S2010 Bachelor of Applied Data Science

The course develops through theme studies in data challenges, techniques drawn from information technologies and mathematics, and applied studies. You will learn to apply the knowledge you gain in specialised information technology and mathematics studies to a series of projects. These skills will come together in a significant project unit in the third year of the course. You will also develop discipline specific skills in selected areas of study.

Part A. Data challenges
These studies will develop your analytical skills and advance your ability to apply key information technology and mathematical concepts and methods. These skills will be elaborated through studio-based learning using authentic case studies sourced from industry partners, and with examples drawn from STEM areas, business, law, the humanities and social sciences. Working in small teams or as individuals, you will realise the application of information technology and mathematical knowledge through authentic projects. Through designed experiences, you will learn to integrate a broad range of skills including collaborative work practices, communication, leadership and entrepreneurship to make you ready to approach the professions of the future.

Part B. Techniques for data science
Through this theme you will gain the technical foundation that underpins this program. You will acquire knowledge and skills in mathematics and the capacity to tackle challenging problems in a variety of situations. Through core data science studies, you will also attain the skills needed to effectively use, develop and manage complex data. These two areas are critical for tackling the diverse problems encountered in Part A of the course.

Part C. Applied studies
These studies will provide the foundation required to advance cross-disciplinary analytical thought. You will undertake a sequence of study in a discipline. The selection of studies available will ensure you can explore new and diverse areas and develop core strengths in studies that relate to data applications. In addition to the disciplinary expertise, you will develop an appreciation for the culture of your selected discipline, the development of ideas in a given subject area, and the contexts in which this is applied. Data applications relating to these subjects can then be incorporated through the learning experiences across Part A.

Part D. Elective

This will enable you to further develop your technical skills or extend your knowledge in your selected applied studies. Alternatively you can select units from across the university in which you are eligible to enrol.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 points of which 132 points are focused on Applied Data Science.

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Data Challenges (36 points), Part B. Techniques for data science (72 points), Part C. Applied studies (24 points) and Part D. Elective (12 points).

No more than 10 units (60 points) are to be completed at level 1 in the course.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Data challenges (36 points)

You complete:

• ADS1001 Data challenges 1
• ADS1002 Data challenges 2
• ADS2001 Data challenges 3
• ADS2002 Data challenges 4
• ADS3001 Advanced data challenges (12 points)

Part B. Techniques for data science (72 points)

You complete:

(i) Six Information Technology units (36 points):

• FIT1043 Introduction to data science and artificial intelligence
• FIT1045 Introduction to programming
• FIT2086 Modelling for data analysis
• FIT2094 Databases
• FIT3154 Advanced data analysis  
• FIT3181 Deep learning

and

(ii) Six Mathematical Science units (36 points) from the following:

Clayton

• MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science or MTH1020 Analysis of change*
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling 
• MTH2019 Multivariate mathematics for data science
• MTH2051 Introduction to computational mathematics
• MTH3320 Computational linear algebra
• MTH3330 Optimisation and operations research

*If you have achieved a raw study score of at least 30 in VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4, you complete MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science. All the other students complete MTH1020 Analysis of change. 

Malaysia

If you are undertaking studies at the Malaysia campus, you complete the following sequence: 

• ENG1090 Foundation mathematics
• ENG1005 Engineering mathematics
• MTH2019 Multivariate mathematics for data science
• MTH2051 Introduction to computational mathematics
• MTH3320 Computational linear algebra
• MTH3330 Optimisation and operations research

Part C. Applied studies (24 points)

You complete 24 points of complementary studies from a defined discipline area listed below. Normally, you complete:

• 2 units at level 1 (12 points)
• 2 units at level 2, 3 or 4 (12 points)

Clayton:

Applied and statistical mathematics

Option 1: You complete option 1 if you have achieved a raw study score of at least 30 in VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4.   

• MTH2132 The nature and beauty of mathematics
• MTH2222  Mathematics of uncertainty or MTH2225 Mathematics of uncertainty (advanced)
• MTH2232 Mathematical statistics
• MTH2032 Differential equations 

Option 2: You complete option 2 if you do not meet the Mathematics requirement for option 1.

You complete:

• MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
• MTH2132 The nature and beauty of mathematics

and two of:

• MTH2222 Mathematics of uncertainty or MTH2225 Mathematics of uncertainty (advanced)
• MTH2232 Mathematical statistics
• MTH2032 Differential equations 

Astronomy

You complete no more than one of:

• ASP1010 Earth to cosmos: introductory astronomy
• ASP1022 Life in the universe: astrobiology

and one of

• PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity
• PHS1001 Foundation physics
• PHS1002 Physics for engineering

and

• ASP2011 Astronomy
• ASP2062 Introduction to astrophysics

Biological science and genetics

You complete: 

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life
• BIO1022 Life on earth or BIO1042 Life in the environment

and one of:

• BIO2011 Ecology and biodiversity and BIO2040 Conservation biology
• GEN2041 Foundations of genetics and GEN2052 Genomics and population genetics

