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Search : Index : Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science
1. Subject choices
1.1. 100-level subjects
1.2. Choice by background
1.3. Standard and advanced subjects
1.4. VCE extensions studies students (MUPHAS)
1.5. Credit exclusions for 100-level subjects
1.6. 200-level subjects
1.7. 300-level subjects
2. Suggested course plans
3. Bachelor of Science (Honours)
4. Further information
Subject Lists
Subject descriptions
100-level subjects
200-level subjects
300-level subjects
Mathematics and statistics subjects available to extended degree students only
Mathematics and statistics subjects available to engineering students only
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a variety of subjects at first-, second- and third-year levels which are designed to prepare students for professional careers in mathematics and statistics, the pure and applied sciences, commerce, education, engineering, industry and technology, and the social sciences. Our subjects provide training in generic skills such as logical reasoning, problem-solving, oral and written communication and working together as a team. These skills are invaluable for professional life in any discipline.
The department is responsible for the major in mathematics and statistics, which includes the specialisations of applied mathematics, pure mathematics, statistics, operations research, decision management and mathematical physics. Students wishing to choose one or more such specialisations can find the appropriate subject choices in the Faculty of Science entry, MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS. Statistics is required in the environmental science co-major. Subjects in mathematics or statistics are also valuable for students pursuing many other majors and courses.
Coordinator: K Baker (Director of First Year Learning Centre)
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a number of subjects at 100-level. The department has a First Year Learning Centre (FYLC) through which the teaching and administration of first-year subjects is coordinated. This centre is located on the ground floor of the Richard Berry Building. Within the centre are the office of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics director of first-year studies, offices of tutors in mathematics and statistics, tutorial rooms, and a student workroom.
The two most important factors in determining subject choice at 100-level are the subjects taken and performance in secondary school mathematics and the likely choice of career or major.
An assumed VCE background for most but not all 100-level subjects is VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4. Mathematics and statistics 100-level subjects provides a list of 100-level subjects with their normal entry requirements.
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Where subject offerings are marked as Semester 1, repeat 2 this means that the subject is offered in both semesters, and a student may take the subject in either semester. However, for a natural progression into 200-level mathematics and statistics subjects, students are advised to take 620-121 or 620-141 in Semester 1, followed by 620-122 or 620-142 and/or 620-123 or 620-143 in Semester 2.
Students without VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 (or equivalent) are normally advised to select 620-161 (mathematics) and/or 620-160 (statistics).
Students who wish to take more mathematics subjects after completing 620-161 are advised to take 620-140 in Semester 2 instead of 620-141. This enables entry into 620-142 and/or 620-143 in later years.
Students with exceptional grades in 620-161 in Semester 1 may be given permission to enrol in one or both of 620-142 and 620-143 in Semester 2. This enables entry into 200-level mathematics subjects in second year. Alternatively, students who wish to progress to 200-level mathematics, and who have a high level of achievement in VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4 should discuss the possibility of taking 620-141 in Semester 1 (and 620-142, 620-143 in Semester 2) with the department's Director of First Year Studies.
Students with VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 should enrol in 620-121 or 620-141 in their first semester: they are not normally permitted to enrol in 620-161. Each of the subjects 620-121, 620-141 has a linear algebra and analysis sequel in Semester 2 (620-122, 620-142) and an applied calculus sequel in Semester 2 (620-123, 620-143).
To open options for the study of probability and statistics in later years, students should select in their first year one of 620-131 (available in Semester 1 only) or 620-160 (available in both semesters). Since 620-131 contains a scientific programming component, it is particularly suitable for students who require hands-on programming experience but are not taking either of the computer science subjects 433-151 or 433-171. Taking 620-131 enables students to take the subject 620-381 Computational Mathematics in a later year, which is a recommended subject for students interested in applied mathematics.
620-121 Mathematics A (Advanced) requires a very strong level of achievement in VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 - as a guide, a study score of 38 in Specialist Mathematics 3/4. Students eligible for the advanced subjects 620-121, 620-122, 620-123 are strongly advised to take these subjects since they deal with the subject material in a deeper and more intellectually challenging way. The advanced subjects have considerable assessment in common with the standard subjects 620-141, 620-142, 620-143, so that students are not disadvantaged regarding marks by choosing the advanced subjects.
