Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years] (BSc(Hons))
Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years] (BSc(Hons))
Program Code
HSCI
Program Faculty
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Academic Year
2021
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 Science, Chemistry, Ecology and Environmental Science, Environmental Geoscience, Evolution and Palaeobiology, Geology, Geophysics, Horticulture, Mathematical Physics, Molecular and Biomedical Science, Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Physics, Plant Science, Soil Science, Viticulture and Wine Science. The Professional pathway in fourth year consists of coursework designed to assist students that are primarily interested in enhancing their professional skills to better prepare them for entry into the workforce and a project that is more applied in nature than those in the Research pathway. Students can pursue Professional pathways in one of the following areas: Science Communication, Science Education, Science Innovation, Science Policy and Project Management.
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.
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) [4 years] is an AQF Level 8 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 4 years.
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.
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
- Core course to the value of 3 units
- Elective courses to the value of 69 units, which may include other undergraduate courses offered by the University that are not offered by the Faculty of Sciences up to the value of 9 units in total at levels I and/or II with no more than 6 units at level I
- Level I courses not exceeding 30 units
- Level III Science courses to the value of at least 24 units
- One major chosen from the following:
- Biochemistry
- Bioinformatics
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Microbiology & Immunology
- Palaeontology
- Physics
- Plant Biology
- Soil Science
- Theoretical Physics
or a double major from:
- Chemistry (Double)
- Ecology & Spatial Science
- Experimental & Theoretical Physics
- Palaeontology (Evolution)
- Palaeontology (Geology)
- 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.
- Broadening experience
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 (9 units), Elective Courses (6 units) and Professional Research Project (9 units) with specialisations available 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 Science
- Chemistry
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Environmental Geoscience
- Evolution and Palaeobiology
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Horticulture
- Mathematical Physics
- Molecular and Biomedical Science
- Petroleum Geology and Geophysics
- Physics
- Plant Science
- Soil Science
- Viticulture
- Wine Science
Core Courses
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Core Courses
To satisfy the requirements for Core Courses students who have chosen a Professional Honours pathway must complete courses to the value of 12 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.
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Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value SCIENCE 1400 Science or Fiction I 3 -
Level IV
Professional Pathway students must complete courses to the value of at least 9 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).
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Research Project
To satisfy the requirements for Research Project, Professional Pathway students must complete courses to the value of at least 9 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).
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Broadening Experience
The broadening experience requirement can be met by any of the following:
Study abroad or exchangeor
Courses to the value of at least 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value SCIENCE 2550 International Experience II 3 SCIENCE 2700 Science Internship II 3 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 SCIENCE 3550 International Experience III 3 SCIENCE 3700 Science Internship III 3 or
courses chosen from outside the major area of study.
Major
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Biochemistry Major
To satisfy the requirements for Biochemistry Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value BIOCHEM 3000 Molecular and Structural Biology III 6 BIOCHEM 3001 Cancer, Stem Cells & Development III 6 -
Bioinformatics Major
To satisfy the requirements for Bioinformatics Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value BIOINF 3000 Bioinformatics III 3 BIOINF 3005 Transcriptomics Applications III 3 BIOINF 3010 Genomics Applications III 3 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value BIOCHEM 3004 Molecular and Structural Biology (Theory) III 3 BIOCHEM 3520 Cancer, Stem Cells and Development (Theory) III 3 GENETICS 3113 Genes, Genomes and Molecular Evolution (Theory) III 3 GENETICS 3520 Gene Expression & Human & Developmental Genetics (Theory) III 3 MICRO 3007 Infection & Immunity A (Theory) III 3 MICRO 3520 Infection & Immunity B (Theory) III 3 PUB HLTH 3009 Experimental Research Design and Analysis 3 PUB HLTH 3010 Practical Epidemiology in Health Sciences 3 PUB HLTH 3011 Big Challenges in Public Health 3 -
Chemistry Major
To satisfy the requirements for Chemistry Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
Courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value CHEM 3610 Inorganic Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3620 Organic Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3630 Physical Chemistry III 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value CHEM 3211 Synthesis of Materials III 3 CHEM 3212 Fundamentals of Materials III 3 CHEM 3213 Advanced Synthetic Methods III 3 CHEM 3214 Medicinal and Biological Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3600 Environmental and Analytical Chemistry III 3 -
Ecology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Ecology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ENV BIOL 3121 Concepts in Ecology III 3 ENV BIOL 3510 Research Methods in Ecology III 3 and
Courses to the value of 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ENV BIOL 3004 Freshwater Ecology III 3 ENV BIOL 3009 Ecophysiology of Plants III 3 ENV BIOL 3010 Marine Ecology III 3 ENV BIOL 3580 Conservation Biology III 3 -
Evolutionary Biology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Evolutionary Biology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ENV BIOL 3011 Evolution and Diversity of Insects III 3 ENV BIOL 3535 Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III 3 ENV BIOL 3560 Evolution of Australian Biota III 3 ENV BIOL 3590 Evolutionary Biology III 3 -
Genetics Major
