Choosing between two areas that interest you can be hard, so this double degree course enables you to make the most of your talents and study both science and music.
Physics, mathematics and music have been related for millennia in the art and science of acoustics but the links are much more extensive. The latest developments in physics, psychology, human biology, materials science, information science and statistical analysis all give us new answers to ancient questions about music - what it is, why we make it, how we make it, why we listen to it and how it is changing.
Whether your music specialisation is in composition, creative music technology, ethnomusicology and musicology, or performance, a broad understanding of science will illuminate and enrich the experience.
And if your main focus is science, music expertise will offer interesting opportunities not available to everyone - perhaps working on treatments for auditory conditions or mapping sound to interaction.
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 192 points:
1. 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
2. 96 points must be completed in Parts A, B and C described below in A2003 Bachelor of Music component.
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.
Music component
Bachelor of Music is a specialist course that develops through the themes of music specialist study, music theory and ear training, and music context study.
Part A. Music specialist study (36 points)
You must complete the specified six units for one of the following specialisations. To avoid exceeding the standard three year course duration students must enrol in the music specialist study 1 and 2 units in their first year of study, then progress to the music specialist study 3 to 6 units in the following years. Students must pass each unit sequentially.
Creative music technology
- ATS1048 Creative music technology 1
- ATS1049 Creative music technology 2
- ATS2129 Creative music technology 3
- ATS2130 Creative music technology 4
- ATS3142 Creative music technology 5
- ATS3143 Creative music technology 6
Ethnomusicology and musicology
a. One of the following pairs of units:
b. the following units:
- ATS2804Not offered in 2018 From the erotic to the exotic: Music in the nineteenth century
- ATS2805Not offered in 2018 Music, identity and place
- ATS3144 Music research in the digital age
- ATS3153 Music research project
Music composition
Music performance
Part B. Music theory and ear training (24 points)
- ATS1899 Music theory and ear training 1
- ATS1900 Music theory and ear training 2
- ATS2901 Music theory and ear training 3
- ATS2902 Music theory and ear training 4
Part C. Music context study (36 points)
- ATS1345 Music and history
- ATS1346 Music and culture
- ATS2333 Jazz history or ATS2900 Writing about music: Headlines and hashtags or ATS2331 Music overseas study program 1 or ATS2332 Music overseas study program 2
- ATS2687 The ethnomusicology of improvisation or ATS2060 The art of teaching music performance
- ATS3061 Music in Australia
- ATS3094 The music business: How to be successful in the music industry
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 the requirements described above for the single degree component and have completed a total of:
- 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Science
- 144 points to exit with the Bachelor of Music
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 courses apply:
- S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- A3702 Bachelor of Music (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)