One advanced mathematics plus subject 620-113 is also available. Selected students will be invited to enrol in this subject by the Head of Department.
Students who have studied university-level mathematics at school via the Melbourne University Program for High-Achieving Students (620-120 MUPHAS Mathematics), or equivalent, may be permitted direct entry into the 200-level subjects 620-201 Probability, 620-211 Mathematics 2 (Advanced) and 620-231 Vector Analysis. The recommended (minimum) mathematics and statistics enrolment for MUPHAS students who obtained a grade of H3 or better in MUPHAS mathematics is 620-211 in Semester 1, and 620-123 in Semester 2. All MUPHAS students should discuss their subject selection with the department's MUPHAS coordinator.
Credit exclusions for 620 (mathematics and statistics) subjects are as follows. Students cannot gain credit for:
more than one of [00]620-111, 620-121, 620-140, 620-141;
more than one of [01]620-112, 620-122, 620-142, [99]620-200, 620-211;
more than one of 620-113, 620-123, 620-143, [98]620-130, [98]620-132;
more than one of 620-131, 620-152, 620-160.
For credit exclusions for subjects with 617-, 618-, 619- prefixes, see the Head of Department.
Coordinator: Dr O Foda (200-level coordinator)
At 200-level, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers subjects in several areas of pure and applied mathematics and several areas of probability and statistics. Students may focus on a single area (pure mathematics, applied mathematics, operations research, probability, applied statistics), or pursue interests in several areas. This may be in the form of recommended combinations of subjects at the 200-level and 300-level for one of the mathematics and statistics specialisations (see Mathematics and statistics), or subject choices to support studies in other majors or courses. Students may take any combination of subjects if the prerequisites and conditions prescribed are satisfied.
The 200-level subjects offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics are listed below in Mathematics and statistics 200-level subjects. For detailed information on prerequisites and credit exclusions, see the individual subject entries.
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For 200-level studies in pure or applied mathematics to ensure a reasonable choice of options, one of the following combinations is recommended for first year:
620-121, 620-122, 620-123; or
620-141, 620-142, 620-143.
If one of 620-142 or 620-143 (or their advanced versions) is not taken in first year, then unless that subject is taken in the Semester 1 of second year, enrolment in 620-232 is not possible in second year. High-achieving students from 620-142 may be allowed entry into the subjects 620-221 or 620-222. The subject 620-143 will be available in the Summer Semester, but only on a full-fee paying basis.
Probability and statistics: 620-201, 620-202, 620-270. The subject 620-270 is an applied statistics subject which can be taken by students majoring in other disciplines, as well as by students planning further studies in statistics via the decision management specialisation, and is required for students in environmental sciences: the emphasis is on applications and methods.
The pair of subjects 620-201 and 620-202 constitute the basic second-year course for students intending 300-level studies in probability and statistics, and are appropriate for students with a good mathematical background. These subjects are a core part of the statistics specialisation.
Students in engineering degrees, especially those combined with science or commerce, may be better advised to select 620-201 and 620-202, which earn science points and are core subjects in the actuarial studies program, instead of the subjects 620-370 Statistics for Mechanical Engineers or 431-325 Stochastic Signals and Systems.
Analysis and algebra: 620-221, 620-222, 620-252. These subjects are a core part of the pure mathematics specialisation.
Methods and applications: 620-231 and 620-232. These subjects are a core part of the applied mathematics and mathematical physics specialisations. 620-233 and 620-234 are advanced versions of 620-231 and 620-232 respectively. Selected students will be invited to enrol in these subjects by the Head of Department.
Operations research: 620-261 and 620-262. These subjects are a core part of the operations research and decision management specialisations.
Coordinator: Associate Professor J Koliha (300-level coordinator)
The 300-level subjects offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics are listed below in Mathematics and statistics 300-level subjects.
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Students may take any combination of subjects provided prerequisites and conditions are satisfied. Suggested combinations are given under each specialisation for the mathematics and statistics major. The subjects shown in Mathematics and statistics 300-level subjects may be classified as follows.
Analysis, algebra and topology: 620-311, 620-312, 620-321, 620-322. These subjects give the necessary background for students who wish to study fourth-year subjects in pure mathematics as part of an honours degree.
