Bachelor of Science
Course code/s: Melbourne (SBS)
The Bachelor of Science is a general degree program that provides students with flexibility to combine studies in their chosen areas of science (subject to satisfying the relevant prerequisites). Areas of study available in the faculty are:
- agricultural science
- biochemistry
- botany
- chemistry
- computer science
- electronics
- specialisation in environmental science
- genetics
- information technology
- mathematics
- mathematics and statistics
- microbiology
- physics
- psychology1
- statistics
- zoology.
Key: 1 For a major in psychology please seek additional advice from the School of Psychological Science about professional qualifications in psychology.
After a broad first year of study, students may take major studies in any of these areas through to third year. Students who qualify for entry are eligible to proceed to an Honours year in their relevant area of science.
Specialisation
Students who include the compulsory subjects detailed below for one of the specialisations available within the Bachelor of Science, will have their academic record and testamur annotated accordingly, eg, Bachelor of Science with a specialisation in Environmental Science.
Course structure
To qualify for the Bachelor of Science, students must complete subjects to the value of 360 credit points, normally 120 credit points at each of first, second and third year levels. Up to a total of 120 credit points may be taken outside the faculty. Specific requirements for each year level are given below. Students must establish at least one major area of study in science by taking a sequence as outlined in requirements for majors or specialisations below. Within these requirements, subject selection is limited only by timetable clashes, prerequisite and co-requisite needs, quotas, and specific exclusions relating to incompatible subjects.
First year
Students choose subjects to the value of 90 credit points from science subjects, with the remaining 30 credit points selected from first year subjects offered by the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, or by other faculties of the University. Students must choose subjects at first year level that will lead to the completion of a major area of study in science (60 credit points) at third year level.
Students must include one of the following Quantitative Skills subjects listed below in the first year of their degree as part of the 90 credit points from science.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Calculus and Number Systems | MAT1CNS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Discrete Mathematics | MAT1DM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Physics for Life Sciences A | PHY1LSA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Physics A | PHY1SCA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Data Based Critical Thinking | STA1DCT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematical Applications in Biology | MAT1MAB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Physics for Life Sciences B | PHY1LSB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Physics B | PHY1SCB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Statistical Science | STA1SS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Statistics for Life Sciences | STA1LS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Statistics for Psychology | STA1PSY | 15 |
Second year
Students choose 60 credit points from subjects offered by the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering. The remaining 60 credit points are selected from second year subjects offered by this or other faculties.
Third year
Students choose subjects to the value of 60 credit points in one of the areas of study, with the remaining 60 credit points selected from third year subjects offered by this or other faculties.
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 subjects germane to the Honours discipline to the value of 60 credit points. Some departments may set higher entrance standards than these. An Honours year may be taken in any of the departments contributing to the pass degree course for which they have the appropriate prerequisites.
Please note that an Honours year in Psychology is only available for students who have undertaken a Bachelor of Psychological Science and cannot be completed through the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours).