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.
NOTE: For learning outcomes and other relevant information of this double degree, refer to the single degree entries:
The requirements below detail what you must study in order to complete this double-degree course and receive the awards.
Units are 6 points unless otherwise specified. You must complete 252 points:
1. 156 points must be completed in Parts A, B, C and D as described below in L3001 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) component.
Refer to L3001 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) single degree entry for the details of important admission to practice information.
2. 96 points must be completed in Parts A and B as described below in S2000 Bachelor of Science component, of which:
- at least 30 points and no more than 36 points of level 1 units must be completed
- at least 60 points must be completed at levels 2 and 3
- at least 24 points must be completed at level 3
- you must complete the level one sequences at stage one before enrolling in level two science units
Law component
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) 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 (24 points)
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.
You must complete:
Part B. Public law (30 points)
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 individual rights.
You must complete:
Part C. Private law (48 points)
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.
You must complete:
Part D. Extending expertise: specialist law electives (54 points)
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.
You must complete undergraduate law electives (54 points) as follows:
a. at least one of the following commercial law units (6 points):
- LAW4701Not offered in 2018 Commercial transactions
- LAW4702 Competition and consumer law
- LAW4703Not offered in 2018 Introduction to intellectual property
- LAW4704 Taxation law
- LAW4198 Australian commercial law
- LAW4179 International commercial arbitration
- LAW4668Not offered in 2018 International investment law
- LAW4342 Patents, trademarks and unfair competition
- LAW4671 Private investment law
b. at least one of the following law research units (6 or 12 points):
- LAW4801 Research project
- LAW4802Not offered in 2018 Research practicum
- LAW4803 Clinical externship
- LAW4805 Mooting and advocacy competition
- LAW4806 Jessup moot competition
- LAW4807 Vis arbitration moot
- LAW4327 Honours thesis (12 points)
- LAW4328 Professional practice (12 points)
- LAW4330 Family law assistance program: Professional practice (12 points)
- any master's level elective (usually 12 points) which is approved for undergraduate enrolment, and has as part of its assessment regime a research assignment with a word limit of 3750 words or more
c. additional law electives to bring the total for Part D to 54 points:
- including other units from the lists of commercial law and law research units above
- high achieving students may be eligible to complete a maximum of two master's level electives in the final semester, which can be counted towards a Master of Laws degree if they wish to progress to graduate studies.
Law units begin with the prefix LAW and suitable units can be identified using the browse units tool in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate law units are those that commence with the numbers 1-4.
Science component
Bachelor of Science is a comprehensive course and it will provide you with a broad, general science education, as well as specialist training in one or more science disciplines.
Part A. Science specified study (48 points)
Although the requirements in Part A appear to exceed 48 points, a level 1 sequence is typically counted towards your major (Part B) and not towards Part A.
You must complete:
Level 1 sequences
a. At least two level 1 approved science sequences (24 points)
Normally, the units in a level 1 sequence are required for the completion of a related minor or major. The choice of level 1 sequences will influence your choice of level 2 and level 3 units and will lay the foundation for your major.
Mathematics and statistics unit
b. At least one of the following level 1 mathematics or statistics units (6 points) if not already taken as part of a level 1 approved sequence:
- MTH1020 Analysis of change
- MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
- MTH1035 Techniques for modelling (advanced)
- SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning
- STA1010 Statistical methods for science
Note 1: The unit required in b. will depend on your mathematics background and interests.
SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning and STA1010 Statistical methods for science
- 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
- 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, and should seek permission to enrol in this unit at the Science Student Services office.
Additional level 1 units
c. Any additional level 1 units required to take the total level 1 science listed units to either 30 or 36 points. Level 1 science listed units are chosen from units listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in the Bachelor of Science or from the following:
- MTH1010 Functions and their applications
- SCI1200 Humans, evolution and modern society
- SCI1300 Climate change: From science to society
- SCI1400 From Galileo to GPS: How astronomy shapes our lives
- SCI1800 The sustainable planet
Level 2/3 units
d. One unit (6 points) from:
- SCI2010 Scientific practice and communication
- SCI2015 Scientific practice and communication (advanced)
e. Any additional units required to make the total level 2 and 3 Bachelor of Science listed units to at least 60 points (inclusive of the unit in d. and the units in your major in Part B), with at least 24 points at level 3, chosen from:
- SCI3910 Schools science project
- SCI3920 Science industry placement
- SCI3930 Career skills for scientists
- units listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in S2000 Bachelor of Science
Part B. Science listed major (48 points)
You must complete one science listed major from those listed below. A major requires eight units with no more than two units at level 1 (12 points) and at least three units (18 points) at level 3. You may replace the major with an extended major by using the elective units available in Part A.
It is recommended that you consider completing level 2 units in more than one area of science to maximise your choice of major at level 3.
If you intend to undertake an honours year you should ensure you complete the specific units required as a pre-requisite for honours in your chosen major area of study.
Minors, majors and extended majors
Note: Psychology is taught by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
Refer also to the table of minors and majors by campus which details if an area of study is available as a minor, major or extended major.
You may be eligible to exit this double degree course early and graduate with one of the single awards once you have successfully completed all of the requirements described above for the single degree component and have completed a total of:
- 204 points to exit with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Science
Honours
You may be eligible to apply for a one-year honours course once you have successfully completed this double degree, or have completed all of the requirements for one of the single degrees including a total of 144 points. The following honours course applies:
- S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
You are usually eligible to apply for honours if you achieve a distinction grade average (70 percent) or above in 24 points of studies in relevant units at level 3. This sometimes also means you need to have completed specific units. Science students should refer to the honours prerequisites table.
Graduate coursework
Students successfully completing the Bachelor of Science may proceed to:
- S5003 Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Malaysia only)
- S6000 Master of Science (from 2019)
- S6001 Master of Financial Mathematics*
- S6002 Master of Environment and Sustainability**
- S6003 Master of Mathematics (from 2019)