To satisfy the requirements for Genetics Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value GENETICS 3111 Genes, Genomes and Molecular Evolution III 6 GENETICS 3211 Gene Expression & Human & Developmental Genetics III 6 -
Geology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Geology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value GEOLOGY 3013 Tectonics III 3 GEOLOGY 3016 Igneous and Metamorphic Geology III 3 GEOLOGY 3019 Field Geoscience Program III 3 GEOLOGY 3505 Earth Systems History III 3 -
Geophysics Major
To satisfy the requirements for Geophysics Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value GEOLOGY 3022 Geophysics IIIA: Potential Fields and Geothermics 3 GEOLOGY 3023 Geophysics IIIB: Electromagnetics and Seismology 3 and
Courses to the value of at least 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value GEOLOGY 3500 Exploration Methods III 3 GEOLOGY 3502 Mineral and Energy Resources III 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value SPATIAL 3007WT GIS for Environmental Management III 3 SPATIAL 3010 Earth Observation III 3 -
Microbiology & Immunology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Microbiology & Immunology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value MICRO 3000 Infection and Immunity IIIA 6 MICRO 3001 Infection and Immunity IIIB 6 -
Palaeontology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Palaeontology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PALAEO 3000 Field Palaeontology III 3 PALAEO 3005 Geochronology, Fossils and Palaeoenvironments III 3 ENV BIOL 3560 Evolution of Australian Biota III 3 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value GEOLOGY 3505 Earth Systems History III 3 ENV BIOL 3535 Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III 3 -
Physics Major
To satisfy the requirements for Physics Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSICS 3002 Experimental Physics III 3 PHYSICS 3542 Physics III 6 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSICS 3006 Advanced Dynamics and Relativity III 3 PHYSICS 3532 Atmospheric and Astrophysics III 3 PHYSICS 3534 Computational Physics III 3 PHYSICS 3540 Optics and Photonics III 3 PHYSICS 3544 Quantum Mechanics III 3 -
Plant Biology Major
To satisfy the requirements for Plant Biology Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PLANT SC 3540WT Professional Practice in Plant Biology III 3 and
Courses to the value of 9 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PLANT SC 3200WT Plant Breeding III 3 PLANT SC 3510WT Plant Health III 3 PLANT SC 3515WT Plant Biotechnology III 3 PLANT SC 3530WT Food Production in a Future Climate III 3 -
Soil Science Major
To satisfy the requirements for Soil Science Major students must complete courses to the value of 9 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value SOIL&WAT 3016WT Soil Ecology and Nutrient Cycling III 3 SOIL&WAT 3017WT Soil & Water: Management & Conservation III 3 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PLANT SC 3505WT Soil and Plant Nutrition III 3 GEOLOGY 3505 Earth Systems History III 3 -
Theoretical Physics Major
To satisfy the requirements for Theoretical Physics Major students must complete courses to the value of 12 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSICS 3006 Advanced Dynamics and Relativity III 3 PHYSICS 3542 Physics III 6 PHYSICS 3544 Quantum Mechanics III 3
Double Major
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Chemistry Double Major
To satisfy the requirements for Chemistry Double Major students must complete courses to the value of 18 units.
Courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value CHEM 3610 Inorganic Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3620 Organic Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3630 Physical Chemistry III 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 12 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value CHEM 3211 Synthesis of Materials III 3 CHEM 3212 Fundamentals of Materials III 3 CHEM 3213 Advanced Synthetic Methods III 3 CHEM 3214 Medicinal and Biological Chemistry III 3 CHEM 3600 Environmental and Analytical Chemistry III 3 -
Ecology & Spatial Science Double Major
To satisfy the requirements for Ecology & Spatial Science Double Major students must complete courses to the value of 18 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ENV BIOL 3121 Concepts in Ecology III 3 ENV BIOL 3510 Research Methods in Ecology III 3 SPATIAL 3007WT GIS for Environmental Management III 3 SPATIAL 3010 Earth Observation III 3 and
Courses to the value of 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ENV BIOL 3004 Freshwater Ecology III 3 ENV BIOL 3010 Marine Ecology III 3 SOIL&WAT 3016WT Soil Ecology and Nutrient Cycling III 3 ENV BIOL 3580 Conservation Biology III 3 -
Experimental & Theoretical Physics Double Major
To satisfy the requirements for Experimental & Theoretical Physics Double Major students must complete courses to the value of 18 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSICS 3002 Experimental Physics III 3 PHYSICS 3006 Advanced Dynamics and Relativity III 3 PHYSICS 3542 Physics III 6 PHYSICS 3544 Quantum Mechanics III 3 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSICS 3532 Atmospheric and Astrophysics III 3 PHYSICS 3534 Computational Physics III 3 PHYSICS 3540 Optics and Photonics III 3 -
Palaeontology (Evolution) Double Major
To satisfy the requirements for Palaeontology (Evolution) Double Major students must complete courses to the value of 21 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PALAEO 3000 Field Palaeontology III 3 PALAEO 3005 Geochronology, Fossils and Palaeoenvironments III 3 ENV BIOL 3535 Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III 3 ENV BIOL 3560 Evolution of Australian Biota III 3 ENV BIOL 3590 Evolutionary Biology III 3 ENV BIOL 3011 Evolution and Diversity of Insects III 3 GEOLOGY 3505 Earth Systems History III 3 -
Palaeontology (Geology) Double Major
To satisfy the requirements for Palaeontology (Geology) Double Major students must complete courses to the value of 21 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PALAEO 3000 Field Palaeontology III 3 PALAEO 3005 Geochronology, Fossils and Palaeoenvironments III 3 ENV BIOL 3560 Evolution of Australian Biota III 3 GEOLOGY 3505 Earth Systems History III 3 GEOLOGY 3013 Tectonics III 3 GEOLOGY 3016 Igneous and Metamorphic Geology III 3 GEOLOGY 3019 Field Geoscience Program III 3
Electives
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Elective Courses
To satisfy the requirements for Elective Courses students must complete courses to the value of at least 69 units, taken from the majors, double majors and Science Electives available in the Bachelor of Science. Professional Pathway students must also complete courses to the value of at least 6 units taken from the appropriate specialisation area in the Bachelor of Science (Honours).