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, while preparing you for the variety of work opportunities that will be your career.
- 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.
- Campus note: Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
- ^First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from Semester 1 , 2020.
- Campus note: Only first-year courses are offered at Fraser Coast. The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs.
- ^First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from Semester 1 , 2020.
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, while preparing you for the variety of work opportunities that will be your career.
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. USC's Bachelor of Science follows the global trend of offering majors and minors in both traditional and emerging scientific fields, so you graduate with depth and breadth of scientific knowledge. In your first year, you’ll gain a strong foundation in cell biology, chemistry, biodiversity and ecology and science research methods. There are additional introductory courses in mathematics for those interested in this specialisation. Then, you can decide where you want your science degree to take you, choosing a major and a minor from a wide range of science areas.
You will also learn practical scientific skills in our fully equipped laboratories and gain hands-on experience during field studies to prepare you for work in professional scientific settings. There are excellent opportunities to further your studies and undertake rewarding research to make a real difference in our world.
Majors:
Biology; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Ecology; Mathematics.
Minors:
Biology; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Entrepreneurship; Agriculture and Aquaculture; Genetics; Journalism; Mathematics; Biochemistry, Microbiology; Sustainability.
Note: not all study components and / or combinations of study components included in this program may be able to be completed in the minimum duration. Please contact the Program Coordinator if you require written confirmation prior to accepting a place in this program.
Chemistry Major combined with the Mathematics or Biotechnology Minor available for Semester 1 commencement only.
The following combinations of majors / minors are not available: Chemistry Major combined with Biochemistry Minor; Ecology Major combined with Agriculture and Aquaculture Minor.
Career opportunities
There are three usual career progressions after completion of the Bachelor of Science:
- Education
- Research
- Industry/government
If you plan 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) or Doctor of Philosophy), you must achieve a high grade point average and should take advantage of Special Research Project (SRP) opportunities, especially with prospective supervisors. If you are plan to enter a career in industry or government, 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
Required courses (8) 96 units
COR109 Planning and Environmental Law
LFS100 Urbanism and Urban Design
SCI102 Regions, Change and Sustainability
SCI105 Participation and Conflict Resolution
SCI110 Digital Logic and Computer Programming
SCI113 Mechatronic Design 1
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
SCI202 Mechatronic Design 2
ANM203 Image Processing and Machine Vision
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 Soil Mechanics
ENS333 Structural Engineering
SRP301 Design of Roads and Drainage
WPL310 Engineering Sustainable Design
SCI302 Communication and Thought
Major and minor courses (12) 144 units ^
Select 12 course (144 units) towards 1 major and 1 minor
Majors
Minors
- Agriculture and Aquaculture
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Entrepreneurship
- Genetics
- Journalism
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Sustainability
^ With the approval of the Program Coordinator, students may replace a specified major or minor with a study component deemed to be equivalent commenced or completed at another university or comparable tertiary institution.
Elective courses (4) 48 units
Select 4 elective courses (48 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.
*The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- You may choose to complete 2 majors or 1 major and 2 minors from the list on the Program Structure
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.