Business analytics

• ETC1000 Business and economic statistics
• ETC1010 Introduction to data analysis
• ETC2420 Statistical thinking
• ETC3550 Applied forecasting

Chemical sciences

• CHM1011 Chemistry 1 or CHM1051 Chemistry 1 Advanced
• CHM1022 Chemistry 2 or CHM1052 Chemistry 2 Advanced
• CHM2911 Inorganic and organic chemistry
• CHM2922 Spectroscopy and analytical chemistry

Crime and society

• ATS1421 Understanding crime
• ATS1423 Criminal justice in practice

Two of:

• ATS2456 Cybercrime and cybersecurity
• ATS2458 Policing
• ATS2465/ATS3465 Comparative criminal justice in practice  (not offered in 2026)
• ATS2723 Social research methods

Cybersecurity

• FIT1047 Introduction to computer systems, networks and security
• FIT1093 Cybersecurity tools and techniques
• FIT2100 Operating systems
• FIT2173 Software security

Digital media

You complete two of:

• ATS1119 Communicating in the digital era
• ATS1206 Media challenges
• ATS1279 Media and culture

• ATS2250 Communications and Culture in the global era  (not offered in 2026)
• ATS2280 Video games: Industry and culture
• ATS2324 Climate change communication
• ATS2910 Professional and academic presentation skills

Drugs and society: an introduction to pharmacology

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life
• BIO1022 Life on earth
• PHY2011 Neuroscience of communication, sensory and control systems
• PHA2022 Drugs and society

Economics

• ECC1000 Principles of microeconomics
• ECC1100 Principles of macroeconomics or ECX1200 Macroeconomics
• ECC2000 Intermediate Microeconomics or ECX2400 Design and evaluation of economic, public, and social programs
• ECC2010 Intermediate Macroeconomics or ECX2300 Crashes, crisis and macroeconomic policy 

Introduction to physiology

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life or CHM1011 Chemistry 1 or CHM1051 Chemistry 1 Advanced or PHS1001 Foundation physics or PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity
• BIO1022 Life on earth or CHM1022 Chemistry 2 or CHM1052 Chemistry 2 Advanced or PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics or PHS1002 Physics for engineering
• PHY2011 Neuroscience of communication, sensory and control systems
• PHY2032 Human physiology: Hormonal and digestive systems or PHY2042 Human physiology: Cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems

Language and society

• ATS1338 Cracking the language code: English and beyond
• ATS1339 Linguistic structure and language diversity

and two of:

• ATS2274 Languages, cultures and interaction in Asia
• ATS2668 Structure in the languages of the world
• ATS2669 Phonetics and phonology: The science of speech sounds
• ATS2671 Managing intercultural communication
• ATS2769 Englishes around the world
• ATS3325 Embodied language: Gesture, gaze and interaction

Marketing science

• MKC1200 Principles of marketing
• MKC2130 Fundamentals of marketing analytics
• MKC2500 Marketing research analysis
• MKC3500 Advanced topics in marketing analytics

Physics 

• PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity or PHS1001 Foundation physics
• PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics or PHS1002 Physics for engineering
• PHS2061 Quantum and thermal physics
• PHS2081 Atomic, nuclear and condensed matter physics

Social research

• ATS1365 Introduction to sociology
• ATS1366 Big ideas for better futures

Two of:

• ATS2560 Breaking binaries: How gender is lived and theorised
• ATS2561 Sex and the media
• ATS2716 Race, racism and social inequalities
• ATS2718 Love, families, and relationships
• ATS2723 Social research methods
• ATS2727 Men, masculinity and society

Software development

• FIT1050 Web fundamentals

and three of:

• FIT2081 Mobile application development
• FIT2104 Web database interface
• FIT2175 Usability
• FIT3178 iOS app development

Malaysia:

Environmental science

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life
• ENV1800 Environmental science: A Southeast Asian perspective
• BIO2810 Introduction to ecological applications
• ENV2726 Global conservation and biodiversity

Introduction to biotechnology

You complete two of:

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life
• BIO1022 Life on Earth
• BTH1802 Fundamentals of biotechnology

and

• BTH2820 Crop science
• GEN2041 Foundations of genetics

Introduction to food and nutrition

• CHM1052 Chemistry 2 advanced
• CHM2962 Food chemistry
• FST1800 Fundamentals of food and sensory science
• FST2810 Food bioprocess technology

Introduction to forensic genetics

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life
• BIO1022 Life on Earth
• GEN2041 Foundations of genetics
• GEN3051 Medical and forensic genetics

Introduction to health and human physiology

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life or CHM1051 Chemistry 1 advanced
• BIO1022 Life on Earth or CHM1052 Chemistry 2 advanced
• PHY2810 Physiology of human body systems
• PHY2820 Physiology of human health

Part D. Free elective study (12 points)

Elective units may be chosen from the list of units from Parts B or C not already completed or from across the University as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on admission to the units.