Undergraduate - Course0051 - Honours degree of Bachelor of Science

NOTE: This course has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2011. For details of change/s, please consult the change register at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2012handbooks/2012-change-register.html.

The Honours degree of Bachelor of Science aims to provide students with a higher level of experience in independent analysis and research in their chosen area of expertise. In special circumstances, the dean, acting on the recommendation of the heads of schools, may approve candidature embracing more than one area of study. The Honours degree of Bachelor of Science is awarded on the successful completion of a program of advanced study including a supervised research project which will include a contribution to the knowledge of the subject by original work and a critical review of the literature. The course has vocational aims but also provides a preparation for higher degree studies.

Graduates of the honours program will:

• be able to critically review the scientific literature in their specialist area of study
• understand the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of a relevant research project
• be able to complete and analyse a set of laboratory-based, computer-based, theoretical or other appropriate studies
• be proficient in computer-based data acquisition (where appropriate), critical analysis of results, appropriate presentation, and scientific word processing
• demonstrate communication skills in both oral and written presentations to both a specialist and a non-specialist scientific audience, including the ability to write and present scientific work in a potentially publishable way
• have acquired a range of advanced technical skills appropriate to their area of study
• have demonstrated the capability to perform a variety of scientific procedures and techniques that are essential to the satisfactory completion and reporting of a research project
• have acquired, where appropriate, sound knowledge of OHSE regulations, including hazardous and dangerous materials and risk assessments
• have developed, where appropriate, an awareness of the ethical approval processes required when working with humans or animals
• have demonstrated potential to pursue higher studies and learning in their area of study
• have gained insight into the breadth and diversity of their discipline and its place within the broader scope of science.

Students who have successfully qualified for course 0050 Bachelor of Science, or equivalent, with at least a distinction grade average (70 per cent) in 24 points of level three units in the relevant science discipline. These 24 points of studies will normally include at least 18 points of units in the area of study in which they wish to undertake honours. Students in science double degrees must have completed at least 144 points of units in that course, including all of the science requirements in the double-degree, before they may apply for entry to honours.

The specific requirements for the award of a degree with honours is dependent on the field of study but in general will include advanced coursework and specified assessment tasks, a thesis component and seminars/oral presentations.

The science honours program requires the completion of 48 points of study, including coursework and research. A key component of the course is the completion of a major research project, which will normally contribute at least 40 per cent of the workload and assessment for the course.

Schools are able to cater substantially for the interests of individual students, although there may be compulsory elements to be completed by all students in some areas of study. The work to be completed by a candidate will be as prescribed by the relevant head of school.

The available areas of specialisation and units applicable to each are outlined below.

Further details about the requirements for honours in each field of study, along with faculty honours policies and guidelines are available at http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/honours.

Clayton

Anatomy and developmental biology

• DEV4100 Anatomy and developmental biology research project (36 points)
• DEV4200 Advanced studies in anatomy and developmental biology (12 points)

Astrophysics

• ASP4100 Astrophysics honours part 2 (project) (24 points)
• ASP4200 Astrophysics honours part 1 (24 points)

Atmospheric science

• ATM4100 Atmospheric science honours part 2 (project) (24 points)
• ATM4200 Atmospheric science honours part 1 (24 points)

Biochemistry and molecular biology

• BCH4100 Biochemistry and molecular biology research project (36 points)
• BCH4200 Advanced studies in biochemistry and molecular biology (12 points)

Chemistry

• CHM4100 Chemistry research project (36 points)
• CHM4201 Chemistry honours coursework (12 points)

Computer Science

Honours thesis (24 points) consisting of the following units:

• FIT4441 Honours thesis part 1
• FIT4442 Honours thesis part 2
• FIT4443 Honours thesis part 3
• FIT4444 Honours thesis final

plus:

• FIT4005 IT research methods (6 points)
• two computer science electives as published by the Faculty of Information Technology (12 Points)

plus one of the following computer science electives (6 points):

• FIT4009 Advanced topics in intelligent systems
• FIT4010 Advanced topics in algorithms and discrete structures
• FIT4012 Advanced topics in computational sciences

Ecology and conservation biology

• BIO4100 Biology research project (36 points)
• BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology (12 points)

Genetics

• GEN4100 Genetics research project (36 points)
• GEN4200 Advanced coursework in genetics (12 points)

Geographical science

• ATS4778 Geography honours thesis part 1 (12 points)
• ATS4779 Geography honours thesis part 2 (12 points)
• ATS4776 Seminar in geography (12 points)
• ATS4889 Directed studies in geography (12 points)

Geophysics

• GPS4100 Geophysics research project (36 points)
• GPS4200 Geophysics honours coursework (12 points)

Geosciences

• ESC4100 Earth sciences research project (36 points)
• ESC4200 Earth sciences honours coursework (12 points)

Immunology and medical biology

• IMB4100 Immunology and medical biology honours project (36 points)
• IMB4200 Communicating immunology and medical biology (12 points)

Marine and freshwater biology

• BIO4100 Biology research project (36 points)
• BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology (12 points)

Materials science

• MSC4100 Materials science project (24 points)
• MSC4200 Advanced materials science (24 points)

Mathematics and statistics

• MTH4100 Mathematics honours part 2 (project) (24 points)
• MTH4200 Mathematics honours part 1 (24 points)

Microbiology

• MIC4100 Microbiology research project (36 points)
• MIC4200 Advanced studies in microbiology (12 points)

Pharmacology

• PHA4100 Pharmacology research project (36 points)
• PHA4200 Advanced studies in pharmacology (12 points)

Physics

• PHS4100 Physics thesis project (24 points)
• PHS4200 Advanced physics (24 points)

Physiology

• PHY4100 Physiology research project (36 points)
• PHY4200 Advanced studies in physiology (12 points)

Plant sciences

• BIO4100 Biology research project (36 points)
• BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology (12 points)

Psychology

• PSY4100 Psychology honours: Research project (24 points)
• PSY4210 Statistics and research design for professional psychology (6 points)
• PSY4220 Ethical and professional issues in psychology (6 points)
• PSY4270 Psychological assessment (6 points)

plus one of the following psychology electives (6 points):

• PSY4110 Psychology in society
• PSY4130 Developmental and clinical neuroscience

Stem cells and regenerative medicine

• MIS4100 Stem cells and regenerative medicine research project (36 points)
• MIS4200 Advanced studies in stem cells and regenerative medicine (12 points)

Zoology

• BIO4100 Biology research project (36 points)
• BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology (12 points)

Gippsland

Available areas of study include:

• biochemistry
• biotechnology
• chemistry
• ecology and environmental management
• medical bioscience
• microbiology

All students complete the following:

• ASC4100 Honours research project (36 points)
• ASC4200 Honours coursework (12 points)

Sunway

Biology

• BIO4100 Biology research project (36 points)
• BIO4280 Honours coursework in biology (12 points)

Biotechnology

• BTH4100 Biotechnology research project (36 points)
• BTH4280 Honours coursework in biotechnology (12 points)

Medical bioscience

• MBS4100 Medical bioscience research project (36 points)
• MBS4280 Honours coursework in medical bioscience (12 points)

Food science and technology

• FST4100 Food science and technology research project (36 points)
• FST4280 Honours coursework food science and technology (12 points)

The honours degree of Bachelor of Science