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

Program Code
HSCIA

Program Faculty
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Academic Year
2023

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) 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.
 
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.
 
The Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (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 (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 to the value of 66 units.
3.  Level I courses not exceeding 30 units.
4.  Level III Science courses to the value of at least 24 units.
5.  One major chosen from the following:

  • Biochemistry
  • Bioinformatics
  • Chemistry
  • Ecology and Environmental Science
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Geology
  • Microbiology & Immunology
  • Palaeontology
  • Physics
  • Plant Biology
  • Soil Science
  • Theoretical Physics
     
                or a double major from:
  • Chemistry (Double)
  • Experimental & Theoretical Physics
  • Geology (Earth Resources)
  • Geology (Geophysics)
  • Palaeontology (Evolution)
  • Palaeontology (Geology)
  • Physics (Geophysics)
 
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.

6.  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 (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).

  • Broadening Experience

    Courses to the value of at least 3 units from the following:

    The broadening experience requirement can be met by any of the following:
    Study abroad or exchange

    or

    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

Double Major

Electives

  • Electives

    To satisfy the requirements for Elective Courses students must complete courses up to the value of at least 66 units, taken from the majors, double majors and Science Electives available in the Bachelor of Science (Advanced).