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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Mathematical Sciences
Archaeological evidence shows that the mathematical sciences have been practised continuously for more than 4000 years, from the ancient civilisations 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 Mathematical Sciences subject 617-141. Details of other subjects taught by the three departments will be found under the individual departmental entries Computer Science, Mathematics and 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 Normal background for 100-level subjects 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, the Mathematics calculus and linear algebra subjects are 618-111, 618-121, 618-141, 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 largely dictated by secondary school preparation (Normal background for 100-level subjects). Students interested in Statistics also need to select one of Mathematical Sciences 617-141 (available in first semester only) or Statistics 619-100 (available in both semesters).
Students from the Melbourne University Programme for High-Achieving Students (MUPHAS) should refer to the remarks below concerning advanced subjects, including the possibility of direct entry into the Mathematics subject 618-211, or the Statistics subject 619-201. 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.
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Students with accelerated entry or exceptional results in VCE mathematics may be invited to enter advanced level subjects 618-111, 618-112, 618-132, 618-191, all of which are designed for prospective honours students and those who intend to proceed to postgraduate studies. They may also be invited to accept direct entry into 200-level Statistics. 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 Mathematics Department's 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 notice-boards 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 Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies (Dr Barrington), offices of tutors in Mathematics and Statistics, tutorial rooms, a student waiting area, and a consultation room.
The Mathematical Sciences subject 617-141 provides an introduction to scientific programming and probabilistic methods. This subject is 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 or 619-100 to allow for possible later studies in Statistics.
Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra are shown in Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra..
Each row of Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra. 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 suitable for students intending to continue with Mathematics beyond first year. Entry to (d) requires the invitation of the Head of the Department of Mathematics. Students who have studied an appropriate tertiary mathematics subject at school through the MUPHAS programme (or another programme) are normally directed to (e) or (f). Other high-achieving students may also be considered for entry into (e) or (f).
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 Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra. as the desired subject.
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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:
618-121 (or 111), 618-122 (or 112), 618-130 (or 132);
618-141, 618-142, 618-130.
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. High-achieving students from 618-142 should enquire as to the possibility of enrolment in 618-211 as an alternative to 618-200.
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 in first semester of their second year. Concurrent enrolment in 618-200 (the equivalent of 618-122) and 618-231 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:
the subject 617-141, which serves as a prerequisite for 618-381 Computational Mathematics and for all 200-level Statistics subjects;
all of Statistics 619-100 and Computer Science 433-141, 433-142 which serve as prerequisites for 618-381 Computational Mathematics and for all 200-level Statistics subjects, and leave open the option of studying Computer Science in second year;
the subject 618-150 Number, Shape and Choice, which gives an introduction to applications and concepts of mathematics without assuming any prior knowledge of calculus.
Very high-achieving students may also consider taking 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 normally take one of 617-141 or 619-100.
Note that some 200-level subjects specify additional prerequisites. High-achieving students may, at the discretion of the Head of the Department of Statistics, be permitted direct entry to 200-level Statistics.
The combinations of subjects shown in Some recommended course structures. The selections (a) and (b) give a wide range of 200-level options in Mathematics and Statistics. 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). See Natural sequences and credit exclusions for core 618 (Mathematics) subjects containing basic calculus and linear algebra. for guidance to approximately equivalent subjects which may be considered if a desired subject is not available in a given semester.
Students who have accelerated entry or who have passed 618-101 (1995 Handbook) or 618-121 (1996 Handbook) at school through the MUPHAS programme should consult the Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies to design a recommended course.
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Mathematical Sciences Subjects
Note: See individual departmental entries for details of Computer Science 433-141, 433-142; Mathematics 618-111, 618-112, 618-121, 618-122, 618-130, 618-132, 618-141, 618-142, 618-150, 618-161, 618-162, 618-191; Statistics 619-100, 619-201.
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:
Operations Research subjects
These subjects, when taken with standard subjects in Mathematics, give a broad training in Operations Research. Additional subjects may be taken from Mathematics, Statistics, other physical sciences, or from Economics, subject to prerequisites and quota restrictions.
At 100-level it is essential that students obtain a background in computer usage and statistics. Therefore they should take either 617-141; or all three of 433-141, 433-142, 619-100; or all three of 433-141, 433-142, 617-141. Omission of 433-141 and 433-142 rules out 200-level studies in Computer Science.
Three suggested course plans follow. The one with the highest entry requirement is listed first. Many other options are possible, including 200 and 300-level Computer Science. In each course plan, a column corresponds to a semester. For the first four semesters (that is, first and second year), each subject shown is worth 12.5 points, and students should select four 12.5 point subjects per semester. The 300-level subjects shown are each worth 15 points. Students should note that a minimum of 50 points at 300-level are required for the BSc degree. Asterisked subjects are useful but not essential, while all other subjects shown are strongly recommended and may be regarded as core subjects. For plan (a), high-achieving students may be invited to enrol in 618-111, 112,132 in place of 618-121, 122, 130. Students following plan (a) who achieve good results in 618-121 are invited to approach the Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies to discuss the possibility of replacing 618-122 with 618-112, or 618-130 with 618-132.
Students who have gained accelerated entry or who have been invited to enter any of the advanced level subjects 618-111, 112, 132, 191, 211, or 200-level Statistics, should consult the Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies or a Statistics Department Course Adviser, who will design an appropriate course to suit their needs and background.
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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.
Students without VCE Specialist Mathematics having limited needs for Mathematics and Statistics are encouraged to take two subjects, chosen from:
618-150 Number, Shape and Choice
618-161 Introductory Mathematics A
619-100 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
These subjects do not serve as sufficient prerequisites for substantial later studies in Mathematics, Statistics or Computer Science, but give the student valuable exposure to the concepts and applications of the contemporary mathematical sciences.
Suggested courses with greater mathematical sciences content follow. At 100-level it is essential that students obtain a background in computer usage and statistics. Therefore they should take either 617-141; or all three of 433-141, 433-142, 619-100; or all three of 433-141, 433-142, 617-141. Omission of 433-141 and 433-142 rules out 200-level studies in Computer Science. The course with the highest entry requirement is listed first. Many other options are possible, including 200 and 300-level Computer Science. In each course plan, a column corresponds to a semester. For the first four semesters (that is, first and second year), each subject shown is worth 12.5 points, and students should select four 12.5 point subjects per semester. The 300-level subjects shown are each worth 15 points. Students should note that a minimum of 50 points at 300-level are required for the BSc degree. Asterisked subjects are useful but not essential, while all other subjects shown are strongly recommended and may be regarded as core subjects. For plan (a), students who achieve good results in 618-121 are invited to approach the Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies to discuss the possibility of replacing 618-122 with 618-112 or 618-130 with 618-132.
Students who have gained accelerated entry or who have been invited to enter any of the advanced level subjects 618-111, 112, 132, 191, 211, or 200-level Statistics, should consult the Mathematics Department's Director of First-year Studies 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.
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617-141 Scientific Programming and Simulation
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Science : Mathematical Sciences
Status: OFFICIAL 1997 Last Modified: Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.