Bachelor of Science B.Sc

2009

Program Outline

For students who want to keep their options open, the Bachelor of Science program provides the most flexibility due to its diverse range of course offerings from a number of disciplines. In the first year level, students enrol in a combination of courses that prepare them to follow pathways through to major study areas in third year. Science students learn a number of transferable skills that are useful in a wide range of careers not only limited to scientific areas. These skills include analytical methods, laboratory and field techniques, information technology skills, teamwork, initiative and the ability to communicate and cooperate with people from a range of backgrounds and expertise.

Admission Information

Admissions information for domestic and international students.

Domestic

Selection criteria:	Year 12 applicants 2008 Commonwealth-supported TER: 68.65 You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You must have gained a 'Recorded Achievement' in four SACE Stage 2 HESS (Higher Education Selection Subjects) General subjects (or interstate/International Baccalaureate equivalents). For a full list of SACE subjects and their HESS status please refer to the SATAC Tertiary Entrance Booklet. You compete for a place with your Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER). Higher Education applicants You must have completed at least half a year full time equivalent university study. A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. VET applicants You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award. Special Entry applicants You must meet the following criteria: you must be 21 years or over on January 1st of the year that you will be studying*, you must not hold a completed higher education level award, and if you have been enrolled in a course leading to a higher education level award in the last 3 years, you must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study. If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Personal Competencies (PC) and Employment Experience (EE) statements may also contribute to your rank. Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. If you submit a PC or EE statement, and one of these ranks higher than your STAT score, then the highest ranking statement will contribute 50% to your overall rank and the STAT will contribute the remaining 50%. If you do not submit a PC or EE statement, or if the statements have a lower rank than the STAT, then you will compete for a place on the basis of your STAT result only. *The age restriction is 19 years or over if you have completed either the Flinders Foundation course or the UniSA Foundation Studies program or the UniSA Program for Adult Learners. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Scheme. See Wilto Yerlo for further information.
Prerequisites:	SACE Stage 2: any two Science subjects chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematical Methods, Mathematical Studies, Physics, Psychology or Specialist Mathematics (NB: only one Mathematics subject may be counted) IB: two Science subjects (minimum grade 5 for SL, 4 for HL); or, one Science subject plus Mathematics (minimum grade 5 for SL, 3 for HL)
Assumed knowledge:	SACE Stage 2 Chemistry, Mathematical Studies, Physics
How to apply:	SATAC Code: 314581 Apply through SATAC SATAC application dates Application and Admission
Mid-year entry?	Subject to availability
Annual tuition fees:	Commonwealth-supported place: $4,162
General enquiries:	Student Centre

International

Selection criteria:	IELTS Total Reading Listening Speaking Writing 6 5.5 5.5 6 6 International TER 70
Prerequisites:	Two Science subjects chosen from Biology, Chemsitry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Note: only one Mathematics subject may be counted
How to apply:	Application information for international students Important application deadlines for international students
Mid-year entry?	Subject to availability
Annual tuition fees:	International student place: $22,000
General enquiries:	Student Centre

Areas of Specialisation

Biomedical Science provides an understanding of the human body and the way it works. Graduates pursue professions allied with medical research, such as human anatomy and histology, the microbiology and physiology of disease, exercise physiology, immune responses, the harmful and useful roles of drugs and the psychological and physiological basis of human behaviour. Graduates may seek employment in medical or research laboratories, hospitals, private industries, the pharmaceutical industry, sports clinics, the biotechnology industry, forensic science, food science and nutrition, cardiac technology, rehabilitation, chiropractics, and teaching.  

Chemical Sciences involves the study of the structure, physical and chemical properties and reactions of elements and compounds. Students learn how to apply this knowledge to develop new and useful chemicals such as plastics, fuels and pharmaceuticals, for use in manufacture, medicine and the environment. A wide range of professional careers may be sought by graduates including environmental monitoring and control, mining, forensic science, nanotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medical and agricultural laboratories, manufacturing, food technology, the chemical industry, research and teaching. 

Environmental Biology, Ecology and Marine Biology allows students to investigate the diversity of life on earth and the relationships between organisms and their environments. Students will learn about plants and animals, their ecology, conservation and management, physiology and evolution, including those in terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems. Fieldwork and the study of South Australian ecosystems are important components of many later year courses. Exciting careers exist in environmental consultancy, environmental monitoring and management, marine science, aquaculture, community education, ecotourism, wildlife parks, catchment management, research and teaching.

Earth Sciences involve the study of how our planet is built, how it works, its turbulent 4.5 billion-year history and how its precious resources can be located and used. It also investigates how the fragile landscape and often hazardous natural events must be studied and understood to allow them to be adequately managed. Earth Science is one of the most diverse of the sciences covering everything from meteorites to dinosaurs and from gold deposits to volcanoes. Graduates may seek a wide range of professional careers in areas including resource management, environmental geology, mineral exploration, organic geochemistry, seismology, geomorphology, palaeontology, industry and fundamental research.  

Molecular Biology explores how biological processes function at a molecular level and its application in medicine, agriculture and research.  Students develop an understanding of the manufacture of important biological molecules and how, through gene technology, genes may be manipulated in beneficial ways. Graduates can pursue careers in biotechnology, biomedicine, agricultural research, pharmaceutical industries and medical laboratories.  

Physics provides an understanding of the structure of matter and the nature of the universe. Students may develop a detailed knowledge of relativity, optics and photonics, lasers, mathematical physics, nuclear or solid state physics. Mathematical and Computer Science courses are often taken along with Physics. A broad range of careers may be sought in electronic, optics, photonics, lasers and energy industries, defence and space programs, scientific computing, manufacturing, telecommunications, defence, engineering, teaching, health and environmental industries.  

Psychology, Neuroscience and the Behavioural Sciences allow students to study human and animal behaviour. They have many branches that examine topics such as the way we learn, how we make decisions, the biological basis of behaviour, social and cultural influences on our attitudes and relationships, personality and intelligence. Graduates may enter a variety of professional psychology careers in the public and private sectors.

Study Plans

The study plans given are examples of pathways through this degree. For a complete description, see the program rules.

Please note that this program is under review and the courses listed at levels II and III are indicative only.  

Biomedical Science

Level III

Core courses Anatomical Sciences     ANAT SC 3102 Comparative Reproductive Biology of Mammals ANAT SC 3103 Intergative Comparative Neuroanatomy ANAT SC 3101 Biological Anthopology ANAT SC 3104 Structural Cell Biology                Biochemistry   BIOCHEM 3000 Molecular and Structural Biology III     BIOCHEM 3001 Cell and Developmental Biology III              Genetics    GENETICS 3111 Genes, Genomes and Molecular Evolution GENETICS 3211  Gene Expression and Human& Developmental Genetics                         Microbiology & Immunology MICRO 3000 Infection and Immunity A   MICRO 3001 Infection and Immunity B                     Pharmacology  PHARM 3010 Pharmacology A III PHARM 3011 Pharmacology B III                           Physiology PHYSIOL 3000 Advanced Systems Physiology PHYSIOL 3001 Neurobiology III Plus non-core course(s) chosen from a range of offerings to suit interests and strengths.

Chemistry

Level III
Core courses Chemistry III CHEM 3111 Chemistry III Plus additional Chemistry and non-core course(s) chosen from a range of offerings to suit interests and strengths.

 Environmental Biology, Ecology and Marine Biology

Earth Sciences

Molecular Biology

Physics

Psychology, Neuroscience and the Behavioural Sciences

Career Opportunities

Biomedical Science graduates can pursue careers in medical or research laboratories, hospitals, private industries, the pharmaceutical industry, sports clinics, the biotechnology industry, forensic science, food science and nutrition, cardiac technology, rehabilitation, chiropractics, and teaching.

Chemical Sciences graduates enter a wide range of professional careers including environmental monitoring and control, mining, forensic science, nanotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medical and agricultural laboratories, manufacturing, food technology, the chemical industry, research and teaching.

Environmental Biology, Ecology and Marine Biology graduates pursue exciting careers in environmental consultancy, environmental monitoring and management, marine science, aquaculture, research, ecotourism, wildlife parks, catchment management, research and teaching.

Earth Sciences graduates from the Honours program enter a wide range of professional careers in resource management, environmental geology, mineral exploration, organic geochemistry, seismology, geomorphology, palaeontology industry and fundamental research.

Molecular Biology graduates can pursue careers in biotechnology, biomedical, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries and medical laboratories.

Physics graduates can enter a broad range of careers in electronic, optics, photonics, lasers and energy industries, defence and space programs, scientific computing, manufacturing, telecommunications, defence, health and environmental industries. Graduates also work in the fields of engineering, mineral exploration or teaching.

Psychology, Neuroscience and the Behavioural Sciences
A variety of professional psychology careers in the public and private sector await graduates.

Potential careers

Organic Chemical Engineer, Food Engineer, Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Foreign Affairs, Plant Breeding, Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Technician, Life Scientist, Marine Biologist, Medical Physicist, Medical Scientist, Medical Technician, Meteorologist, Mineral Exploration, Nanotechnologist, National Parks / Ranger, Natural Resource Manager, Neuroscientist, Oil and Gas Analyst, Palaentology, Parks Management, Petroleum Exploration, Pharmaceutical and Scientific Equipment Sales Representative, Pharmaceutical Scientist, Pharmacologist, Psychologist, Remote Sensing and GIS, Research Scientist, Resource Manager, Satellite Project Scientist, Science Communicators, Science Educators, Scientific Officer, Seismologist, Space Scientist, Technical Officer, Zoologist, Analytical Chemist, Animal Behaviouralist, Aquaculture, Biochemist, Botanist, Catchment Management, Chemist, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Scientist, Ecologist, Ecotourism, Environmental Biologist, Environmental Chemist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Geology, Environmental Geoscientist, Environmental Management, Environmental Project Officer, Field Technician, Fisheries Researcher, Forensic Science, Forensic Scientist, Geochemist, Geologists, Geophysicists, Hydrogeologist, Information Analyst, Journalist (Science Communications), Administrative Assistant, Ministerial Adviser, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Science, Natural Resource Planner, Parliamentary Adviser, Consultant, Diplomatic corps, Project Officer, Education Coordinator, Education Officer / Educator, Scientific Data Analyst, Soil Conservation, Government officer, Government or Corporate Policy Adviser, Horticulturalist, Tutor, Information Officer, Wildlife Officer, Journalist

Professional Accreditation

Useful Links

Faculty of Sciences

Program Rules

Faculty of Sciences