Excel with a fast-tracked double degree in science.
This accelerated science program allows you to complete a double degree in just three years and is designed for outstanding school leavers or current Bachelor of Science students with excellent academic achievement.
This accelerated science program allows you to complete a double degree in just three years and is designed for outstanding school leavers or current Bachelor of Science students with excellent academic achievement.
This program is tailored to your needs by your very own senior academic mentor. Your mentor will introduce you to research, encourage you to carry out research projects, and help you refine your honours topic.
You’ll complete a three-year Bachelor of Science degree in two years through a combination of increased load in semesters and studies during the summer and winter teaching periods. You’ll study the Honours degree in the standard one-year full-time.
You can choose to study either two science majors, or one science major plus two science minors from a different discipline area to your major. You also have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your personal interests and career ambitions with four elective courses.
Major areas include Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics – traditional fields that give you depth and breadth of scientific knowledge, and also Biotechnology, Ecology, and Food and Biosecurity – fields that address future scientific directions, national and regional scientific imperatives and align with USC’s research strengths. Minor areas of study include: Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Ecology, Food Security, Genetics, Mathematics, and Microbiology.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of this accelerated program, you can pursue a career in research, education, industry or government.
If you plan to pursue a career in research, achieve a high grade point average and participate in Special Research Project (SRP) opportunities while completing your Bachelor of Science program. After graduating from the double degree, you can continue your studies with a higher degree by research.
To pursue a career in education, you should study at least one and preferably two of the traditional science majors during your Bachelor of Science program, then undertake postgraduate studies in education.
If you plan to enter a career in industry or government, take advantage of Work Place Learning (WPL) opportunities, especially with prospective employers, while completing your Bachelor of Science program.
Membership
Eligibility for memberships depends on areas of specialisation.
Program structure
Bachelor of Science
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
COR109 Social Media: Content Curation and Creation
LFS100 Editing for the Communications Professional
SCI102 Media Publishing: Law & Ethics
SCI105 Public Relations Writing
SCI110 Social Media
SCI113 Transmedia Storytelling Campaigns
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
MTH100 Creativity, Design and Communication Project*
MTH103 Global Communication*
MTH104 Communication Research*
Major and minor courses (12) 144 units
Select 12 course (144 units) towards 1 major and 1 minor
Majors
Minors
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Food security
- Genetics
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
**Note: Student may select the Biomedical Science Extended major in place of 1 major and 1 minor, until Semester 1, 2019.
Elective courses (5) 60 units
Select 5 elective courses (60 units) from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering). It is recommended that students in the Deans Scholars Program undertake 48 units of Special Scholarship Projects (SRP) or Workplace Learning (WPL) as part of their elective courses, under the advice of their mentor.
*The number of elective courses may vary depending on the major/minor combinations chosen
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) structure is usually as follows:
- a 24-unit coursework component (consisting of two 12-unit courses), and
- a 72-unit thesis component
Coursework component (2) 24 units
RES401 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
ADR401 Reading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Writing
Please note: In RES401 , students will be assessed on the submission of a research proposal and delivery of an oral presentation, in ADR401 students will be assessed on the submission of a literature review.
Thesis component 72 units
This is a research project conducted over the full year of enrolment. It comprises a traditional thesis or a manuscript accompanied by an exegesis, as described in guidelines provided to students at the beginning of their enrolment.
The nature and topic of the thesis is determined by the student's interests, the interests of potential supervisors and the availability of appropriate supervision.
The completed thesis is normally 15,000–25,000 words in length. The required length is determined by the precise nature of the research, in consultation with the supervisor and subject to the approval of the Executive Dean.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Students must conform to the requirements of the two component degrees and meet the completion requirements to graduate from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Deans Scholars Program
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses (120 units), including the core course
- Complete the Honours coursework and thesis components
- You must select and register your compulsory major(s)/minor(s) as soon as possible
Program notes
- International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
Program rules
- Students must progress in a full-time mode in accordance with the requirements set out by the Deans Scholars program
- Students wishing to move to a part time enrolment may transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science degree that does not have the accelerated pathway
- Students will normally enrol in 5 courses (60 units) in each semester in order to maintain their accelerated progress. However, they may enrol in up to 72 units on the recommendation of their mentor, and with the approval of the Program Coordinator
- Students must maintain a study overload such that they will complete the Bachelor of Science component in 2.5 years or less in order to remain in the Deans Scholars program. Students who are not able to maintain the overload will be directed to transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science program
- Students must maintain a GPA of 5.5 each semester, without any grade lower than 4 within the accelerated Bachelor of Science component of the double degree program. Students who fail to meets the GPA requirement will be directed to transfer to the standard Bachelor of Science program
- Where there are exceptional unforeseen circumstances such as in the case of illness, students must apply for special dispensation to the Program Coordinator
Completion requirements
- Completion of 384 units consisting of 288 units for the Bachelor of Science and 96 units for the Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- On completion of the 288 units in the accelerated Bachelor of Science component, students will be given the option to exit with the Bachelor of Science (SC301) or continue on to complete the Bachelor of Science (Honours)
- On completion of the double degree, students will be entitled to receive two testamurs – Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours)