Bachelor of Science | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Science

Challenge your thinking and learn something new almost every day.

Discover the endless opportunities a career in science offers you. This degree is designed to give you the flexibility to focus on the areas of science that interest you most.

Program will be discontinued at USC Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
022804D
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Semester tuition fee 2016
A$11,800
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$70,800
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
  • * Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast (approved to be discontinued in Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017). The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs. Enrolments at Fraser Coast commence from Semester 1, 2017, subject to final approval.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013001
  • Fraser Coast * 019001
  • Gympie * 016111
Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 18 Rank - 62
UniSC program code
SC301
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English; Maths A, B or C; at least one science subject (preferably Chemistry)
Fee type 2016
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
24
Total units
288
Footnotes
  • * Only first-year courses are offered at Gympie and Fraser Coast (approved to be discontinued in Gympie, effective Semester 1, 2017). The remainder of the degree is completed at Sippy Downs. Enrolments at Fraser Coast commence from Semester 1, 2017, subject to final approval.

Discover the endless opportunities a career in science offers you. This degree is designed to give you the flexibility to focus on the areas of science that interest you most.

Science is the investigation of the structure and behaviour of natural and physical processes, through systematic discovery and invention to improve our understanding of the universe. The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program follows the global trend of offering majors and minors in traditional scientific fields, so that upon graduation students will exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge. In your first year you’ll gain a strong foundation in cell biology, chemistry, biodiversity and ecology, science research methods and introductory mathematics. Afterwards you can decide where you want your science degree to take you, choose a major (or two) from a wide range of science areas.

In the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program you will also learn practical scientific skills in our fully equipped laboratories and gain hands-on experience during field studies to prepare you for a career in emerging scientific fields. There are excellent opportunities to further your studies and undertake rewarding research to make a real difference in our world.

Majors

Science majors: Biology; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Mathematics.

Career opportunities

There are three usual career progressions after completion of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Science program:

  • Education
  • Research
  • Industry/Government

If students are planning to enter a career in education you should look to study at least one and preferably two of the traditional majors offered in the program. If you're planning to enter a career in research (usually via Bachelor of Science (Honours), Doctor of Philosophy), you must achieve a high grade point average and should take advantage of our Special Research Project (SRP) opportunities offered in the program, especially with prospective supervisors, however if you are planning to enter a career in industry or government, you should take advantage of our Work Place Learning (WPL) opportunities offered, especially with prospective employers.

Membership

Eligibility for memberships depends on areas of specialisation.

Program structure

Program Structure
Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
LFS100 Engineering Project Management
SCI105 Soil Mechanics
SCI110 Engineering Project 1

PLUS select 1 course from:

MTH100 Engineering Project 2
MTH102 Engineering Research Methodology

PLUS select 1 course from:
SET111 Design of Roads and Drainage
OR 1 introductory (100 coded) course from the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

PLUS select 2 courses from:
LFS112 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology
LFS122 Calculus and Algebra
SCI102 Numerical Analysis
SCI107 Fluids, Waves and Thermodynamics
SUS101 Structural Engineering
OR select 2 introductory courses from the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering

Major courses (8)

Select a major from the Science and Health major study area

Elective courses (8)

Select 8 elective courses of which six (6) must be advanced (200/300 coded) courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).

*The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen

Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 288

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Complete no more than 10 introductory (100 coded) courses, including COR109
  • Complete a minimum of 14 advanced (200 and 300 coded) courses
  • Select and complete a major from the Science and Health Major study area
  • The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen
  • Register your selected major and/or minor
Program notes
  • MTH100 does not assume you have successfully completed Years 11-12 Mathematics B (or equivalent). MTH100 does not meet the prerequisite necessary to enrol in advanced level mathematics courses. Should you wish to proceed to 200 or 300 coded mathematics courses, you would first need to successfully complete MTH100 and then MTH102
  • MTH102 assumes you have successfully completed Years 11-12 Mathematics B (or equivalent). Note that MTH102 is a prerequisite for advanced level (200 and 300 coded) mathematics courses
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
  • As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
  • When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan