Faculty of Science : Guide to courses 8. Course planning information for the BSc, BASc and BSc combined courses

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8. Course planning information for the BSc, BASc and BSc combined courses
    8.1. Points
    8.2. Science and non-science subjects
    8.3. Course planning
        8.3.1. First year course planning
        8.3.2. Course planning in later years
        8.3.3. Overloads in Semester 1 and 2
        8.3.4. Late changes to subjects
    8.4. Quota subjects
        8.4.1. Selection process
            8.4.1.1. Re-enrolling students
            8.4.1.2. New and resuming students
        8.4.2. Enrolment process
        8.4.3. Quota subjects for 2002
    8.5. First year packages
    8.6. Majors
        8.6.1. ANATOMY
        8.6.2. ANIMAL BIOLOGY
        8.6.3. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
        8.6.4. CELL BIOLOGY
        8.6.5. CHEMISTRY
        8.6.6. COMPUTER SCIENCE
        8.6.7. CONSERVATION AND AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE
        8.6.8. EARTH SCIENCES
        8.6.9. ECOLOGY
        8.6.10. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
        8.6.11. GENETICS
        8.6.12. GEOGRAPHY
        8.6.13. IMMUNOLOGY
        8.6.14. MARINE BIOLOGY
        8.6.15. MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
        8.6.16. MICROBIOLOGY
        8.6.17. NEUROSCIENCE
        8.6.18. PATHOLOGY
        8.6.19. PHARMACOLOGY
        8.6.20. PHYSICS
        8.6.21. PHYSIOLOGY
        8.6.22. PLANT SCIENCES
        8.6.23. PSYCHOLOGY
        8.6.24. VISION SCIENCE
    8.7. Co-majors
        8.7.1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
        8.7.2. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
        8.7.3. BIOTECHNOLOGY

8. Course planning information for the BSc, BASc and BSc combined courses

8.1. Points

The Bachelor of Science, BASc and combined courses, are organised on a points system. Students must complete a minimum number and type of points to satisfy the requirements of each course.

Every subject taught in the faculty has a points value that is determined by the workload associated with that subject. Accordingly, the faculty awards points for the successful completion of each subject. The points a student will receive if they successfully complete a particular subject are noted in the Handbook entry for that subject.

8.2. Science and non-science subjects

The distinction between science and non-science subjects is relevant to all students enrolled in the BSc, BASc and BSc combined degree courses, as these courses require the accumulation of a certain number of science points. Non-science subjects cannot be counted towards the science component of a BSc combined course or the BASc.

Students enrolled in the BSc/BIS course cannot receive science credit for any information systems subjects. For these students, all information systems subjects count towards the information systems component.

Most subjects listed in the Faculty of Science entry of this Handbook are available for science credit, but there are important exceptions including the following.

• Some subjects offered by the Department of Information Systems are non-science subjects. In the information systems entry (see Information systems), the science or non-science status of each subject is clearly stated.

• Several other non-science subjects are taught by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, School of Earth Sciences, the School of Chemistry and the School of Physics to students in courses such as engineering. If a subject does not earn science credit, it is labelled as non-science in the subject description.

Any subject that does not appear in the Faculty of Science section of this Handbook is a non-science subject.

8.3. Course planning

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 offer a number of course plans, based around the majors, which students can refer to.

8.3.1. First year course planning

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, majors available and the enrolment process. Shortly afterwards, students meet with a faculty adviser to plan their first year of study. The course plan that is authorised will reflect the student's current areas of interest and allow for flexibility in future studies.

8.3.2. Course planning in later years

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 timetabling or quota restrictions can impose limitations.

Students should refer to this Handbook in the first instance. The sections Majors and Co-majors outline recommended course plans for the various majors and co-majors.

Students requiring further information may obtain course advice from student advisers in the faculty office. Students may also discuss course options with members of 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. This usually occurs in Semester 2, and students will be advised of course planning arrangements for the following year by mail or email. Course plans are submitted on the Student Information System at http://sis.unimelb.edu.au. All course plans must be approved by the faculty.

Course plans are applications for selection into subjects. Once a course plan has been submitted, no further action is required unless a student fails a prerequisite subject, misses entry into quota-restricted subjects or wishes to alter their course plan. In these cases, the student should seek advice from the faculty office.

8.3.3. Overloads in Semester 1 and 2

50 points per semester is regarded as a normal full-time enrolment. A workload in excess of 50 points per semester is an overload. 25 points is a normal full-time enrolment for the Summer Semester.

The faculty will normally only allow students to enrol in up to 62.5 points per semester if they have:

• successfully completed at least 37.5 points in the previous semester;

• no fails in the previous semester; and

• an average of at least H2B (i.e. 70 per cent) for all subjects attempted in the previous semester.

In cases where a student was on leave in the previous semester, the faculty will consider the workload attempted and results achieved in the most recent semester in which the student was undertaking subjects.

