The Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours) includes all the elements of the Bachelor of Science, together with formal training in leadership and persuasive communication, and hands-on practice in transforming an idea into a business or social enterprise. Fundamental to the program is an in-depth exploration of the big issues of our time. You will explore approaches and pathways to potential solutions, and think deeply about the qualities underpinning effective leadership and how to implement change. In your final year, you will partner with external organisations and tackle a problem of real world significance. The course includes two internships - at least one international - that provide significant experiences in government, business, or a social enterprise such as a placement in an NGO, contributing in a corporate outreach project, or shadowing a CEO.
This course is breaking new ground in science education in Australia. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop professional relationships and mentors with the science faculty alumni and the broader community.
As a graduate of this course you will have access to all the traditional careers of science honours graduates, and also be well prepared for further studies. You will enter the workforce equipped to grow into a leader capable of exploiting science to address complex challenges. You will have the necessary knowledge and skills to be attractive to top management consultancies, businesses and institutions. Whatever path you decide to take, you will be able to use your broad-based training, learning and experiences as a launch pad to making significant contributions to improving the human condition.
These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).
Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:
- demonstrate advanced knowledge and technical skills in one area of science, and a basic understanding of at least one science discipline other than the one in which you specialise
- analyse some of the big challenges of our time, and appreciate the impact individuals can have in addressing them
- listen, understand, and communicate persuasively to a variety of audiences, using a variety of formats and working effectively with media
- apply critical thinking, analysis, evidence gathering, and entrepreneurship and leadership skills to examine challenges, and to develop, implement, and report effective solutions
- apply multicultural literacy to work across and with government, academic, private and public-good enterprises, and society
- demonstrate understanding of the importance of leadership, social responsibility, ethics and mentoring to success.
Students must complete two approved internships. One of these will be international and include travel overseas. These internships will involve a placement in government, business, or a social enterprise, contributing in a corporate outreach project, or shadowing a CEO.
This is an advanced comprehensive course. It includes all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science, with additional study that addresses the learning objectives relating to global challenges. The additional study commences in year one, develops throughout the course and culminates in a major project in the fourth year.
The course is structured in four parts: science specified study, science listed major, free elective study and a substantial impact through science project.
Part A. Science specified study
This study has two components. The first component will expose you to different science disciplines contributing breadth to your understanding of science and giving you the opportunity to learn more about several disciplines before finalising your choice of major. It will also provide you with the mathematical or statistical foundation for your study of science and address the nature of science and its communication.
The second component will provide you with the skills to use science to address complex global challenges, to lead and inspire others and to convert your ideas into tangible solutions.
Part B. Science listed major
This will provide you with practical and theoretical skills and knowledge of a science listed area of study. 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.
Part C. Free elective study
This will enable you to further develop your knowledge of your major area of study, or science more broadly. Alternatively you can select units from across the university in which you are eligible to enrol.
Part D. Impact through science project
This will be the culmination of your degree utilising and synthesising the skills built over the first three years of the course. During your honours project you will form a partnership with an external organisation to tackle a meaningful real world problem.
The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Science specified study (78 points), Part B. Science listed major (48 points), Part C. Free elective study (18 points) undertaken in the first three years, and Part D. Impact through science project (48 points) in the final year. This includes a minimum of 78 points of science listed study over Part A and Part B.
In choosing your 78 points of science listed study over Part A and Part B, you must ensure that you complete five of these units (30 points) at level 1 and eight units (48 points) at levels 2 and 3, with a minimum of four (24 points) at level 3. It is recommended that you complete level 1 sequences first as these lay the foundation for further study.
You must also ensure that across the whole course, you complete no more than 10 level 1 units (60 points).
You must complete two approved internships. One of these will be international and will include travel overseas. These internships will involve a placement in government, business, or a social enterprise, contributing in a corporate outreach project, or shadowing a CEO.
To remain in the program you are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70 per cent) across all units in each calendar year. If you do not achieve this average you will be required to transfer to S2000 Bachelor of Science.
In addition, in order to progress to the fourth year, you must normally complete 144 credit points, including the six levels 1 to 3 'Impact through science' units. You must also achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70 per cent) in 18 credit points of level 3 units in the relevant science discipline and the level 3 'Impact through science' units.
If you successfully complete the first three years (144 points) of the course but do not meet the academic standard hurdle for the fourth year, you will graduate with the Bachelor of Science.
The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/maps/map-s3001.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
Part A. Science specified study (78 points)
Although the requirements in Part A appear to exceed 78 points, a level 1 sequence is typically counted towards your major (Part B) and not towards this Part.
a. Students complete:
At least two level 1 approved science sequences (24 points) from the following list.
Normally, the units in a level 1 sequence are required for the completion of your selected major. The choice of level 1 sequences will influence your choice of level 2 and level 3 units and lay the foundation for your major.
Biological sciences
One pair of:
Chemistry
One pair of:
Computational science
- FIT1045 Algorithms and programming fundamentals in python and FIT1008 Introduction to computer science
Earth, atmosphere and environment
- EAE1011 Earth, atmosphere and environment 1 and EAE1022 Earth, atmosphere and environment 2
Geographical science
One pair of:
- ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability and ATS1309 The global challenge
- ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability and EAE1022 Earth, atmosphere and environment 2
Mathematics and statistics
One pair of:
- MTH1020 Analysis of change and MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
- MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and MTH2010 Multivariable calculus
- MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
- MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and STA1010 Statistical methods for science
Note 1: Students with a strong mathematics background and an interest in the subject could replace the units MTH1030 and/or MTH2010 with their advanced versions MTH1035 and/or MTH2015 respectively. Students will need to seek permission to enrol in these units at the Science Student ServicesScience Student Services (http://www.monash.edu/science/current-students/help-and-support) office.
Physics
One pair of:
- PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity and PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics
- PHS1080 Foundation physics and PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics
- PHS1031 Physics for the living world and PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics
Psychology
b. At least one of the following level 1 mathematics or statistics unit (6 points) if not already taken as part of a level 1 approved sequence:
- MTH1020 Analysis of change
- MTH1030 Techniques for modelling or MTH1035 Techniques for modelling (advanced)
- SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning
- STA1010 Statistical methods for science
Note 2: The unit required in b. will depend on your mathematics background and interests: SCI1020 (Introduction to statistical reasoning) and STA1010 (Statistical methods for science) are 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 students to have studied VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent). MTH1020 Analysis of change and MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) is recommended for students with an interest in mathematics and/or physics. MTH1020 requires students to have studied VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent). MTH1030 requires students to have studied VCE Specialist Mathematics (or equivalent) or MTH1020. Students with a strong mathematics background and a keen interest in the subject could replace the unit MTH1030 with the advanced version MTH1035. You will need to seek permission to enrol in this unit at the Science Student ServicesScience Student Services (http://www.monash.edu/science/current/undergraduate/help/) office.
c. The following six units (36 points):
d. Two units (12 points) from the following:
- ECC1000 Principles of microeconomics*
- ECC1100 Principles of macroeconomics*
- ACC1200 Accounting for managers
- ATS1325 Contemporary worlds 1
- ATS1326 Contemporary worlds 2
- LAW2001 Law in professional contexts
- MGX3100 Corporate social responsibility and business ethics*
e. Any additional level 2 or level 3 science units required to take the total of science listed units to 78 points over Part A and Part B. Science listed units are chosen from units listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in S2000 Bachelor of Science, or any of the units listed below:
Part B. Science listed major (48 points)
Students complete a Bachelor of Science major. A major requires eight units with no more than two units at level 1 (12 points) and at least 18 points at level 3. You may replace the major with an extended major by using elective units available in Part A or Part C.
Refer to the science listed areas of study below for units required for your chosen major, extended major or minor.
Minors, majors and extended majors
Refer also to the table of minors, majors and extended majors by campusminors, majors and extended majors by campus (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/sci-bsc-minor-major-extended-major.html) which also details if an area of study is available as a minor, major or extended major.
Part C. Free elective study (18 points)
These elective units may be chosen from units available in the Bachelor of Science course to broaden your science knowledge or to extend your major. Elective units may also be taken from non-science disciplines as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment in the units.
Free electives can be identified using the browse unitsbrowse units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) tool and indexes of unitsindexes of units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/) in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.
Part D. Impact through science project (48 points)
In their final year students complete:
- SCI4501 Impact through science 4A: Research (12 points)
- SCI4502 Impact through science 4B: Professional practice (36 points)
Students may be eligible to exit the course and graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree after three years and completion of 144 credit points of study, provided they have satisfied the award requirements of that course.
