in the science courses and units are encouraged to see their tutors or lecturers about any academic issues they may have. Academic staff may be approached at any time, including in relation to unit selection and academic advice about specialising in their area of study. Student services staff in the Faculty of Science office on the student's campus can advise students at any stage of their course on course requirements, including the requirements for major or minor sequences, or approval for changes to their program of study.
The structure of science courses
Science courses are structured as either:
(a) generic courses, such as the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Environmental Science, that include a small number of compulsory units, a specified number of major and minor sequences in a range of science areas of study, and some additional units available as electives, or
(b) designated courses in a specialist area, such as the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) or Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management), for which most units are compulsory but where a limited number of elective units may be taken.
Many double-degree courses, which combine studies for a science degree with the requirements for another degree, are also available. In most cases, students in double-degree courses are limited in the number of electives that they have available to them and can only take units that are offered for the two-component degrees. Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Science, or undertake honours in science, prior to the completion of a science double-degree course must have completed at least 144 points of studies including all of the science requirements for that double-degree course.
The course requirements in this handbook apply to students who are admitted to a course in 2009. Students whose first year of study in their course was prior to 2009 should refer to the handbook for their commencing year, or consult with student services staff in the Faculty of Science office, to determine the requirements that apply to their course.
Course progression
The normal full-time load for undergraduate science courses is 24 points per semester, or four 6-point units. Units for most undergraduate courses are available at levels one, two and three, as indicated by the first number in the unit code. Students in science courses may not undertake any level two science units until they have successfully completed at least 12 points of science units at level one.
Students must seek course advice and faculty approval to enrol in more than the normal full-time load in any semester, ie more than 24 points in first and second semester and 18 points in summer semester. Approval to exceed a normal full-time load by up to 6 points would not normally be granted unless the student had achieved an average mark of at least a credit over their previous 48 points of study. Students enrolled in the Science Scholar Program, or those in double-degree programs that require more than 24 points in particular semesters, will also be permitted to enrol in up to 6 points over a normal full-time load. Students must apply to the faculty for approval to exceed the normal full-time load by more than 6 points.
The unit entries in this handbook often include lists of prerequisites, corequisites and prohibitions. `Prerequisite' units must have been completed successfully prior to undertaking the unit for which they are listed. `Corequisite' units either must have been completed previously or may be taken concurrently in the same semester. Units listed as `prohibitions' to a unit cannot also be counted towards the relevant course requirements.
It is important that students are familiar with the requirements for the course in which they are enrolled and choose the units taken with some care. When choosing level one units, students should aim to keep options open for the choice of level two and level three units at a later stage of their course. Students should peruse the units available in later years and check on the corequisites and prerequisites listed in the unit entries, but should also be aware that not all units are offered every year. Most areas of study have certain prerequisite units for progression to the next level.
Timetable constraints may influence unit choice. The faculty aims to minimise timetable clashes between appropriate unit combinations, however students are encouraged to consult the timetable prior to finalising unit selection.
Faculty academic policies - Faculty of Science
In addition to the University policies that govern student rights and responsibilities (outlined in the Student Resource Guide), the Faculty of Science has specific policies and/or procedures that apply to students enrolled in a science course or the science component of a double-degree. These policies relate to:
- Credit for previous studies (including study abroad, cross-institutional study, and exchange)
- Near pass (NP) grade
- Recognition of high achieving students (Dean's list fellows)
- Repeating failed units
- Special consideration
- Special examination conditions for students from non-English-speaking backgrounds
- Supplementary assessment.
For further information on Faculty of Science academic policies visit http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/policies/.
Courses offered in 2009 - Faculty of Science
Courses managed by the Faculty of Science
Clayton
Diploma
- 3501 Diploma of Biotechnology (Research and Management)
Single degrees
- 3527 Bachelor of Biotechnology
- 2340 Bachelor of Environmental Science
- 0050 Bachelor of Science
- 3520 Bachelor of Science Advanced (with Honours)
- 1120 Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)
Double degrees
- 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
- 3528 Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science
- 3517 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Computer Science
Honours degrees
- 0051 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science
- 2188 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)
Gippsland
Diploma
- 3501 Diploma of Biotechnology (Research and Management)
Associate degrees
- 3536 Associate Degree in Applied Sciences
Single degrees
- 0050 Bachelor of Science
- 3520 Bachelor of Science Advanced with Honours
- 2006 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
- 1120 Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)
Double degrees
- 3511 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Business and Commerce
Honours degrees
- 0051 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science
- 2188 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)
Sunway
Single degrees
- 2006 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
- 3513 Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management)
- 3530 Bachelor of Science (Food Science and Technology)
- 3522 Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience)
Double degrees
- 3507 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management)
- 3523 Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) and Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience)
Honours degrees
- 3505 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)
- 3506 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management)
- 3526 Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience)
Courses involving a science component but not managed by the Faculty of Science (listed by managing faculty)
Faculty of Arts
- 2130 Bachelor of Arts (Communication) and Bachelor of Science (Gippsland)
- 2131 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and Bachelor of Science (Gippsland)
Faculty of Business and Economics
- 1469 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science (Clayton)
Faculty of Education
- 3711 Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education - primary (Peninsula/Clatyon; Gippsland)
- 1633 Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education - secondary (Clayton; Gippsland)
Faculty of Engineering
- 3278 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Science (Clayton)
- 3282 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and Bachelor of Science
- 0085 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering
Faculty of Law
- 0086 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws