Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2013

Bachelor of Nanotechnology/Bachelor of Science

Course code/s: Melbourne (SZNTS)

This course is currently under review for 2013.

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of endeavour, which aims to understand and exploit the science of the very small. It covers a wide range of areas including semiconductors where it is hoped that very small components will continue the increase in computational speed predicted by Moore’s Law. Nanotechnology is expected to provide sophisticated sensors for the detection of chemicals at low concentrations with applications to biological systems. Biologists seek means of manipulating and sensing biological processes within cells. This double degree structure is chosen for the teaching of nanotechnology, as it requires knowledge of a broad range of supporting sciences and time to develop the required specialisation. Graduates from this degree will be eligible for accreditation with the Australian Institute of Physics. Those students completing the Nanostructured Materials Stream will also be eligible for accreditation with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Course structure

This double degree is of four and a half years’ full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 540 credit points overall. Students may complete this double degree in four years as part of an accelerated study program.

The course features streams in nanostructured materials and bionanotechnology. These incorporate core studies in physics, chemistry or biochemistry, biology and mathematics together with specialised studies in nanotechnology at all year levels; subjects include nanochemistry, scanning probe microscopies, synchrotron science and technology, imaging and materials characterisation, nanomaterials and fabrication, sensors and devices and a nanotechnology research project.

First year (130 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology A NAN1ISA 5
TE-SEM-1 Principles of Physics A PHY1SCA 15
TE-SEM-1 Calculus and Number Systems MAT1CNS 15
TE-SEM-1 General Principles of Chemistry CHE1GEN 15
TE-SEM-1 Organisation and Function of Cells and Organisms BIO1OF 15
TE-SEM-2 Applications of Chemistry CHE1APL 15
TE-SEM-2 Calculus and Linear Algebra MAT1CLA 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology B NAN1ISB 5
TE-SEM-2 Principles of Physics B PHY1SCB 15
TE-SEM-2

An elective may be chosen from any first year subject offered by any discipline in the University.

  15
Second year (145/130 credit points)

Students undertake one of the following specialised streams of study.

Nanostructured Materials Stream:

Core subjects (145 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology A NAN2ISA 5
TE-SEM-1 Fundamentals of Chemistry A CHE2FCA 15
TE-SEM-1 Modern Physics PHY2MOD 15
TE-SEM-1 Optics PHY2OPT 15
TE-SEM-1 Vector Calculus MAT2VCA 15
TE-SEM-2 Developments in Chemistry B CHE2FCB 15
TE-SEM-2 Electromagnetism and Modern Materials PHY2EMM 15
TE-SEM-2 Nanochemistry CHE2NAC 15
TE-SEM-2 Imaging and Materials Characterisation PHY2IMG 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology B NAN2ISB 5
TE-SEM-2 Linear Algebra MAT2LAL 15

Bionanotechnology Stream:

Core subjects (130 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BCH2IBM 15
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology A NAN2ISA 5
TE-SEM-1 Fundamentals of Chemistry A CHE2FCA 15
TE-SEM-1 Modern Physics PHY2MOD 15
TE-SEM-1 Optics PHY2OPT 15
TE-SEM-2 Metabolic Biochemistry and Cell Biology BCH2MBC 15
TE-SEM-2 Electromagnetism and Modern Materials PHY2EMM 15
TE-SEM-2 Nanochemistry CHE2NAC 15
TE-SEM-2 Imaging and Materials Characterisation PHY2IMG 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology B NAN2ISB 5
Third year (130/145 credit points)

Nanostructured Materials Stream:

Core subjects (130 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology A NAN3ISA 5
TE-SEM-1 Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2A BCH2IBM 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Chemistry A CHE3ADA 30
TE-SEM-1 Synchrotron Science and Technology PHY3SYN 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology B NAN3ISB 5
TE-SEM-2 Scanning Probe Microscopy PHY3SPM 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Chemistry B CHE3ADB 30
TE-SEM-2 Mechanics MAT2MEC 15

Bionanotechnology Stream:

Core subjects (145 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BCH3BMA 30
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology A NAN3ISA 5
TE-SEM-1 Synchrotron Science and Technology PHY3SYN 15
TE-SEM-1 Vector Calculus MAT2VCA 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology B NAN3ISB 5
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Cell Biology BCH3BMB 30
TE-SEM-2 Linear Algebra MAT2LAL 15
TE-SEM-2 Mechanics MAT2MEC 15
TE-SEM-2 Scanning Probe Microscopy PHY3SPM 15
Fourth year (135 credit points)
Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 Atomic and Nuclear Physics PHY3ANP 15
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Nanotechnology C NAN3ISC 5
TE-SEM-1 Nanomaterials and Fabrication PHY3NMF 15
TE-SEM-1 Physics of Quantum Matter PHY3PQM 15
TE-SEM-2 Electromagnetic Theory and Plasma Physics PHY3EPP 15
TE-SEM-2 Issues in Nanotechnology D NAN3ISD 5
TE-SEM-2 Nanotechnology Research Project1 NAN3PRJ 20
TE-SEM-2 Sensors and Devices CHE3SEN 15
TE-SEM-2 Thermal and Statistical Physics PHY3TSP 15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2

Elective, chosen from any subject offered by the University.

  15

Key: 1 Nanotechnology Research Project (NAN3PXB) (40 credit points) across two semesters.

Honours

Honours students are selected based on their performance in the final year of the pass degree. The Honours year and projects are carried out under the auspices of a department in the faculty but usually Chemistry, Physics, or Biochemistry. Approval must be given by the Supervising Department and the Nanotechnology Coordinator.

Please note: Some of these subjects may not be offered in the current year. For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, teaching period and availability, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, please click on the appropriate Subject Code or refer to the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.