Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science
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Archaeological evidence shows that the mathematical sciences have been practised continuously for more than 4000 years, from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia to the research laboratories of Silicon Valley. They have always been highly valued for the development of logical and analytical modes of thought, and their high points are among the greatest achievements of the human intellect. More pragmatically, the mathematical sciences are the foundation of much of modern technology, and studies in the mathematical sciences prepare the student for life in an increasingly technological world.
The School of Mathematical Sciences comprises the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics in the Faculty of Science, and the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Engineering. It offers a coordinated programme of first year subjects covering a range of mathematical sciences.
This section gives details of the two Mathematical Sciences subjects (617-141, 617-142). Details of other subjects taught by the three departments will be found under the individual departmental entries '433 Computer Science', '618 Mathematics' and '619 Statistics'.
This section also discusses selection of 100-level subjects, and course structures for some interdisciplinary studies (Operations Research, Mathematical Sciences and Economics). For other course structures, please refer to the individual departmental entries.
The School of Mathematical Sciences strongly recommends that all Science students take in first year a balanced programme of subjects involving mathematics and statistics, and an introduction to computing. This is an essential preparation for further scientific studies and for their participation in an increasingly technological world.
In first year the School of Mathematical Sciences and the constituent departments of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science offer a number of subjects which are listed in Table 1 below, together with their normal entry requirements. An assumed VCE background for most but not all of these subjects is Mathematical Methods (3/4 level). Further details about the subjects and recommended course combinations are given below.
Students planning studies in Mathematics or Statistics beyond 100-level should select a 100-level Mathematics subject containing core material in calculus and linear algebra in first semester. Listed in decreasing order of difficulty, these subjects are 618-111, 618-121, 618-141 or 618-151, 618-161. Further details for these subjects may be found under the entry for the Department of Mathematics below. The selection of the appropriate one is dictated by secondary school preparation (see Table 1), and by the Diagnostic and Exemption Tests described below. The subject 618-151 is designed primarily for students studying Economics and Commerce, but could also be taken by Science students instead of 618-141. Students from the MUPHAS programme should refer to the remarks below concerning advanced subjects, including the possibility of direct entry into 618-211.
Students contemplating transferring from the B. Sc. degree to another degree programme are warned that some other faculties may rescale down marks obtained in 618-161 for the purposes of ranking applicants desiring to transfer. The selection of 618-161 in an attempt to increase average first-year marks by students who are adequately prepared to attempt 618-121 or 618-141 may therefore prove counterproductive. Students contemplating transferring out of the B. Sc. programme should seek advice from other faculties on whether all subjects receive equal weight in the ranking of applicants for transfer.
The School of Mathematical Sciences and the Department of Mathematics recognize that the diverse range of backgrounds, ability levels and interests of first-year students cause problems with subject selection in Mathematics. To guide students into subjects as appropriate as possible to their needs, two tests are offered to incoming students, and all students planning to study any Mathematics subject should register at the First-year Learning Centre (see below) for one of these tests before the start of Orientation Week.
Students who have studied VCE Mathematical Methods in year 12 but not VCE Specialist Mathematics should undertake the Diagnostic Test. On the basis of this test, students will be directed to the more appropriate of the subjects 618-141 Intermediate Mathematics A and 618-161 Introductory Mathematics A.
Students who have studied VCE Specialist Mathematics should undertake the Exemption Test. A satisfactory result in this test will permit students to enrol in 618-121 Mathematics 1A rather than 618-141, and an outstanding result on this test may lead to an invitation to enrol in one or more of the 100-level subjects designated as 'Advanced', including 618-111 Mathematics 1A (Advanced).
Neither the Diagnostic Test nor the Exemption Test is to be regarded as a conventional examination, and it is counterproductive to study for these tests, which are designed to test the retention of basic skills, and used by the Director of First-year Studies to direct students to subjects appropriate to their needs and abilities. A good result on one of these tests following a period of extensive preparation for it gives an unrealistically inflated idea of the student's level of preparedness for tertiary mathematics studies, and may lead to inappropriate subject selection.
Students with accelerated entry or exceptional results in VCE mathematics may be invited to enter advanced level subjects 618-111, 618-112, 618-131, 618-132, 618-191 and 619-101, all of which are designed for prospective honours students and those who intend to proceed to postgraduate studies. Students in this category should consult a Mathematics Department or Statistics Department Course Adviser before finalising their course. Students who have studied Mathematics at school through the Melbourne University Programme for High Achieving Students (MUPHAS), may be permitted direct entry into the 200-level advanced level subject 618-211 Mathematics 2 (Advanced), or the less challenging 200-level subject 618-200. All MUPHAS students are requested to discuss their subject selection with the Director of First-year Studies.
The School of Mathematical Sciences, and the constituent Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, have established a First-year Learning Centre through which teaching and administration of their first-year subjects is coordinated. This centre is located on the ground floor of the Richard Berry Building. Near this centre students will find noticeboards relevant to first year, boxes for the submission of assignments, and the room from which printed material is usually distributed. Within the centre are the office of the Director of First-year Studies (Dr Barrington), offices of tutors in Mathematics and Statistics, tutorial rooms, a student waiting area, and a consultation room. First-year students should visit the First-year Learning Centre before the start of Orientation Week to register for one of the Diagnostic Test or the Exemption Test described above.
The two Mathematical Sciences subjects 617-141 and 617-142 provide an introduction to scientific programming and statistical or probabilistic methods. These subjects are especially suited to students who are not taking subjects in Computer Science, and who would otherwise miss the development of programming skills essential for contemporary scientists. Students who wish to pursue studies in Computer Science should enrol in 433-141 and 433-142, but may also need to take one of 617-141, 617-142 or 619-100 to allow for possible later studies in Statistics. The choice of companion Mathematics subjects in all these cases is dictated by the student's VCE background and performance in the Diagnostic or Exemption Tests.
Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra are shown in Table 2.
Each row of Table 2 corresponds to a sequence of subjects, and at the end of each sequence the student will have covered the same core topics in calculus and linear algebra. Row (a) has the least demanding entry standard. Rows (b) and (c) correspond to standard selections, with (b) preferred for students intending to continue with Mathematics beyond first year. Row (d) requires the Exemption Test, while entry to (e) or direct entry to second-year via (f) or (g) is restricted to high-achieving students, and requires the invitation of the Head of the Department of Mathematics. Some 1995 Handbook subjects which are no longer offered appear in the last row of Table 2.
It is not possible to gain credit for two different subjects in the same column of the table, nor is it possible to gain credit in a subject listed in the table if any subject appearing in a column to the right of it has already been passed.
The following additional credit restrictions should be noted. Students cannot gain credit for
Students wishing to delay studying Mathematics, or needing to repeat a failed Mathematics subject to progress in their course, may desire to enrol for a subject in a semester in which it is not offered. Such students should consult the Director of First-year Studies for advice on the possibility of taking instead a different subject from the same column of the table as the desired subject.
Table 2. Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra. (The last row shows 1995 Handbook subjects which are no longer offered. It is not possible to gain credit for two different subjects appearing in the same column. )
(a) 161 162 142 200 (b) 141 142 200 (c) 151 142 200 (d) 121 122 (e) 111 112 (f) 200 (g) 211 1995 190 100 101 102
For 200-level studies in Mathematics with a reasonable choice of options to be possible, one of the following combinations is recommended for first year:
If one of 618-130 or 618-132 is not taken in first year, then unless 618-130 is taken in the first semester of second year, enrolment in 618-232 is not possible. If 618-141, 618-142, 618-130 are taken in first year, to avoid unnecessary delay in progress through 200-level Mathematics, 618-200 should be taken in first semester of second year.
The requirements of other departments may lead to the need for students who have not taken 618-112 or 618-122 in their first year to enrol in 618-231 or 618-261 in first semester of their second year. Concurrent enrolment in 618-200 (the equivalent of 618-122) and one or both of 618-231 or 618-261 will be permitted, provided the student has already passed both 618-121 and 618-130, or all three of 618-141, 618-142 and 618-130.
Students envisaging 200-level studies who are recommended to commence in 618-161 should continue on to 618-162 in second semester, and take the subjects 618-142 (first semester stream) and 618-130 (second semester stream) in their second year, with 200-level Mathematics subjects, commencing with 618-200, becoming available to them in their third year.
MUPHAS students should discuss the possibility of direct entry to second year via 618-200 or 618-211 with the Director of First Year Studies.
Students are encouraged to consider taking one of the additional selections:
High-achieving students may also consider taking one or both of the subjects 618-131 Discrete Mathematics (Advanced) or 618-191 Mathematics Project (Advanced).
Students who wish to study 200-level Computer Science must take 433-141 and 433-142. Students should note that some 200-level subjects specify additional prerequisites.
Students who wish to proceed to 200-level Statistics must take one of 617-141, 617-142, 619-100 or 619-101. Students should note that some 200-level subjects specify additional prerequisites.
