Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years] (BSc(Hons))

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Detailed Program Information

Program Code
HSCI

Program Faculty
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Special Notes

The Professional Pathway is not offered in 2024.

Academic Year
2024

These Program Rules should be read in conjunction with the University's policies (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies).

Overview

This program allows students to explore diverse areas of science and encourages them to follow their emerging interests and scientific curiosity. Students design their own degree, choosing from a wide range of science courses according to their interests and strengths. The program also provides students with the opportunity to acquire extensive transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical methods, laboratory and field techniques, teamwork, science communication and information technology. In third year, students have the opportunity to choose at least one area of science to major in, which involves developing an in-depth understanding of this field. Students then extend their knowledge and skills through either a Research or Professional pathway in their fourth year. The Research pathway in the fourth year consists of a research project and associated theoretical work and provides professional training and an opportunity to experience scientific research in one of the following areas of science: Agricultural Science, Animal Behaviour, Animal Science, Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Energy Geoscience, Environmental Geoscience,  Geology, Geophysics, Molecular and Biomedical Science, Physics, Plant Science, Soil Science and Wine Science. The Professional pathway in fourth year consists of a project that is more applied in nature than those in the Research pathway and may provide the opportunity to work with industry on an applied discipline project or in areas such as science communication, science education, science innovation, science policy and project management.
 
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years] is an AQF Level 8 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 4 years.
 

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate a coherent understanding of science by: 1.1 articulating the methods of science and explaining why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry 1.2 explaining the role and relevance of science in society 1.3 demonstrating an insight of the key theoretical and practical aspects of their final year project area and its context within the broader scope of science and society.
  2. Exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge by: 2.1 demonstrating well-developed knowledge in at least one disciplinary area 2.2 demonstrating knowledge in at least one other disciplinary area 2.3 demonstrating knowledge and skills appropriate to their final year project area.
  3. Critically analyse and solve scientific problems by: 3.1 gathering, synthesising and critically evaluating information from a range of sources 3.2 designing and planning an investigation 3.3 selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation 3.4 collecting, accurately recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data 3.5 analysing and critically evaluating both quantitative and qualitative data relating to their final year project area.
  4. Be effective communicators of science by: 4.1 communicating scientific results, information, or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes, and using a variety of modes 4.2 presenting results of their final year project in both written format (including graphical formats where appropriate) and oral formats using appropriate scientific conventions, industry requirements and cultural contexts.
  5. Be accountable for their own learning and scientific work by: 5.1 being independent and self-directed learners 5.2 working effectively, responsibly and safely in an individual or team context 5.3 demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to their disciplinary area and personally practicing ethical conduct 5.4 demonstrating and articulating personal capabilities in preparation for employment.

Conditions

Condition of continuing enrolment: Students enrolled in this program must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 4.5 throughout their enrolment or will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science.

Interruption of program: Students must apply for permission from the Executive Dean or delegate before taking a Leave of Absence. Any extension of the leave without approval will result in the loss of place in the program but an application may be made to be re-admitted to the program subject to the admission procedures in place at the time.

Program Maximum Duration: As specified in Table 1 of the Coursework Academic Programs Policy, this program must be completed within a Maximum Duration which includes any periods of non-enrolment, leave of absence or approved study at other institutions for credit towards a Program. 

Academic Program Rules for Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years]

There shall be a Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years].

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years], the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 96 units, comprising:

Courses to the value of 72 units from the Bachelor of Science including

  1. Core course to the value of 3 units.
  2. Elective courses up to the value of 45 units, which may include a second major.
  3. Broadening electives to the value of 9 units. 
  4. Level I courses to a maximum of 30 units.
  5. Level III Science courses to the value of at least 24 units.
  6. At least one major to the value of at least 24 units from the following:
    • Biochemistry
    • Bioinformatics
    • Chemistry
    • Ecology and Environmental Science
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Experimental and Theoretical Physics
    • Genetics
    • Geology
    • Geology and Earth Resources
    • Geology and Geophysics
    • Geology and Palaeontology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Palaeontology
    • Palaeontology and Evolution
    • Physics
    • Physics and Geophysics
    • Plant Biology
    • Pure and Applied Chemistry
    • Soil Science
    • Theoretical Physics
      • Note: A student who has completed a major in a Science discipline and also completes courses that fulfil requirements for a major as specified under the Academic Program Rules for the degree of Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, shall be awarded that Mathematical and Computer Sciences major in addition to the Science major.
  7. Courses to the value of 24 units, chosen from the Bachelor of Science (Honours).
    • For Professional Pathway students, Level IV courses must include Core Courses (12 units) and Professional Research Project (12 units) that is more applied than those in the Research pathway and may provide the opportunity to work with industry on an applied discipline project or in science communication, science education, science innovation, science policy or project management.
    • For Research Pathway students, Level IV courses must include Core Courses and Research Project with unit value dependent upon Specialisation Area:
      • Agricultural Science
      • Animal Behaviour
      • Animal Science
      • Chemistry
      • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
      • Energy Geoscience
      • Environmental Geoscience
      • Geology
      • Geophysics
      • Molecular and Biomedical Science
      • Physics
      • Plant Science
      • Soil Science
      • Wine Science

Core Courses

  • Core Courses

    To satisfy the requirements for Core Courses students who have chosen a Professional Honours pathway must complete courses to the value of 15 units while students who have chosen a Research Honours pathway must complete courses to the value of at least 9 units dependent upon their specialisation area.

  • Level I

    To satisfy the requirements for Level I students must complete courses to the value of 3 units.

    Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:

    Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value
    BIOLOGY 1101 Biology I: Molecules, Genes and Cells 3
    CHEM 1100 Chemistry IA 3
    CHEM 1101 Foundations of Chemistry IA 3
    GEOLOGY 1100 Planet Earth 3
    GEOLOGY 1300 Extra-Terrestrial Geoscience 3
    PHYSICS 1100 Physics IA 3

  • Level IV

    Professional Pathway students must complete courses to the value of 12 units while Research Pathway students must complete courses to the value of at least 6 units taken from the appropriate specialisation area in the Bachelor of Science (Honours).

  • Research Project

    To satisfy the requirements for Research Project, Professional Pathway students must complete courses to the value of 12 units while Research Pathway students must complete courses to the value of at least 12 units taken from the appropriate Specialisation Area in the Bachelor of Science (Honours).

Major

Electives

Published on: 12 March, 2024 | 12:26:05

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