Faculty of Land and Food Resources : Guide to courses 25. Bachelor of Forest Science/Bachelor of Science

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25. Bachelor of Forest Science/Bachelor of Science
    25.1. Career opportunities
    25.2. Information for students commencing from 2005
    25.3. Course objectives
    25.4. Course outline
    25.5. Information for students commencing prior to 2005
    25.6. Course objectives
    25.7. Course outline

25. Bachelor of Forest Science/Bachelor of Science

25.1. Career opportunities

The combined degree offers career prospects in research or management in forestry or conservation areas. Graduates can be employed in areas such as forest botany, wildlife ecology, biotechnology, computing and biometrics.

25.2. Information for students commencing from 2005

This combined degree takes five years of full-time study - the first three years at Parkville campus, the fourth at Creswick campus. The fifth year can be at Creswick or Parkville depending on subject and project choice.

The course enables students to combine specialist forest science subjects with a wide range of science subjects including genetics, biochemistry, earth science, anatomy and cell biology.

While students will have the option to pursue any science discipline for which they have the prerequisites, the environmental science major within the BSc course may provide an excellent complement to BForSc studies that will enable students both to broaden and deepen their studies in forest ecosystem management. Similarly, biotechnology in the BSc course provides an excellent complement to BForSc students for those pursuing careers in tree breeding.

25.3. Course objectives

Students who have completed this course should have acquired:

• a broad knowledge of science across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of understanding in one or more of these disciplines;

• an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts;

• an understanding of the biology and diversity of forest and woodland ecosystems, and the history, values and uses of forests and forest trees;

• an appreciation of the principles and practices of forest management and conservation;

• an understanding of the environmental impact, sustainability, social impact, profitability and international cost-competitiveness of forestry and forest-related businesses;

• an appreciation of principles of sound practice in relation to health, safety and ethics in relation to forest management and forest industries;

• when solving scientific problems, the ability to apply appropriate knowledge and access relevant information, an understanding of the principles of project and experimental design, a capacity to apply practical skills and technology, and an ability to communicate the results of their studies in both written and oral form;

• the knowledge, skill and attitude to enable adaptation to scientific, technological and social change, a sense of intellectual curiosity, a desire for lifelong learning, and a capacity to be creative and innovative.

• an understanding of the rights, privileges and responsibilities conferred with the degree and with membership of professional associations and learned societies.

25.4. Course outline

To be eligible to graduate students must obtain 500 credit points. A minimum of 237.5 science points must be achieved and the remaining 262.5 points will be taken from the Bachelor of Forest Science.

Forest Science subjects must include:

• core Faculty subjects as below

• 25 points of 400-level subjects and 25 points towards 202-401 or 202-402 Honours Research Project

• 16 weeks of compulsory work experience - 200-004 Industry Placement.

Science points must include:

• between 75 and 125 science points at 100-level

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

202-401, 202-402 or 202-403 Honours Research Project for combined degree students will be a project with a significant science orientation, and will be supervised jointly by Faculty of Science and Faculty of LFR staff. The credit points for this project will contribute 25 points of the required 237.5 science points. The other 25 points will be credited towards the LFR Faculty content of the degree.

A typical course combination would appear as follows:

25.5. Information for students commencing prior to 2005

This combined degree takes five years of full-time study to complete and is offered at the Parkville and Creswick campuses. Typically students spend their first, fourth and fifth years at Parkville, and spend their second and third years at Creswick.

The course enables students to combine specialist forestry subjects with a wide range of science subjects including genetics, biochemistry, earth science, anatomy and cell biology.

While students will have the option to pursue any science discipline for which they have the prerequisites, the environmental science major within the BSc course may provide an excellent complement to BForSc studies that will enable students both to broaden and deepen their studies as a preparation for careers that relate more to the environmental aspects of forest and park management, such as ecosystem management or environmental pollution management. Similarly, biotechnology in the BSc course provides an excellent complement to BForSc students for those pursuing careers in tree breeding.

25.6. Course objectives

Students who complete this course should have acquired:

• an ability to demonstrate a broad knowledge of fundamental scientific precepts across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of achievement in one or more of the biological, chemical, earth, mathematical and physical sciences;

• an understanding of forest biology, diversity and ecosystems;

• an understanding of the structures of Australian forest industries and the principal factors that determine location, environmental impact, sustainability, profitability, and international cost-competitiveness;

• an ability to relate the scientific knowledge gained to the technical and vocational aspects of the students chosen discipline;

• an ability to organise knowledge and ideas systematically, discriminate among relevant data, and generalise safely;

• an ability to demonstrate skills in problem definition and solution, in decision making and in program design and implementation;

• an ability to design and conduct scientific enquiries, both on an individual basis and as part of a team through application of scientific method and hypothesis teaching;

• an ability to demonstrate initiative and the interpersonal skills necessary for the conduct of such inquiries;

• essential skills in the acquisition and interpretation of forestry data;

• an understanding of principles of sound practice in relation to health, safety, ethical issues, and the environment in forestry and forest industries;

• a capacity for the exchange, acquisition, and dissemination of scientific and industry information and technology transfer;

• an ability to demonstrate leadership skills and an ability to interact effectively with professional colleagues, individuals and the general community;

• have a capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;

• understand the rights, privileges and responsibilities conferred with the degree and with membership of professional associations and learned societies.

25.7. Course outline

To be eligible to graduate students must obtain 500 credit points. A minimum of 237.5 science points must be achieved and the remaining 262.5 points will be taken from the Bachelor of Forest Science. Typically students will spend second and third year of their degrees at the Creswick campus, as in the structure below, but it is possible to spend second year at the Parkville campus taking 100 science points, and then spend third and fourth year at Creswick.

Forestry points must include:

• core Faculty subjects as below

• 25 points of 400-level subjects and 25 points towards 202-401 or 202-402 Honours Research Project

• 16 weeks of compulsory work experience - 202-001 Industry Placement

Science points must include:

• Between 75 and 125 science points at 100-level

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

202-401, 202-402 or 202-403 Honours Research Project for combined degree students will be a project with a significant science orientation, and will be supervised jointly by Faculty of Science and LFR staff. The credit points for this project will contribute 25 points of the required 237.5 science points. The other 25 points will be credited towards the LFR content of the degrees. 202-202 Experimental Design/Statistical methods is equivalent to 620-160 Experimental Design and Data Analysis and contributes to science points.

A typical course combination would appear as follows:

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