Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty

Bachelor of Chemical Sciences (SBCHS) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

This degree is being phased out. No new enrolments will be permitted from 2010.

This course will produce graduates trained in areas relevant to the needs of the chemical industry in Australia. It provides students with a modern education in chemistry and skills in areas where there is a high demand from industry, e.g., analytical chemistry, surface science and the synthesis of biologically active organic compounds. Consultation with industry confirms that there is a continuing demand for well-qualified chemistry graduates, particularly at the Honours level.

The course is accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Accreditation means that it is an acceptable qualification for membership of the Institute, often required by employers.

Course structure

The course is of three years full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 360 credit points. Students complete subjects to the value of 120 credit points each year.

The table below summarises the credit point requirements.

Year level Chemistry Science subjects Other subjects Total
1 30 60–901 0–30 120
2 60 20–60 0–40 120
3 60–120 0–60 0–40 120

Key: 1 Including 15 credit points of mathematics or physics subjects.

First year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (30 credit points)

Choose one first-semester and one second-semester chemistry subject:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Basic Chemistry CHE1BAS 15
Or
TE-SEM-1 General Principles of Chemistry CHE1GEN 15
And
TE-SEM-2 Applications of Chemistry CHE1APL 15

Electives (90 credit points)

Students must choose first year science subjects to the value of 60 points, which must include at least 15 credit points of mathematics or physics subjects. The remaining 30 credit points may be chosen from first year subjects offered by any faculty.

Second year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Fundamentals of Chemistry CHE2FND 20
TE-SEM-2 Chemistry in the Real World CHE2RWD 20
TE-SEM-2 Developments in Chemistry CHE2DEV 20

Electives (60 credit points)

Students must choose second year science subjects to the value of 20 points. The remaining 40 points may be chosen from second year subjects offered by any faculty.

Third year (120 credit points)

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Chemistry A CHE3ADA 30
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Chemistry B CHE3ADB 30

Electives (60 credit points)

Recommended subjects:

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Specialist Chemistry A CHE3SPA 30
TE-SEM-2 Specialist Chemistry B CHE3SPB 30

Or third year level subjects to the value of 60 credit points including at least 20 credit points of third year level science.

Honours

Honours degree students are selected based on their performance in the final year of the pass degree course. Students must obtain a minimum average of 60% across all of their third year subjects and obtain at least 65% in chemistry subjects to the value of 60 credit points. It may be possible to arrange for a student in the Honours year to undertake a chemical project jointly with other departments in the faculty.

For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.