Notes:
The combinations of subjects shown in Table 3 are recommended for students wishing to pursue various types of courses. Note that each 100-level subject is worth 12.5 points (or 1/8 of the normal full-time student workload).
Students who have accelerated entry or who have passed 618-101 (1995 Handbook) at school through the MUPHAS programme should consult a Course Adviser to design a recommended course.
Course Recommended
Subjects
Mathematical Sciences, Either 618-141 618-142
Operations Research, Physical 618-130 with one
Sciences, Physical Chemistry of 617-141 or
617-142 or 619-100
or 618-141 618-142
433-141 433-142
619-100 618-130
or 618-161 618-162
with one of
617-142 or 619-100
or 618-161 618-162
433-141 433-142
with one of
617-142 or 619-100
Students with satisfactory
performance on the Exemption
Test may select:
either 618-121 618-122
619-100 618-132
433-141 433-142
or 618-121 618-122
617-141 618-132
Students with Accelerated
Entry or by invitation may
select:
either 618-111 618-112
618-131 618-132
or 618-111 618-112
619-101 618-132
together with subjects from
other disciplines such as
Computer Science, Chemistry,
Physics
Biological Sciences, 618-141
Psychology, Agriculture and
Forestry
or 618-161
Economics and Commerce 618-151 and either
617-142 or 619-100
or 618-121 618-122
619-100 618-132
433-141 433-142
or 618-141 618-142
619-100 618-130
433-141 433-142
See Table 2 for guidance to approximately equivalent subjects which may be considered if a desired subject is not available in a given semester.
Students should note that they may, with approval, take one non-Science subject at 100-level. Additional non-Science subjects may be taken in accordance with combinations approved by Faculty. Quota restrictions may apply in other faculties.
Operations Research is the application of scientific methods - particularly mathematical and statistical methods - to decision problems in business and industry. The School of Mathematical Sciences offers a number of subjects which are recommended to students who are seeking careers in industry and commerce. These include the following:
Some other related subjects are 618-212 Applied Linear Algebra, 618-242 Computational Mathematics, 619-355 Stochastic Modelling, 619-340 Applied Statistics, 619-330 Linear Models, 619-310 Probability, and the Computer Science subject 433-246 Mathematical Software A.
These subjects, when taken with standard subjects in Mathematical Sciences, give a broad training in Operations Research. At 100-level it is essential that students obtain a background in computer usage and statistics. Therefore they should take either one of 617-141 or 617-142; or all three of 433-141, 433-142, 619-100; or both of 433-141, 433-142 with one of 617-141, 617-142.
Suggested courses follow. In these courses, the semester in which a subject should be taken is given in parentheses. Depending on the student's performance in first semester of first year, the replacement of one of 618-130 or 618-132 by the other may be desirable; 618-132 is the more challenging course, and entry into it requires permission. In Courses C and D, concurrent enrolment in 618-200 and 618-261 requires the permission of the Head of the Department of Mathematics. This permission is usually not granted unless all of 618-141, 618-142 and 618-130 have been passed.
The "additional subjects" referred to in these courses may be taken, for example, from Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics, other physical sciences, or from Economics, subject to prerequisites and quota restrictions. At 300-level, 618-311, 618-362, 619-355 and 619-360 are natural companions for the subjects shown.
Students who have gained accelerated entry or who have been invited to enter any of the advanced level subjects 618-111, 618-112, 618-131, 618-132, 618-191, 618-211 and 619-101 should consult a Mathematics Department or a Statistics Department Course Adviser who will design an appropriate course to suit their needs and background.
Course A
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 433-141 (1) 618-231 (1) 618-360 (2) 433-142 (2) 618-252 (2) 618-361 (1) 618-121 (1) 618-261 (1) additional 618-122 (2) 618-262 (2) subjects 618-132 (2) 619-201 (1) (70 points) one of 619-202 (2) 617-141 (1) additional 619-100 (1) subjects additional (19 points) subjects (25 points)
The first-year selection for Course A gives maximum second-year options in Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. For second and third year, a course divided between Mathematics and Statistics is shown. Many other options are possible.
Course B
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 433-141 (1) 618-231 (1) 618-360 (2) 433-142 (2) 618-252 (2) 618-361 (1) 618-121 (1) 618-261 (1) additional 618-122 (2) 618-262 (2) subjects additional additional (70 points) subjects subjects (50 points) (52 points)
The first-year selection for Course B opens all options in Computer Science, and reasonable options in Mathematics. The omission of one of 617-141, 617-142, 619-100 means that 200-level Statistics is not available, while the omission of 618-130 or 618-132 rules out some 200-level and 300-level Mathematics options unless 618-130 is taken in first semester of second year. For second and third year, a course emphasising Mathematics is shown, but many other options are possible.
