Challenge your thinking and learn something new almost every day.
Discover the endless opportunities a career in science offers you. This degree is designed to give you the flexibility to focus on the areas of science that interest you most.
Program will be discontinued at USC Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast (approved to be discontinued in Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017). The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs. Enrolments at Fraser Coast commence from Semester 1, 2017, subject to final approval.
- * Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast (approved to be discontinued in Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017). The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs. Enrolments at Fraser Coast commence from Semester 1, 2017, subject to final approval.
Discover the endless opportunities a career in science offers you. This degree is designed to give you the flexibility to focus on the areas of science that interest you most.
Science is the investigation of the structure and behaviour of natural and physical processes, through systematic discovery and invention to improve our understanding of the universe. The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program follows the global trend of offering majors and minors in traditional scientific fields, so that upon graduation students will exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge. In your first year you’ll gain a strong foundation in cell biology, chemistry, biodiversity and ecology, science research methods and introductory mathematics. Afterwards you can decide where you want your science degree to take you, choose a major (or two) from a wide range of science areas.
In the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program you will also learn practical scientific skills in our fully equipped laboratories and gain hands-on experience during field studies to prepare you for a career in emerging scientific fields. There are excellent opportunities to further your studies and undertake rewarding research to make a real difference in our world.
Majors
Science majors: Biology; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Mathematics.
Career opportunities
There are three usual career progressions after completion of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program:
- Education
- Research
- Industry/Government
If students are planning to enter a career in education you should look to study at least one and preferably two of the traditional majors offered in the program. If you're planning to enter a career in research (usually via Bachelor of Science (Honours), Doctor of Philosophy), you must achieve a high grade point average and should take advantage of our Special Research Project (SRP) opportunities offered in the program, especially with prospective supervisors, however if you are planning to enter a career in industry or government, you should take advantage of our Work Place Learning (WPL) opportunities offered, especially with prospective employers.
Membership
Eligibility for memberships depends on areas of specialisation.
Program structure
Program Structure
Introductory courses (8)
COR109 Ethics and Professional Practice
LFS100 Community Development and Social Action
SCI105 Complexity and Social Work: Policy and Practice
SCI110 An Introduction to Australian and Comparative Politics
PLUS select 1 course from:
MTH100 Indigenous Australia and the State
MTH102 Social Research
PLUS select 1 course from:
SET111 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
OR 1 introductory (100 coded) course from the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
PLUS select 2 courses from:
LFS112 Health, Society and Culture
LFS122 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SCI102 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCI107 Gender and Culture
SUS101 Human Services Placement 1
OR select 2 introductory courses from the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Major courses (8)
Select a major from the Science and Health major study area
Elective courses (8)
Select 8 elective courses of which six (6) must be advanced (200/300 coded) courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
*The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Study Plan - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Study Plan - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Study Plan - Semester 1 Commencement (February)
- (Fraser Coast) Study Plan - Semester 1 Commencement (February)
- Fraser Coast - Study Plan Semester 2 Commencement
- (Gympie) Study Plan - Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete no more than 10 introductory (100 coded) courses, including COR109
- Complete a minimum of 14 advanced (200 and 300 coded) courses
- Select and complete a major from the Science and Health Major study area
- The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen
- Register your selected major and/or minor
Program notes
- MTH100 does not assume you have successfully completed Years 11-12 Mathematics B (or equivalent). MTH100 does not meet the prerequisite necessary to enrol in advanced level mathematics courses. Should you wish to proceed to 200 or 300 coded mathematics courses, you would first need to successfully complete MTH100 and then MTH102
- MTH102 assumes you have successfully completed Years 11-12 Mathematics B (or equivalent). Note that MTH102 is a prerequisite for advanced level (200 and 300 coded) mathematics courses
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan