The Bachelor of Science (Honours) Enhanced Program for High Achievers requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the College of Science and Engineering.
The course is designed to allow students flexibility to choose a tailored program from a field of study within the College of Science and Engineering, and where appropriate complement this study with a relevant discipline from across the University. Honours and ongoing research training will be an integral part of the course.
This course will offer students of exceptional merit additional challenging material to enable them to maximise their intellectual growth and potential and to provide an environment where students with similar interests and capabilities can come together to pursue their studies, develop their interests and share ideas.
In addition, it aims to develop through a combination of inquiry based learning and students' capabilities, interest and enthusiasm, an enhanced research training experience so that students are particularly well prepared to embark on a larger scale research project, like a PhD.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
Successful completion of at least three of the following SACE Stage 2 (Year 12) subjects: Biology, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, or the equivalent are normally required for entry to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Enhanced Program for High Achievers.
In order to progress into the Honours year of this program, a student must complete 108 units of the Bachelor of Science Enhanced Program for High Achievers, achieving an academic standard of a GPA greater than or equal to 6.
Course aims
The course aims to provide students who are planning for a career in science with a broad-based foundation in science together with the ability to acquire extensive subject knowledge and basic research training in one or more science disciplines. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:
- understand and apply relevant scientific principles
- retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
- critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
- analyse and evaluate data, appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of the science disciplines and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their own discipline area
- use information technology work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
- appreciate the role of science in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises
- work effectively, cooperatively and productively within a team
- have an appreciation of the role that scientific research plays in societal and historical contexts
- engage with, and critically discern relevant information from, the scientific literature
- propose, plan, and implement research projects
- assess and peer review research plans and outcomes
- report outcomes of research in a variety of written and spoken formats.
The course provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in a science or non-science related discipline or for a career in a science related field or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:
- be familiar with, know and critically apply the theories, subject content, professional methodologies and research procedures in the science disciplines they have studied
- understand describe the processes through which current knowledge was developed
- analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
- design and carry out experiments using relevant techniques and protocols, and critically analyse data obtained from them
- utilise their well developed communication and presentation skills to communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
- appreciate the existence of relationships and connections between different science disciplines, and through understanding such relationships, form connections with the discipline/s they have studied
- work and learn independently, appreciate the need for continuing professional development
- exercise teamwork and interpersonal skills to interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals
- incorporate their knowledge of societal and historical contexts of science to inform their professional practices
- engage with, and critically discern relevant information from, the scientific literature
- propose, plan, implement and report outcomes of research projects
- utilise their capacity to assess and peer review the research of colleagues and peers.
Program of study
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) Enhanced Program for High Achievers requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time), including the Fourth Year for students who meet the requirements for progression to the Honours year.
To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Enhanced Program for High Achievers, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic according to the program of study below.
Students who complete a specialisation or major in accordance with the Bachelor of Science course rule may have this reflected on their transcript.
Upon completion of 108 units students will be informed if they have been accepted into the Honours year. The entry requirement is normally a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 6.0 or more in the final 36 units of study prior to the Honours year.
Students who do not meet the GPA of 6.0 may be exited after 3 years with a Bachelor of Science. These students are able to apply to the Bachelor of Science one year Honoursprogram subject to meeting the admission requirements.
It is possible to elect to exit after three years of full-time equivalent study with a Bachelor of Science.
The first 108 units must include:
- minimum of 81 units of an approved science program* including;
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- 18 units of core topics SERC1012, SERC2700, SERC3700 and SPOC1701
- 36 units of upper level science topics** in a specific discipline to ensure eligibility for progression to Honours
- 27 units of additional science topics**
- 27 units of elective topics.
*An approved science program is defined in the High Achievers Program as the tailored program developed in consultation with the course coordinator and student. Consultation must occur before a student attempts to enrol in topics.
**Science topics are defined as any BIOL, BIOD, BTEC, CHEM, COMP, CTEC, DSGN, EASC, ENGR, ENVS, FACH, GEOG, MATH, NANO, PHYS, SERC, SPOC, STAT or STEM topics for which the prerequisites are met.
Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third-year elective.
Students accepted into the Honours year must complete 144 units in total and include:
- 36 units of Honours level topics according to a defined Science Honours program.
No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree.***
***Topics designated 'any year' or with no year level specified are regarded as First Year level topics.
