Faculty of Science : Guide to courses

7. Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc)

Table of Contents

 7. Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc)

The Bachelor of Arts and Sciences is a single degree course which allows students to study subjects from both the faculties of Arts and Science.

BASc students will be able to complete majors in both faculties, and have the option to complete an honours year in either Arts or Science. The degree will appeal to applicants who wish to study more broadly than is currently possible in either the BA or the BSc, but who do not wish to complete the five years of study required for the combined BA/BSc course.

 7.1. Course objectives

The Bachelor of Arts and Sciences course has as its objectives that graduates:

• can demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of selected fields of study in the sciences, humanities, languages and social and behavioural sciences, and a higher understanding in one or more of these disciplines;

• can access and appreciate national and international debates in their areas of study;

• can apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within a changing social context;

• 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;

• have the knowledge, skill and attitude to enable adaptation to scientific, technological and social change, and have an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts;

• can demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and respect for ethical values;

• can communicate effectively and, in the case of those students undertaking a language major, are able to read, write and speak with fluency and with an appreciation of the cultural context of the language;

• can act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the workplace;

• have a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for life-long learning, and a capacity to be creative and inventive; and

• are proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as computer and audio-visual systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.

 7.2. Duration

The course involves four years of full-time study, and may be studied part time.

 7.3. Course requirements

The BASc degree requires the completion of 400 points of study, and at least 200 points of subjects from approved departments of each faculty. The study must be completed according to the requirements stated below.

Subjects offered by the departments of Geography and Environmental Studies, and History and Philosophy of Science must count toward the Arts requirement of the BASc course.

Students undertaking psychology subjects can receive credit toward either the Science or Arts requirement of the BASc course. Credit for Psychology cannot be split between the two faculties. Students should advise the Faculty of Science office if they would like psychology to count toward the science requirement of their BASc course.

 7.3.1. Arts requirement

A minimum of 200 Arts points is required, of which:

• 50 points must be at 100-level;

• 75 points must be at 200-level;

• 75 points must be at 300-level.

This study must be in Arts-approved subjects. Refer to list of Arts-approved subject areas (see Which subjects are Arts-approved?). All language subjects are also Arts-approved.

 7.3.2. Science requirement

A minimum of 200 science points is required, which must include:

• 50 points, but no more than 75 points, at the 100-level;

• completion of 50 points of a prescribed science major at the 300-level.

Students who first enrolled in the BASc course before 1999 must complete the requirements set out above with the exception that they do not need to complete a prescribed science major, but rather 50 science points at the 300-level of subjects of their choice.

Students should refer to the course planning informationCourse planning information for the BSc, BASc and BSc combined courses for details relating to their science studies, including information about majors and science and non-science points.

Status:                   Official 2001
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