The average of at least H2B requirement may be waived if an overload of 62.5 points will enable the student to complete course requirements at the end of the semester. Requests to enrol in more than 62.5 points per semester will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The faculty will not accept or consider requests to overload in:

• Semester 1 2002 until the Semester 2 2001 results have been released;

• Semester 2 2002 until the Semester 1 2002 results have been released.

8.3.4. Late changes to subjects

The subject descriptions listed in this Handbook are correct at the time of printing, however the University retains the right to suspend or change the details of any subject, see Changes to subjects/courses. Updated information specific to Faculty of Science subjects and courses will be located at http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au/hbupdates.

8.4. Quota subjects

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.

8.4.1. Selection process

Selection into quota subjects is based on academic merit.

8.4.1.1. Re-enrolling students

Most students 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 teaching department offering the quota subject offers the remaining places. Places in each subject will be offered in accordance with an applicant's rank on the waiting list and until all places available in the subject have been filled.

8.4.1.2. New and resuming students

New and resuming students will be ranked, together with re-enrolling students, in order of merit following an evaluation of their results in previous studies.

Non-award course students may fill any remaining places in quota restricted subjects after the selection of all award course students.

8.4.2. Enrolment process

Students need to indicate their wish to be considered for a place in quota subjects on their course plan. There are a number of rounds of offers into quota restricted subjects before the start of the academic year. Students will automatically be considered for the quota subjects they have listed on their course plan in rounds 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 2 quota subjects occurs. Students who have not previously applied for a place in Semester 2 quota subjects will need to submit the appropriate form to the Faculty of Science office before the application deadline.

Students who are offered places in quota subjects will be notified by mail. Round one quota offers will be included on the authorised enrolment record. Confirmation of the enrolment will signify acceptance of the place in the quota subjects. Failure to confirm the enrolment may jeopardise the place in quota subjects.

For rounds two and three of quota subject selection, students will receive a letter of offer. Students offered a place in quota subjects in rounds two and three will need to confirm acceptance of the place before the specified date to secure their place. It is therefore important to ensure that the Faculty of Science office has your current postal address.

For administrative reasons, offers of specific subjects to students are made at set times prior to the commencement of the subject. The faculty over-fills the quota and allows subject changes to correct the over-enrolment. One student withdrawing from a particular subject does not mean, therefore, that a place will automatically become available for another student.

8.4.3. Quota subjects for 2002

A list of the quota subjects for 2002 will be available from the faculty office and on the faculty web site at the time of course planning for 2002.

8.5. First year packages

First year students will normally complete at least one of the following first year packages.

Notes.

• 620-161 Introductory Mathematics A discusses biological and economic modelling and is a suitable companion subject for 620-160.

• 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry is available as an alternative chemistry subject in Semester 1 for students who have not completed VCE Chemistry.

Notes.

• 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry is available as an alternative chemistry subject in Semester 1 for students who have not completed VCE Chemistry.

Notes.

• 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry is available as an alternative chemistry subject in Semester 1 for students who have not completed VCE Chemistry.

• Students with specialist mathematics should consider taking 620-141 Mathematics A or 620-121 Mathematics A (Advanced) instead of 620-161.

Notes.

• 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry is available as an alternative chemistry subject in Semester 1 for students who have not completed VCE Chemistry.

• Students wishing to pursue environmental sciences may alternatively take the physical sciences package and enrol in 620-142 Mathematics B and 620-143 Applied Mathematics or 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis in second year.

8.6. Majors

All students commencing the BSc, BASc or a BSc combined course in 1999 and beyond are expected to complete a science major which will be included on an academic transcript. A science major is defined as 50 points at 300-level in a discipline. The psychology major is the only exception to this rule. To major, students can complete one of the specialisations listed below. Students may complete alternative combinations of subjects to major, provided they have the approval of the relevant department.

The 100-level and 200-level subjects listed in the specialisations below are recommended subjects only. Students are not required to undertake particular subjects at these levels to complete a science major, but should be aware that these subjects are often recommended because they are prerequisites for the required 300-level subjects.

Students are permitted to do more than one science major, however to do so requires completion of 50 points at 300-level in each discipline. Up to the equivalent of one 12.5 points subject at 300-level can be counted towards both science majors where applicable. Students must complete a minimum of 87.5 points at 300-level to be awarded two science majors. A maximum of two science majors (or one major and one co-major) will be identified on a student's transcript. Students qualifying for more than two majors will need to nominate the two science majors (or one major and one co-major) to appear on their transcript.

Co-majors are available in biotechnology, environmental science and history and philosophy of science. Students undertaking a co-major must also complete a major. See Co-majors for details.

Note: Students who commenced their course before 1999 do not need to complete a major.

