S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours)

This is an advanced comprehensive course. It includes all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science, with additional study that addresses the learning objectives relating to global challenges. The additional study commences in year one, develops throughout the course and culminates in a major project in the fourth year.

The course is structured in four parts: science specified study, science listed major, free elective study and a substantial impact through science project.

Part A. Science specified study

This study has two components. The first component will expose you to different science disciplines contributing breadth to your understanding of science and giving you the opportunity to learn more about several disciplines before finalising your choice of major. It will also provide you with the mathematical or statistical foundation for your study of science and address the nature of science and its communication.

The second component will provide you with the skills to use science to address complex global challenges, to lead and inspire others and to convert your ideas into tangible solutions.

Part B. Science listed major

This will provide you with practical and theoretical skills and knowledge of a science listed area of study. You will learn to develop, apply and communicate an advanced level of understanding of the concepts and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of the discipline.

Part C. Free elective study

This will enable you to further develop your knowledge of your major area of study, or science more broadly. Alternatively you can select units from across the university in which you are eligible to enrol.

Part D. Impact through science project

This will be the culmination of your degree utilising and synthesising the skills built over the first three years of the course. During your honours project you will form a partnership with an external organisation to tackle a meaningful real world problem.

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

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Science specified study (78 points), Part B. Science listed major (48 points), Part C. Free elective study (18 points) undertaken in the first three years, and Part D. Impact through science project (48 points) in the final year. This includes a minimum of 78 points of science listed study over Part A and Part B.

In choosing your 78 points of science listed study over Part A and Part B, you must ensure that you complete five of these units (30 points) at level 1 and eight units (48 points) at levels 2 and 3, with a minimum of four (24 points) at level 3.

You must also ensure that across the whole course, you complete no more than 10 level 1 units (60 points). It is recommended that you complete level 1 sequences first as these lay the foundation for further study.

You are required to enrol in a full-time load of 48 points per calendar year.

You will complete an internship whilst enrolled in SCI3501 Impact through Science 3A (6 points). You should complete this before commencement of semester two in the third year of the course.

To remain in the program you are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70%) across all units in each calendar year. If you do not achieve this average you will be required to transfer to S2000 Bachelor of Science.

In addition, in order to progress to the fourth year, you must complete 144 points, including the six levels 1 to 3 'Impact through science' units. You must also achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70%) in 18 points of level 3 units in the relevant science discipline and the level 3 'Impact through science' units.

If you successfully complete the first three years (144 points) of the course but do not meet the academic standard hurdle for the fourth year, you will graduate with the Bachelor of Science.

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

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Science specified study (78 points)

Although the requirements in Part A appear to exceed 78 points, a level 1 sequence is typically counted towards your chosen major (Part B) and not towards this Part.

You complete:

Approved science sequences

a. At least two level 1 approved science sequences (24 points) from the following list.

Normally, the units in a level 1 sequence are required for the completion of a related minor or major. The choice of level 1 sequences will influence your choice of level 2 and level 3 units and will lay the foundation for your major.

Biological sciences
One pair of:

• BIO1011 Blueprints for life and BIO1022 Life on Earth
• BIO1011 Blueprints for life and BIO1042 Life in the environment

Chemistry
One pair of:

• CHM1011 Chemistry 1 and CHM1022 Chemistry 2
• CHM1011 Chemistry 1 and CHM1052 Chemistry 2 advanced
• CHM1051 Chemistry 1 advanced and CHM1022 Chemistry 2
• CHM1051 Chemistry 1 advanced and CHM1052 Chemistry 2 advanced

Computational science

One pair of:

• FIT1045 Algorithms and programming fundamentals in python and FIT1008 Introduction to computer science
• FIT1053 Algorithms and programming in python (advanced) and FIT1054 Computer science (advanced)

Earth, atmosphere and environment

• EAE1011 Earth, atmosphere and environment 1 and EAE1022 Earth, atmosphere and environment 2

Geographical science

• ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability and EAE1022 Earth, atmosphere and environment 2

Mathematics and statistics
One pair of:

• MTH1020 Analysis of change and MTH1030 Techniques for modelling
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and MTH2010 Multivariable calculus
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling and STA1010 Statistical methods for science

Note 1: Students with a strong mathematics background and an interest in the subject could replace the units MTH1030 and/or MTH2010 with their advanced versions MTH1035 and/or MTH2015 respectively. You will need to seek permission from Science Student Services to enrol in this unit.

