Bachelor of Science, Gippsland

• General
• Course objectives
  • Aims
  • Objectives
    • A knowledge of
    • An understanding of
    • The skills to
    • The course will encourage the following attitudes in students
• Course Requirements

General

Gippsland campus or distance education

Course code: 2005

The Bachelor of Science normally requires three years full-time study or the equivalent in part-time on-campus or distance education study (usually about six years). In addition to the normal beginning-of-year entry, it is possible to commence the course mid-year, with a reduced range of available subjects.

Major studies may be chosen from the biological or chemical sciences, resource/environmental management, mathematics (including applied statistics), computing or psychology. The course also provides for students to include some studies from such fields as languages, business, economics, journalism and other humanities and social sciences.

Four associated tagged BSc degrees, detailed separately, have particular career focuses in areas of strength in the School of Applied Sciences. BSc students may apply for entry to one of these tagged degrees at the end of their first year of studies.

Course objectives

Aims

In delivering the BSc course the School of Applied Science aims to:

• equip graduates with the knowledge, competencies and attitudes that will enable them to pursue careers in scientific and technical settings;
• foster in students an intellectual curiosity as a preparation for lifelong learning;
• develop a high quality, challenging and supportive learning environment appropriate to the needs of both on-campus and distance education students, including international students.

Objectives

The objectives of the BSc course are to provide students with:

A knowledge of

• one or more chosen areas of the sciences which may include chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, environmental science, mathematics, statistics, psychology and computing;
• quantitative and qualitative research techniques;
• analytical and physical techniques within the chosen areas of the sciences.

An understanding of

• the role and impact of the physical and natural sciences in society;
• ethics with reference to scientific research and development activity;
• the procedures required to plan and manage work systems as well as maintaining quality systems relevant to areas of responsibility;

The skills to

• think logically and independently to develop, analyse and communicate alternative solutions to problems;
• analyse situations, assess and apply an appropriate professional response and evaluate the outcome;
• locate and retrieve information in technical and scientific literature from a range of sources, including on-line sources;
• communicate scientific and technical knowledge effectively using oral, written or electronic forms;
• progress to further study or research training;
• effectively communicate, liaise and cooperate with others in a multidisciplinary setting and to work within and contribute to a team;
• contribute critically to the development and performance of the workplace organisation;
• respond professionally to scientific issues in a changing political environment;
• integrate theory drawn from several disciplines and understand its relevance.

The course will encourage the following attitudes in students

• social awareness and the vision and perspective to integrate and apply practical and conceptual knowledge, learning and analytical skills to the benefit of society;
• cultivated positive personal and social values, especially integrity, tolerance, self-discipline and commitment to life-long learning;
• a concern for accuracy and the willingness to objectively assess their performance.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the following requirements to be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science.

(i) Complete at least 144 credit points including between forty-eight and sixty points of level-one studies and at least twenty-four points of level-three studies. Up to forty points of studies may be taken from outside the `Schedule of approved science subjects'; students wishing to choose any such studies should consult a course adviser.

(ii) Complete two science discipline sequences consisting of either

• 12+16+24 points in one discipline area, across levels one, two and three respectively (other than computing), and twenty-eight points in a second discipline area (including at least sixteen points from levels two and three) or
• 12+16+16 points in one discipline area, and 12+16+16 points in a second discipline area within a defined linked major package*.

(iii) Complete SCS2030, SCS2062 and at least six points of level-one mathematics or statistics.

* Approved linked major packages are as follows: biochemistry and microbiology; biochemistry and chemistry; chemistry and microbiology; mathematics and computing.