- Program summary
- Program overview
- Career opportunities
- Special features
- Program structure
- Program requirements and notes
- Program Rules
- Enquiries
Program summary
QTAC code: 013291
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-6 / Rank-91
Award abbreviation: BSc/BSc(Hons)
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 3 years full-time
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places
Total units: 384 units (normally 32 courses)
Prerequisites: English, Maths and one or more of the sciences, preferably Chemistry
USC program code: SC303/SC403
Commence: Semester 1 only
CRICOS code: Not available to international students on a Student Visa.
Program overview
This double degree program has been designed specifically for outstanding current Year 12 students, those returning from a gap year, or those students displaying excellent academic achievement in the Bachelor of Science.
It allows you to undertake an accelerated program, completing both the Bachelor of Science (normally 3 years of full-time study) and the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (normally 1 year of full-time study) in a total of 3 years full-time.
This accelerated program, which is individually tailored to your needs by an academic staff mentor, introduces you to research in the Bachelor of Science, then extends the research training to a higher level in the Bachelor of Science (Honours).
The accelerated Bachelor of Science pathway allows you to choose from a wide range of majors, and to design a degree to suit your interests and career ambitions. You can undertake science-based studies entirely within the Faculty of Science, Health and Education, or incorporate courses from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, or Business.
Career opportunities
This program is specifically designed as a pathway for students who wish to undertake higher degree by research studies. Since the honours program provides evidence of independent research, this provides all honours graduates with a competitive edge in the employment market in their chosen major area of study. Depending on the major selected, graduates from the double degree will be well placed for entry into postgraduate course work programs or graduate entry programs such as medicine.
Special features
Guaranteed pathways to a honours
The program offers students a guaranteed pathway into the science honours program, provided they maintain the 5.5 GPA requirement throughout their accelerated Bachelor of Science pathway.
Completion of a 3-year Bachelor of Science degree within 2 years
Through a combination of overload in semesters and studies during the Summer and Winter teaching periods, students in this program will complete the three year Bachelor of Science in two years of study.
Mentor
Each student in this program is assigned a senior academic mentor approved by the Dean. The mentor will be selected on the basis of the student’s research interests. Through the mentor, the student will be encouraged to undertake Special Scholarship Projects, comprised of small research studies, as part of their accelerated Bachelor of Science program and to participate in research activities (attending seminars, etc.) that will assist them to refine their honours topic.
Program Structure
Students must conform to the requirements of the two component degrees.
Bachelor of Science
Core courses
Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Exercise Physiology I
COR110 Communication and Thought
COR111 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Introductory courses
4 required courses:
LFS100 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
MTH101 Cell Biology
SCI105 Introduction to Mathematics
SCI110 Chemistry
Plus select at least 2 courses from: #
LFS112 Science Research Methods
LFS122 Human Physiology
SCI102 Human Anatomy
SCI107 Biodiversity and Ecology
SUS101 Physics
or 2 introductory courses from the Faculty of Science, Health and Education.
# Some majors may require some of these courses.
Advanced courses
Select a major consisting of 8 courses from:
- Biomedical Science
- Biotechnology
- Clinical Measurement
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Health
- Health Promotion
- Nutrition
- Public Health
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Sustainability
Plus select at least 2 science courses.
Plus select up to 6 introductory or advanced courses from any faculty (Science, Health and Education, Arts and Social Sciences or Business). It is recommended that students in the Deans Scholars Program undertake 48 units of Special Scholarship Projects (SRP) during their degree, under the advice of their mentor.
Bachelor of Science program requirements and notes
- A maximum of 10 introductory (100 level) courses must be chosen, including the core courses.
- A minimum of 14 advanced (200 and 300 level) courses must be chosen, 5 of which must be 300 level science courses.
- Refer to the Academic Rules.
- Refer to explanation of terms.
- Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including; namely essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) structure is usually as follows:
- a 24-unit coursework component (consisting of two 12-unit courses), and
- a 72-unit thesis component
Coursework component
Coursework comprises:
RES401 Foundations of Sustainability(students will be assessed on the submission of a research proposal and delivery of an oral presentation)
ADR401 Advanced Research Methods(students will be assessed on the submission of a literature review)
Thesis component
This is a research project conducted over the full year of enrolment. It comprises a traditional thesis or a manuscript accompanied by an exegesis, as described in guidelines provided to students at the beginning of their enrolment. The nature and topic of the thesis is determined by the student's interests, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.The completed thesis is normally 15,000–25,000 words in length. The required length is determined by the precise nature of the research, in consultation with the supervisor and subject to the approval of the Dean.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Deans Scholars Program Rules
Students must progress in a full-time mode in accordance with the requirements set out by the Deans Scholars Program. Students wishing to move to a part time enrolment may transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science degree that does not have the accelerated pathway. Students will normally enrol in 5 courses in each semester (60 units) in order to maintain their accelerated progress. However, they may enrol in up to 72 units on the recommendation of their mentor, and with the approval of the Program Leader.Students must maintain a study overload such that they will complete the Bachelor of Science component in 2.5 years or less in order to remain in the Deans Scholars Program. Students who are not able to maintain the overload will be directed to transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science Program.Students must maintain a GPA of 5.5 or better each semester, without any grade lower than 4 within the accelerated Bachelor of Science component of the double degree program. Where there are exceptional unforeseen circumstances such as in the case of illness, students must apply for special dispensation to the Program Leader. Students who fail to meets the GPA requirement will be directed to transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science program.
Completion requirements
- Completion of 384 units consisting of 288 units for the Bachelor of Science and 96 units for the Bachelor of Science (Honours). The studies completed must be consistent with the structural requirements for both components degrees.
- On completion of the 288 units in the accelerated Bachelor of Science component, students will be given the option to exit with the Bachelor of Science (SC301) or continue on to complete the Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- On completion of the double degree, students will be entitled to receive two testamurs – Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours).
Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program
As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
Enquiries
How to apply
Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Email: sheinfo@usc.edu.au