Physics
One pair of:

• PHS1011 Classical physics and relativity and PHS1022 Fields and quantum physics
• PHS1001 Foundation physics and PHS1002 Physics for engineering
• PHS1031 Physics for the living world and PHS1002 Physics for engineering

Psychology

• PSY1011 Psychology 1A and PSY1022 Psychology 1B

Mathematics and statistics unit

b. At least one of the following level 1 mathematics or statistics unit (6 points) if not already taken as part of a level 1 approved sequence:

• MTH1020 Analysis of change
• MTH1030 Techniques for modelling or MTH1035 Techniques for modelling (advanced)
• SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning
• SCI1022 Introduction to scientific coding
• STA1010 Statistical methods for science

Note 2: The unit required in b. will depend on your mathematics background and interests: 

SCI1022 Introduction to scientific coding

• Recommended if you want to gain fundamental coding skills that can be applied in a variety of scientific areas. It will be useful for data analysis, modelling of complex systems, data manipulation and visualisation in a scientific context. SCI1022 requires you to have studied VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent) or STA1010.

SCI1020 (Introduction to statistical reasoning) and STA1010 (Statistical methods for science):

• Recommended if you are planning to study areas where experimental design and data analysis skills are particularly important, such as the life sciences. SCI1020 is for students without a strong mathematics background, while STA1010 requires you to have studied VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent). 

MTH1020 (Analysis of change) and MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling)

• Recommended if you have an interest in mathematics and/or physics. MTH1020 requires you to have studied VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent). MTH1030 requires you to have studied VCE Specialist Mathematics (or equivalent) or MTH1020. If you have a strong mathematics background and a keen interest in the subject you could replace the unit MTH1030 with the advanced version MTH1035. You will need to seek permission from Science Student Services to enrol in this unit.

c. The following six units (36 points):

• SCI1501 Impact through science 1A
• SCI1502 Impact through science 1B
• SCI2501 Impact through science 2A
• SCI2502 Impact through science 2B
• SCI3501 Impact through science 3A
• SCI3502 Impact through science 3B

d. Two units (12 points) from the following:

• ATS1254 Culture, power and difference: Indigeneity and Australian identity or SCI2030 Indigenous science: Science through the eyes of Australia’s first people’s
• ATS1263 Bioethics: current controversies
• ATS1325 International studies: Origins of globalisation
• ATS1326 International studies: Challenges of globalisation
• ATS2269 Exploring contemporary Australia
• ATS2547 Cities and sustainability*
• ECC2610 Game theory and strategic thinking
• ATS2723 Social research methods*
• BEX3622 Issues in global business*
• ECC1000 Principles of microeconomics*
• ECC1100 Principles of macroeconomics*
• ECC2800 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• MGX3100 Corporate social responsibility and business ethics*
• SCI3930 Career skills for scientists

* You will need to seek permission from Science Student Services to enrol in this unit.

e. Any additional level 2 or level 3 science units required to take the total of science listed units to 78 points over Part A and Part B. Science listed units are chosen from the following:

• SCI2030 Indigenous Science: Science through the eyes of Australia’s first peoples
• SCI2400 From Galileo to GPS: How astronomy shapes our lives
• SCI3910 Schools science project
• SCI3920 Science internship
• SCI3930 Career skills for scientists
• units listed under any major, extended major or minor offered in S2000 Bachelor of Science

Part B. Science listed major (48 points)

You must complete a Bachelor of Science major. A major requires eight units with no more than two units at level 1 (12 points) and at least 18 points at level 3. You may replace the major with an extended major by using elective units available in Part A or Part C.

Refer to the science listed areas of study below for units required for your chosen major, extended major or minor.

Minors, majors and extended majors

Refer also to the table of minors, majors and extended majors by campus which also details if an area of study is available as a minor, major or extended major.

Part C. Free elective study (18 points)

These elective units may be chosen from units available in the Bachelor of Science course to broaden your science knowledge or to extend your major. Elective units may also be taken from non-science disciplines as long as you have the prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment in the units.

Free electives can be identified using the browse units tool and indexes of units in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Part D. Impact through science project (48 points)

In your final year you complete:

• SCI4501 Impact through science 4A: Research (24 points)
• SCI4502 Impact through science 4B: Professional practice (24 points)