Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science

With the growth in scientific research and the commercialisation of new technologies, graduates with knowledge in both science and law are increasingly sought after. This double degree course provides practical legal skills and an awareness of the complex interaction between science and society.

In an age of increasing technological advancements, the link between science and the law will only become stronger. This means as a graduate with a double degree in science and law you will have the power to choose which career you follow.

With a choice of twenty-five majors in science and a rich repertoire of law electives, the course can be tailored to meet your individual interests.

Double degree courses include the features of the component degree courses, except that electives may be reduced.

Law

L3001 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course is a specialist course that develops through themes: legal methodology and legal practice; public law; and private law. The specialised knowledge and advanced skills are imparted in later year elective units, including a final year project involving intensive research and writing.

Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice

This theme includes the nature of law, and particularly statute law enacted by Parliaments and common law developed by courts. It also includes the key concepts, principles and methods of research and reasoning that enable lawyers to identify and interpret law and apply it to relevant facts in order to provide legal advice. It covers the law of procedure and evidence that governs judicial proceedings, alternative methods of resolving legal disputes, and the code of ethics that regulates the professional conduct of legal practitioners.

Part B. Public law

Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. It concerns the powers and procedures of the legislative, executive and judicial organs of government, and how they are regulated and controlled by 'the rule of law'. It also concerns the legal relationship between government and individuals, including the protection of the individual rights.

Part C. Private law

Private law deals with legal relationships between legal persons, including corporations as well as individuals. It includes the study of property rights, contractual rights and obligations, wrongs (called 'torts') such as trespass and the negligent infliction of injury, and the law of equity and trusts.

Part D. Extending specialized knowledge and advanced skills: Law electives

In later years of the course, you will be able to choose from a broad range of elective law units. High achieving students may also include one or two Master's units in their final year of study. Elective law units enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of law that suit your own interests, skills and career goals. In addition to public and private law, these include international law, commercial law and human rights law. You will have opportunities to study overseas, and to undertake work-based learning, for example, in our legal clinical program and in local and international internships.

Science

S2000 Bachelor of Science is a comprehensive course, structured in three equal parts. In the double degree course you complete:

Part A. Science specified study

This will provide you with the mathematical or statistical foundation for your study of science and address the nature of science and its communication. It will also expose you to several science disciplines contributing breadth to your understanding of science and giving you the opportunity to learn about several disciplines before finalising your choice of major.

Part B. Science listed major

This will provide you with a focused program of study that will develop your expertise in one discipline area. You will learn to develop, apply and communicate an advanced level of understanding of the concepts and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of the discipline.

Students must complete 252 points, of which 156 points are from the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (including all of the requirements in Part A, B, C and D) and 96 points from the Bachelor of Science (including all of the requirements in Part A and B for the single degree).

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-l3007.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Students may be eligible to exit the double degree program and graduate with either a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) or a Bachelor of Science after 4 or 3 years respectively, depending on the units studied.

Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) prior to the completion of the double degree must have completed at least 204 points of studies, including all of the requirements in Part A, B, C and D for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Science prior to the completion of the double degree must have completed at least 144 points of studies, including all of the requirements in Part A and B for the Bachelor of Science degree.