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Faculty of Science : Guide to courses
Bachelor of Science graduates:
have a broad knowledge of science across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of understanding in one or more of these disciplines;
when solving scientific problems:
are capable of applying appropriate knowledge;
are able to access relevant information;
understand the principles of project and experimental design;
have a capacity to apply practical skills and technology;
are able to communicate the results of their studies in both written and oral form;
have an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts;
have the knowledge, skill and attitude to enable adaptation to scientific, technological and social change, have a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for life-long learning, and a capacity to be creative and innovative.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) graduates should, in addition to the above, be able to define and solve problems relating to their speciality and be capable of conducting research in their field.
The Bachelor of Science degree is an extremely flexible course as students are able to select subjects from a wide range of science disciplines. The first year of the BSc provides students with a general training in several of the key (or foundation) sciences. In later years of the course students can choose to continue to undertake a broad range of science subjects, or to specialise in one or more interrelated areas of study. Most students plan their course so that it includes a progressive study to third-year level of a major branch of science with other supporting subjects. A BSc with a major area of study at third year level prepares graduates to work in industry and a range of different areas, or to undertake further study which may lead to employment in research or teaching.
A student's workload is determined by the number of points in which they are enrolled in a particular year. Normally the Faculty would expect a full time student to enrol in 50 points per semester; that is, 100 points for each year.
A workload in excess of 50 points per semester is regarded as an overload. Students may undertake an overload provided they have good academic reasons for doing so, and that they have a strong academic record at the tertiary level. Students who have successfully completed 62.5 points at 100-level can enrol in up to 56.25 points per semester, or 62.5 points per semester, providing they have not failed any subjects in the previous semester.
Students wishing to exceed these guidelines will need to seek approval from the Associate Dean (Academic). This requires the submission of an Associate Dean (Academic) Request Form to the Faculty of Science Office. Permission to exceed the guidelines will take into account the student's academic record and the reasons for requesting the overload.
All students are responsible for their own learning and their course. Faculty Advisers and members of individual departments are experienced and willing to assist in planning courses, but it is your responsibility as a student to integrate the advice and make the final selection of subjects. Departments may provide a number of sensible course plans which students can refer to.
Students selected into courses offered by the Faculty are invited to attend introductory information sessions at the University. At these sessions students will be given important information about course requirements, disciplines available and the enrolment process. Students then meet with a Faculty Adviser to plan their first year of study. The course plan that is approved (authorised) will reflect the student's current areas of interest and allow for maximum flexibility in future studies.
Enrolment in the course is confirmed once fees are paid and a Student Questionnaire and HECS Payment Option form have been completed.
A student's subject selection is a balance between previous studies and achievements, career choice, personal interest, course requirements, and a desire to obtain a basic scientific education at the tertiary level. Sometimes, however, practical considerations such as quota restriction can impose limitations.
Students should refer to the University Handbook in the first instance. The Handbook is an essential tool for course planning as it provides critical information about course requirements and the subjects available for inclusion in the BSc course.
Students requiring further information may obtain course advice from the Faculty Office which has Student Advisers whose duties include course advice. Students may also discuss course options with members of the academic staff who are designated as first-year coordinators and departmental course advisers.
Students are required to submit a course plan for the following year if they will be continuing with their study. Departmental course advisers assist in planning courses and completing the necessary course plan forms. This usually occurs in second semester, and students will be advised of course planning arrangements for the following year by mail. All course plans must be approved by the Faculty.
Course plans are applications for selection into subjects. No further action is required unless a student fails a subject in the examination, misses entry into quota-restricted subjects or wishes to alter the course plan. In these cases, the student should seek advice from the Faculty Office.
Some of the subjects offered by the Faculty of Science are termed 'quota subjects' as there are usually not enough places available in the subject to meet student demand for that particular subject.
The Faculty of Science general policy is that first year science subjects should not be quota restricted.
If any first-year quota subjects exist in 1999, selection will be based on Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER). International Baccalaureate and interstate applicants will be allocated an ENTER for selection purposes into first-year quota subjects. The selection of later-year students in 100-level quota restricted subjects is based primarily on tertiary results.
A complete list of 1999 quota subjects at 200- and 300-levels will be available from the Faculty of Science Office from November. Students need to indicate their wish to be considered for a place in quota subjects on either their course plan for 1999 or a Quota Subject Request form available at the Faculty of Science Office. Students will automatically be considered for the quota subjects they have selected on their course plan in Round Two and Three if they are not offered a place in Round One. In July of each year, a 'top-up' of places in semester two quota subjects occurs. Students who have not previously applied for a place in semester two quota subjects will need to submit a Semester Two Quota Subject Request form to the Faculty of Science Office. Strict deadlines apply to the submission of Quota Subject Request forms.
Students who are offered quota subjects will be notified by mail. Round One Quota offers will be sent in the form of an authorised Enrolment Record. The authorised Enrolment Record will list the quota subjects in which you have been offered a place in Round One. Confirmation of your enrolment will signify your acceptance of your place in the quota subjects listed on your authorised Enrolment Record.
For Rounds Two and Three of Quota Subject Selection, students will receive a letter of offer, and a list of successful students will also be posted on noticeboards in the Faculty Office. Students offered a place in quota subjects in Round 2 and 3 will need to return an Acceptance Form to the Faculty of Science Office before the specified date to secure their place in the quota subjects they have been offered. It is therefore important to ensure that the Faculty of Science Office has your current postal address.
The following principles apply to the selection of students who seek to enrol in the later-year subjects for which entry quotas have been imposed. Selection into quota subjects occurs in one of two ways:
Most students (generally 90%) are selected automatically on the basis of grades obtained in previous subjects. For selection into 200-level subjects, the results obtained in the best 75 science points at 100-level are considered. For 300-level subjects, the results obtained in the best 75 science points at 200-level are considered. Allowance may be made to vary this for combined course students who have completed less than 75 science points.
Non-science subjects are not considered when allocating places in quota subjects.
The remaining students are selected by the department offering the quota subject. The relevant department ranks students in order of merit to fill each particular quota. Places in each subject will be offered in accordance with applicant's rank on the list until all places available in the subject have been filled.
Students who, in the preceding year, were not enrolled in the Bachelor of Science course in this University will be ranked with regard to the principles above as far as it is possible. Such students shall not displace from a subject a student who, in the preceding year was enrolled in the Bachelor of Science course in this University, or was on leave from that course, and who has been ranked in the first 90% of places in the quota for that subject.
For administrative reasons, offers of specific subjects to students are made at set times prior to the commencement of the subject. The Faculty, as a matter of policy, over-fills the quota and allows course changes to correct the over-enrolment. One student withdrawing from a particular subject does not mean, therefore, that another student will automatically take up the 'vacant' place.
Compensatory Passes (CP) allow Bachelor of Science students, who have failed in certain subjects, to receive credit points for the subject that was failed under the following conditions.
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CP's are normally only available for the sequential subject pairs listed in A CP can only be awarded for the following sequential subject pairs:.
A maximum of 25.0 points may be awarded as Compensatory Passes (i.e. a CP can be awarded for no more than two subjects).
CP's are only available if a student obtains a mark of 45-49% in the failed subject AND a combined average mark of at least 50% is obtained in both subjects forming the sequential pair.
A mark of 45-49% in the Semester 1 subject of a sequential pair will enable a student to enrol in the Semester 2 subject of the pair in order to seek a CP.
CP's are awarded at the end of the academic year and will appear as a letter grade 'NCP' with the fail mark on Academic Transcripts..
A student may choose not to accept a CP, for example, in order to repeat the failed subject.
CP's will be accepted as prerequisites for the 200-level subjects offered by the following departments:
Anatomy and Cell Biology; Botany; Environmental Science; Geomatics; Genetics; Geography and Environmental Studies; Microbiology and Immunology; Optometry and Vision Sciences; Pharmacology; Physics; Zoology. Physiology will accept CP's in 640-121/122 and 640-141/142 only.
CP's apply for the first two semesters of a student's enrolment.
Students enrolled in a single BSc degree, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences or a BSc combined course can follow a course of study which results in the award of a Bachelor of Science with a specialisation in Environmental Science.
Students complete core environmental science subjects and a specialisation in a selected scientific discipline such as: Botany, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Genetics, Geography and Environmental Studies, Mathematics and Statistics, Microbiology and Immunology, and Zoology. Students may also complete some management, economics, politics and law subjects.
This program provides training in scientific skills and disciplines that may be used to identify and solve environmental problems. It teaches students how to make efficient use of scarce resources available for management and conservation of the environment.
In particular, the skills developed in the Environmental Science program will enable graduates to:
evaluate physical, chemical and ecological components of the environment;
identify environmental problems;
construct models of ecological processes;
undertake risk analyses;
assess environmental impacts;
design and implement experiments and monitoring programs;
undertake quantitative analysis of environmental data, and
provide solutions for environmental problems.
This Environmental Science program provides an opportunity for laboratory, outdoor and indoor careers dealing with environmental issues. Graduates may work in areas such as:
environmental impact assessment;
consulting to mining, agriculture, land development and forestry;
the science and management of soil, water and air pollution;
environmental education;
parks and wildlife research and management, and
natural resource development and management.
Potential employers include local, State and Federal government environmental and regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and resource and development departments at the State and Federal level, environmental, natural resource and engineering consulting companies and a number of major chemical and mining companies.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Bachelor of Science offered by the Faculty of Science.
To complete an Environmental Science specialisation, students must:
Satisfy the usual BSc requirements that apply to the particular BSc single or combined course in which they are enrolled;
Complete the compulsory subjects listed in Compulsory subjects for the Environmental Science program. Other alternatives may be allowed, but they must be ratified by the Environmental Science Coordinator;
Complete social and applied science subjects, examples are given in Social and Applied Science Subjects for the Environmental Science program, to the value of at least 25 points. Alternative social and applied science subjects may be taken, but these must be ratified by the Environmental Science Coordinator.
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There is no special program in Honours in Environmental Science. Rather, students are encouraged to pursue an Environmental Science honours project as part of the normal honours program in a Science Department.
For further information, contact the Environmental Science Coordinator, Associate Professor Mark Burgman, Tel. +61 3 9344 7151
Email: m.burgman@botany.unimelb.edu.au
| 1. | # = non-science subject. See 'Science' and 'non-science' subjects |
| 2. | subject no longer exists or subject code has changed |
| 3. | # = non-science subject. See 'Science' and 'non-science' subjects |
Search : Index : Faculty of Science
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Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:52 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au