MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS
Science Handbook 1996
Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1037-0919
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
FACULTY INFORMATIONPart 1
CONTENTS
- Introduction
- The undergraduate program
- Graduate courses
- Advice to students
- Part-time studies and distance education
- Enrolment and re-enrolment
- Subject quotas
- Timetables
- Assessment
The Faculty of Science conducts postgraduate and undergraduate courses on the
Clayton, Caulfield and Gippsland campuses and the faculty also has a teaching
involvement on the Peninsula campus. A large number, and a very wide range, of
subjects are offered in the courses available in the faculty. Details of these
courses are given in the sections which follow.
Bachelor of Science, Clayton
Three years of undergraduate study lead to the BSc degree.
Honours degree of Bachelor of Science, Clayton
A fourth year of study following completion of the BSc course requirements
leads to the BSc(Hons) degree.
Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics and Computing), Clayton
Three years of undergraduate study principally in the areas of mathematics and
computing leads to the degree BSc(AdvMath&Comp)
Bachelor of Science (Behavioural), Clayton
Three years of undergraduate study specialising in psychology leads to the
BSc(Behav)
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical), Clayton
Three years of undergraduate study with a biomedical emphasis leads to the
BSc(Biomed).
Bachelor of Science (Environmental), Clayton
Three years of undergraduate study with an environmental emphasis leads to the
BSc(Env).
Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program)
An individual course of study of two, three or four years leading to the award
of either BSc (SciSchProg) or BSc(Hons).
Bachelor of Applied Science, Gippsland
Three years of undergraduate study leads to the BAppSc degree.
Bachelor of Applied Science/Bachelor of Business, Gippsland
Four years of study, offered in collaboration with the School of Business,
leads to the degrees of BAppSc/BBus.
Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Gippsland
Three years of undergraduate study with a substantial specialisation in
psychology leads to the BBS.
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science, Clayton
A four-year double-degree course, offered in collaboration with the Faculty of
Arts, leads to the degrees of BA/BSc.
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Engineering, Clayton
Five years of study offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering
leads to the degrees of Bachelor of Science after three years and Bachelor of
Engineering after a further two years (BSc/BE).
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws, Clayton
Five years of study offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Law leads to
the degrees of Bachelor of Science after three years and Bachelor of Laws after
a further two years (BSc/LLB).
Master of Science, Caulfield/Clayton
A research-based program primarily aimed at further training for BSc(Hons) and
BSc graduates. Coursework/minor thesis programs are available in some fields:
geology, geophysics, mathematical modelling, meteorology and statistics.
Master of Applied Science, Caulfield/Clayton/ Gippsland
A research-based program for BAppSc or BSc graduates or undergraduate diploma
graduates who have appropriate work experience.
Master of Psychology, Clayton
A two-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) coursework program for
psychology graduates. There are three streams: counselling, child and
educational, and forensic. The first two streams are offered within the Faculty
of Education and the third within the Faculty of Science's Department of
Psychology.
Master of Applied Psychology, Caulfield
A two-year full-time (or four years part-time) coursework program for
psychology graduates with two streams: occupational psychology and sport
psychology.
Doctor of Philosophy, Caulfield/Clayton/Gippsland
An extensive research-based program offering further training primarily for
BSc(Hons) graduates.
Doctor of Science
The higher doctorate degree, Doctor of Science, may be awarded on the
recommendation of the faculty for published work which is considered to be a
distinguished contribution to knowledge in a particular field.
Graduate Diploma in Applied Polymer Science, Clayton
A two-year part-time or one year full-time course which aims to give a
scientific basis for understanding properties and behaviours of polymers. It is
directed mainly at scientists and engineers employed in the polymer and related
industries, who have graduated in science or engineering, or who have
significant scientific experience.
Graduate Diploma in Applied Psychology, Caulfield
A one-year full-time or two years part-time course for psychology graduates
aims to develop knowledge and skills in applied research and data analysis,
psychological test development and administration, and methods of behaviour
change.
Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, Gippsland
A two-year, part-time distance education program for students who hold a first
degree with a major in psychology.
Graduate Diploma in Technology Studies, Gippsland
A one-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) distance education course
designed primarily to qualify teachers or intending teachers to teach
technology studies in secondary school; it may also be of interest to other
groups of people such as industrial trainers.
Students should obtain a handbook each year and become familiar with its
contents. Please note that the regulations have been amended; the requirements
for completion are now set out in `Course requirements'. It is the student's
responsibility to ensure that the requirements are understood.
While the regulations allow a time limit of eight years for completion of BSc
courses, the courses are primarily geared to full-time study. Many of the
subjects are laboratory-oriented with rather heavy time commitments to
practical classes. Classes are not usually offered after 6.15 pm.
Intending part-time students should consult a member of the appropriate
department or the academic adviser for advice on course planning before
enrolling.
Distance education and open learning courses are available through Gippsland
campus. Refer to the Gippsland section of the handbook for details.
Enrolment for new students takes place at the beginning of the year. On the day
of enrolment or re-enrolment (which takes place in December) approval must be
obtained for all chosen subjects from a course adviser at the enrolment centre.
After enrolment formalities have been completed with the faculty, students must
proceed to the University Enrolment Centre to finalise other administrative
requirements such as HECS payment options, confirmation of personal particulars
and to obtain the student ID card, information handbook and diary. No fees will
be payable on the day of enrolment; a fees statement will be forwarded by mail.
At first-year level the extra-faculty subjects (accounting, economics, legal
process and computer science) are normally subject to quotas. Other first-year
subjects may also have quotas, as have some second and third-year subjects.
It is important that students with firm preferences in terms of the subjects
they wish to study within the structure of the BSc should direct inquiries to
the relevant faculty office for first-year quotas and the relevant department
for second and third-year quotas. Quota selection is based on academic merit of
students and/or candidature in a designated course and is administered by the
relevant faculty or department.
It should be noted that financial constraints may make it necessary to reduce
the number of subjects and optional units being offered, although the faculty
would only withdraw the offering of any listed subjects in exceptional
circumstances.
With the degree of flexibility provided in the course, it is inevitable that
there are combinations of subjects which cannot be taken, simply because of
timetabling problems. However, experience over a relatively long period of
time, and the provision of multiple timetabled classes in a number of subjects,
have made it possible to reduce these problems to a minimum. At first-year
level, where four disciplines are taken, there are several hundred possible
combinations of subjects and very few are unavailable due to timetable clashes.
First-year students have their enrolments automatically checked for timetable
problems at the time of enrolment, and shortly after completion of the
enrolment process each student is issued with a personalised computer-generated
timetable for each subject chosen. Later-year students should refer to the
lecture timetable provided by the faculty office in December when planning a
second or third-year program. Students wishing to enrol in a combination of
subjects from different year levels or different faculties should carefully
consider the timetable implications.
Examination grades
+ HD High distinction, with marks in the range 85-100 per cent.
+ D Distinction, with marks in the range 75-84 per cent.
+ C Credit, with marks in the range 65-74 per cent.
+ P Pass, with marks in the range 50-64 per cent.
+ PII Division II pass (frequently called `P2 pass'), with marks in
the range 45-49. This grade counts for the purpose of the academic record of
the student, but no more than one P2 grade may be counted in a pair of
sequential subjects if being used as prerequisites for a higher level subject
or subjects. Students should note that, whereas they may be awarded any
number of P2 passes during their whole course of studies, they are restricted
in qualifying for the award of their degree, to counting not more than
twenty-four points of subjects at P2 level, with not more than eighteen points
at levels one and two, and not more than twelve points at level three. Students
must prepare to repeat the work in the other P2 subjects if they are to be
counted towards qualifying for the degree.
+ NN Fail result, with marks in the range 0-44 per cent.
BSc Honours and MSc Part 1 assessment grades
Honours results are notified in the following grades without marks:
+ HI Honours, first class;
+ HIIA Honours, second class A;
+ HIIB Honours, second class B;
+ HIII Honours, third class.
As an MSc Part 1 program does not lead to a course award, results are notified
as follows:
+ SFR (equivalent honours grade) meaning that the student has
satisfied the program requirements at an equivalent honours grade of HI, HIIA,
HIIB or HIII as indicated within the brackets;
+ NE Not examinable, ie a code to indicate that the program is not
complete in the current year;
+ NN Fail result.
Special consideration and deferred examinations
Students in any year of an undergraduate degree whose attendance or performance
at any examination is prevented or gravely affected by illness or other serious
cause may apply for special consideration or for a special examination
(commonly called a deferred examination). Applications must be made on the
appropriate form obtainable from the Faculty of Science office. Applications
must be submitted not later than forty-eight hours after the conclusion of the
student's last examination in the relevant examination period. The form must be
accompanied by supporting evidence including a medical certificate if illness
is involved. Students who wish such information to remain confidential must
consult an Academic Adviser.
Special examinations are normally taken in late January (this applies to both
first and second semester subjects).
Special consideration applications are referred to examiners, who take the
application into account when marking papers, and to the board of examiners,
who consider the application when assessing the student's results as a whole.
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