Course C
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 433-141 (1) 618-200 (1) 618-360 (2) 433-142 (2) 618-231 (2) 618-361 (1) 618-141 (1) 618-261 (1) additional 618-142 (2) 618-262 (2) subjects 618-130 (2) 619-201 (1) (70 points) one of 619-202 (2) 617-141 (1) additional 619-100 (1) subjects additional (19 points) subjects (25 points)
The first-year selection for Course C gives the maximum second-year options in Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science for students unable to commence their Mathematics studies with 618-121. For second and third year, a course divided between Mathematics and Statistics is shown. Many other options are possible.
Course D
1st year 2nd year 3rd year
618-141 (1) 618-200 (1) 618-360 (2)
618-142 (2) 618-231 (2) 618-361 (1)
618-130 (2) 618-261 (1) additional
617-141 (1) 618-262 (2) subjects
additional 619-201 (1) (70 points)
subjects 619-201 (2)
(50 points) additional
subjects
(19 points)
The first-year selection for Course D does not lead to 200-level Computer Science. While it is possible to replace 617-141 with 619-100, this leaves the student without the exposure to computer programming usually required for practical operations research.
Courses in Mathematical Sciences and Economics may be built around Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, together with the subjects Introductory Macroeconomics 316-101, Introductory Microeconomics 316-102, Intermediate Macroeconomics 316-201, Intermediate Microeconomics 316-202.
Suggested courses follow. The semester in which a subject should be taken is given in parentheses. Depending on the student's performance in first semester of first year, the replacement of one of 618-130 or 618-132 by the other may be desirable; 618-132 is the more challenging course, and entry into it requires permission. In Course C, concurrent enrolment in 618-200 and 618-261 requires the permission of the Head of the Department of Mathematics. This permission is usually not granted unless all of 618-141, 618-142 and 618-130 have been passed.
Students who have gained accelerated entry or who have been invited to enter the advanced level subjects 618-111, 618-112, 618-131, 618-132, 618-191 and 619-101 should consult a Mathematics Department or a Statistics Department Course Adviser who will design an appropriate course to suit their needs and background.
Science students are warned that quotas may be imposed on Economics subjects, and that there are restrictions placed on the number of non-Science points counted towards the B. Sc. degree.
Course A
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 316-101 (2) 316-201 (2) 618-360 (2) 316-102 (1) 316-202 (1) 618-361 (1) 433-141 (1) 618-231 (1) additional 433-142 (2) 618-252 (2) Science 618-121 (1) 618-261 (1) subjects 618-122 (2) 618-262 (2) (70 points) 618-132 (2) 619-201 (1) 619-100 (1) 619-202 (2)
The first-year selection for Course A gives maximum second-year options in Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. For second and third year, a course divided between Mathematics, Statistics and Economics is shown. Many other options are possible. For example, 618-252 may be replaced by any of 618-212, 618-232 or 618-242, while a reduction in Mathematics or Statistics subjects at 200-level permits major studies in Computer Science.
Course B
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 316-101 (2) 316-201 (2) 618-360 (2) 316-102 (1) 316-202 (1) 618-361 (1) 618-121 (1) 618-231 (1) additional 618-122 (1) 618-252 (2) Science 618-132 (2) 618-261 (1) subjects 617-141 (1) 618-262 (2) (70 points) additional 619-201 (1) Science 619-202 (2) subjects (25 points)
The first-year selection for Course B does not lead to 200-level Computer Science. For second and third year, a course divided between Mathematics, Statistics and Economics is shown. Many other options are possible. For example, 618-252 may be replaced by any of 618-212, 618-232 or 618-242.
Course C
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 316-101 (2) 316-201 (2) 618-360 (2) 316-102 (1) 316-202 (1) 618-361 (1) 618-141 (1) 618-200 (1) additional 618-142 (2) 618-231 (2) Science 618-130 (2) 618-261 (1) subjects 617-141 (1) 618-262 (2) (70 points) additional 619-201 (1) Science 619-202 (2) subjects (25 points)
The first-year selection for Course B does not lead to 200-level Computer Science. Replacement of 617-141 by 619-100 is possible, but undesirable since it leaves the student without computing skills which may be needed in subsequent years.
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Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 10 1995 Last modified: Oct 10 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: Faculty of Science
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.