Science majors available:

• anatomy, ANATOMY

• animal biology, ANIMAL BIOLOGY

• biochemistry and molecular biology, BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

• cell biology, CELL BIOLOGY

• chemistry, CHEMISTRY

• computer science, COMPUTER SCIENCE

• conservation and Australian wildlife, CONSERVATION AND AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE

• earth sciences, EARTH SCIENCES

• ecology, ECOLOGY

• environmental science (specified combined degrees only), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• genetics, GENETICS

• geography, GEOGRAPHY

• immunology, IMMUNOLOGY

• marine biology, MARINE BIOLOGY

• mathematics and statistics, MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

• microbiology, MICROBIOLOGY

• neuroscience, NEUROSCIENCE

• pathology, PATHOLOGY

• pharmacology, PHARMACOLOGY

• physics, PHYSICS

• physiology, PHYSIOLOGY

• plant sciences, PLANT SCIENCES

• psychology, PSYCHOLOGY

• vision science, VISION SCIENCE

8.6.1. ANATOMY

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Physiology, Zoology

8.6.2. ANIMAL BIOLOGY

Teaching department: Zoology

8.6.3. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

A biochemistry and molecular biology major will minimally comprise 50 points of 300-level biochemistry and molecular biology subjects including 521-301 or 521-302; plus at least one laboratory-based practical subject. Outlined below are recommended streams for students who intend either to concentrate on the broad area of biochemistry and molecular biology, or to specialise in one of the three fields of functional genomics; biophysics and bioinformatics; and biochemical and molecular biotechnology.

Teaching department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Students may request permission from the head of department to replace one of 521-301 and 521-302 with an alternative subject from the above list.

8.6.4. CELL BIOLOGY

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Genetics, Physiology, Zoology

8.6.5. CHEMISTRY

Teaching department: Chemistry

8.6.6. COMPUTER SCIENCE

This science major is not available to students enrolled in the software engineering stream of the BE/BSc. These students will be required to complete a major in an alternative science discipline.

Teaching department: Computer Science and Software Engineering.

8.6.7. CONSERVATION AND AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE

Teaching departments: Botany, Zoology

8.6.8. EARTH SCIENCES

Teaching department: Earth Sciences

8.6.9. ECOLOGY

Teaching departments: Botany, Zoology, Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies

8.6.10. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Available as a major only to students enrolled in engineering/science, science/engineering, science/forest science and geomatics/science. Students enrolled in other BSc programs and BASc may co-major, see environmental science, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.

Teaching departments: Botany, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Mathematics and Statistics, Zoology

8.6.11. GENETICS

Teaching department: Genetics

8.6.12. GEOGRAPHY

Teaching department: Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies

8.6.13. IMMUNOLOGY

Teaching department: Microbiology and Immunology

8.6.14. MARINE BIOLOGY

Teaching departments: Botany, Chemistry, Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Zoology.

Only one of 600-311 and 600-312 can be counted towards the Marine Biology major.

8.6.15. MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

Teaching departments: Mathematics and Statistics, Physics

8.6.16. MICROBIOLOGY

Teaching department: Microbiology and Immunology

8.6.17. NEUROSCIENCE

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Pharmacology, Physiology and Zoology

8.6.18. PATHOLOGY

Teaching department: Pathology

8.6.19. PHARMACOLOGY

Teaching departments: Pharmacology, Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry

8.6.20. PHYSICS

Teaching departments: Physics, Mathematics and Statistics

See description of mathematical physics course structure MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

8.6.21. PHYSIOLOGY

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Physiology, Zoology

8.6.22. PLANT SCIENCES

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Botany, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics and Ziology

8.6.23. PSYCHOLOGY

Teaching department: School of Behavioural Science

A major study in psychology, accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS), consists of a minimum of ten subjects and 125 points. The 50 points at 300-level definition of a science major is waived in this instance. Science students will instead need to complete a minimum of 50 science points at 300-level. Refer to Psychology as a major for further information.

See description of psychology as a major course structure Psychology as a major.

8.6.24. VISION SCIENCE

Teaching department: Optometry and Vision Sciences

8.7. Co-majors

Students may undertake a co-major in conjunction with a major. Science co-majors available:

• environmental science

• history and philosophy of science

• biotechnology

8.7.1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Teaching departments: Botany, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies, Geomatics, Mathematics and Statistics and Zoology.

Contact: environmental science coordinator

Dr Roderick Brown, School of Earth Sciences

* It is recommended that students undertaking a co-major in environmental science include 200-level study in chemistry, ecology and earth sciences in their programs, whether as part of their major or their environmental science co-major.

8.7.2. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Teaching department: History and Philosophy of Science

8.7.3. BIOTECHNOLOGY

Teaching departments: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Chemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology, History and Philosophy of Science

Contact: Biotechnology coordinator

Assoc Professor Chris Cobbett, Department of Genetics

Students need to fulfil prerequisite requirements for their chosen major and for the elective subjects they plan to take in third year.

Third year

Students will have taken 600-205 Biotechnology in Practice and will be completing a selected life sciences major. Additionally students must take at least 37.5 points including three other elective 300-level biotechnology subjects from the lists on see 300-level. At least two of these subjects must be from a department different to that responsible for teaching the major. Two practical subjects must be included, either within the co-major or the major.

For additional detail on the structure of the biotechnology co-major, see Biotechnology.

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