Bachelor of Science (Advanced)(Honours) [4 Years] (BSc(Adv)(Hons))

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Detailed Program Information

Program Code
HSCIA

Program Faculty
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Special Notes

The Professional Pathway is not offered in 2024.

Academic Year
2025

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

Overview

This program is designed for high-achieving students who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of science, with a strong emphasis on research skill development. 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. Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) students participate in program specific courses that will introduce topics on processes, communication and methods used in science research as well as encourage participation in the academic and research culture of the scientific areas they are most interested in. In third year, students choose at least one area of science in which to major and undertake a research placement. Students will also participate in structured research activities and research seminars, normally only available to Honours and postgraduate students. These activities will allow associations with academic staff in major research areas, providing early access to research laboratories/projects that can be further developed 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 science communication, science education, science innovation, science policy and project management.
 
The Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (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 and sophisticated 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 with enhanced cross-disciplinary knowledge 2.3 demonstrating knowledge and skills appropriate to their final year project area.
  3. Critically analyse and solve complex scientific problems in an integrative manner 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 original research 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 and from across disciplines.
  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 professional 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 and leadership capabilities in preparation for employment.

Conditions

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.

Condition of continuing enrolment: Students enrolled in this program must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 5.0 throughout their enrolment or will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science.

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.

Nuclear and Radiation Physics Major: Students admitted to the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) [4 Years] will be invited to apply for the opportunity to undertake the Nuclear and Radiation Physics major. Only students eligible for an Australian security clearance, who currently have a GPA of at least 5.0 will be eligible. Confirmation of the opportunity to undertake the major will be sent at the end of the semester prior to a student’s commencement of the first course restricted to the major, STEM 2500 Defence Industry and Security. 

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

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

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (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 (Advanced) including:

  1. Core courses to the value of 6 units.
  2. Elective courses up to the value of 42 units.
  3. Broadening Electives to the value of 9 units.
  4. Level I courses not exceeding 30 units.
  5. Level III Science courses to the value of at least 24 units.
  6. 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 and Immunology
  • Nuclear and Radiation Physics
  • Palaeontology
  • Palaeontology and Evolution
  • Physics
  • Physics and Geophysics
  • Plant Biology
  • Pure and Applied Chemistry
  • Soil Science
  • Theoretical Physics

Note: In addition to completing one major in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) degree, students may, without exceeding the maximum units for the degree, choose to undertake a second major from the available majors in the Bachelor of Science degree, or Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences degree, as outlined in the corresponding Academic Program Rules.

Students must complete 72 Units of Level I-III prior to commencing Level IV courses.

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
    • Environmental Geoscience Geology
    • Geophysics
    • Energy Geoscience
    • 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 18 units while students who have chosen a Research Honours pathway must complete courses to the value of at least 12 units dependent upon their specialisation area.

    Level I

    Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value
    SCIENCE 1300 Principles & Practice of Research (Advanced) I 3

    Level II

    Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value
    SCIENCE 2300 Principles & Practice of Research (Advanced) II 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

  • Electives

    To satisfy the requirements for Elective Courses students must complete courses up to the value of 42 units which must include 9 units Broadening Electives, and 33 units from the majors or Science/Mathematical and Computer Sciences Elective Courses from the Bachelor of Science.

  • Broadening Electives

    To satisfy the requirements for Broadening Electives students must complete courses to the value of 9 units, which may include a maximum 6 units at Level I.

    Broadening electives can be met through any of the following:

    Study abroad or exchange

    or

    Courses chosen from the following:

    Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value
    SCIENCE 3200 Communicating Science III 3
    SCIENCE 3500 Science International Study Tour 3
    SCIENCE 3510 Science International Study Tour B 3
    SCIENCE 3520 Science Experience III 3
    STEM 3700 STEM Internship 3

    or

    Courses chosen from outside the major area of study.

Published on: 29 November, 2024 | 11:25:53

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