Applied statistics: 620-371, 620-372, 620-382. These subjects teach useful strategies in the analysis and interpretation of data, modelling, and the design of experiments. They give the necessary background for students who wish to study fourth-year subjects in applied statistics as part of an honours degree.
Methods and applications: 620-331, 620-332, 620-341, 620-342, 620-381. These subjects are particularly suited to students of engineering, physics, and other areas of physical science and technology. They give the necessary background for students who wish to study fourth-year subjects in the applications of mathematics in science and technology as part of an honours degree.
Operations research: 620-361, 620-362. These subjects offer an introduction to the application of mathematics to problems arising in industry and commerce. They give the necessary background for students who wish to study fourth-year subjects in operations research as part of an honours degree.
Probability and stochastic processes: 620-301, 620-302. These subjects deal with the modern theory of probability and its applications in science, engineering and economics. They give the necessary background for students who wish to study fourth-year subjects in probability and stochastic processes as part of an honours degree.
Additional subjects: 620-351 Number Theory and 620-352 Graph Theory. These subjects are supplementary to the subjects above and are designed to broaden the scope of studies in mathematics and statistics. Prospective secondary school mathematics teachers are encouraged to take at least one of 620-351, 620-352.
Generic skills: The following subjects 620-341, 620-361, 620-362 and 620-371 are designed to emphasise the development of generic skills. These subjects will involve group projects, where teams will work on unfamiliar problems, plan their project and deliver both oral and written presentations.
Projects: Students with excellent results, or with interests not served by the standard subject selections, may consider taking one or both of the research project subjects (600-311 and 600-312). Enrolment in these subjects, the content of which varies from year to year, requires the permission of the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. These units are not a substitute for the standard offerings.
Students proposing to take an honours degree should take careful note of the requirements for entry into the various honours schools as set out in this Handbook (see Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours)). In particular, students wishing to take mathematics and statistics honours should ensure that all prerequisites for prospective 400-level subjects are satisfied. Honours entry is possible from an appropriate selection of four 300-level mathematics and statistics subjects. If only four subjects are taken, 620-351 or 620-352 would not normally be included in the selection. For a wider choice of honours options, additional mathematics and statistics subjects may be included.
Typical course plans for students wishing to take mathematics and statistics beyond 100-level are shown under the specialisations of the mathematics and statistics major on MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS. Note especially the slightly different 100-level requirements for each specialisation. All of the sample courses are suitable for prospective school mathematics teachers.
Students enrolled in the BCom/BSc combined degree program entering with VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 or equivalent preparation would benefit from the subjects 620-141 and 620-142, which allow access to the specialisation of operations research. If either 620-131 or 620-160 is also taken, the specialisations of statistics or decision management are available. Actuarial studies students should take 620-121, 620-123 and 620-131.
Students who plan to take only one semester-length subject in mathematics and statistics in their first year are usually advised to select 620-160, especially if their interests lie in the biological, environmental or social sciences.
Students in the Bachelor of Science often take a standard package in first year. Students selecting the life science package in first year could take one or both of the subjects 620-160 and 620-161. Having taken 620-161, students wishing to include only one Semester 2 subject may choose 620-160. Students with VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 would normally take 620-141 instead of 620-161.
Students selecting the environmental science package in first year must take 620-160. They may take additional mathematics subjects, depending on their school mathematics background. For example, taking the subjects 620-141 and 620-142 would enable them to start a statistics specialisation.
Students selecting the earth sciences package may take two or more mathematics and statistics subjects in first year. For example, they could take 620-141 and either 620-143 or 620-160, depending on their school background and interests. These subjects are also valuable for other disciplines including earth sciences and chemistry.
Students entering with VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 or equivalent preparation and taking the physical sciences package must take three mathematics subjects in first year: 620-141, 620-142 and 620-143 (or their advanced versions). This allows access to the specialisations of pure mathematics, applied mathematics and mathematical physics.
Some possible combinations of 100-level mathematics and statistics subjects are shown in Sample selections at 100-level for various majors and courses.
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For information about the faculty and departmental entry requirements for honours, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours) for details. These requirements should be considered when planning your course.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 5550
Fax: +61 3 8344 4599
Web: http://www.ms.unimelb.edu.au
Status: Official 2003 Last Modified: Monday April 28 22:12 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Division - CWIS (SDI) Authorised by: Academic Registrar Enquiries: http://unimelb.custhelp.com/
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