Bachelor of Arts and Sciences

Course 113-BB (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus: 2009
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate

Contact

Science Student Centre

Old Geology building

University of Melbourne

Victoria 3010

AUSTRALIA

Telephone +61 3 8344 6404

Facsimile +61 3 8344 5803

Web: http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au

Arts & Music Student Centre
Rm 104 (Ground Floor)
Old Arts Building
Telephone +61 3 8344 6395
Facsimile +61 3 9347 0424
http://arts-unimelb.custhelp.com/

Course Overview:

There is no first year intake into this course after 2007.

The Bachelor of Arts and Sciences is a single degree course which allows students to study subjects from the Faculties of Arts and Science.

BASc students will be able to complete majors in both faculties, and have the option to complete an honours year in either arts or science.

Objectives: The Bachelor of Arts and Sciences course has as its objectives that graduates:
  • can demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of selected fields of study in the sciences, humanities, languages and social and behavioural sciences, and a higher understanding in one or more of these disciplines;
  • can access and appreciate national and international debates in their areas of study;
  • can apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within a changing social context;
  • when solving scientific problems: are capable of applying appropriate knowledge; are able to access relevant information; understand the principles of project and experimental design; have a capacity to apply practical skills and technology;
  • have the knowledge, skill and attitude to enable adaptation to scientific, technological and social change, and have an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts;
  • can demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and respect for ethical values;
  • can communicate effectively and, in the case of those students undertaking a language major, are able to read, write and speak with fluency and with an appreciation of the cultural context of the language;
  • can act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the workplace;
  • have a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for lifelong learning, and a capacity to be creative and inventive; and
  • are proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as computer and audio-visual systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.
Majors/
Minors/
Specialisations

Science majors available in this course

All students in the BASc are required to complete a science major.
A science major is defined as 50 points at third year level in an approved science discipline.

  • The psychology major is the clear exception to this rule as the psychology major requires completion of nine compulsory subjects and at least one elective (a minimum of 125 points in total). This major also only specifies 37.5 points at third year level. Although the major study in psychology only requires 37.5 points at third year level, all undergraduate science students must complete a minimum of 50 points of third year level science subjects to satisfy their degree requirements.
  • The biotechnology major is also comprised of less than 50 points at third year level, but it can only be undertaken in conjunction with another life sciences major.
  • The environmental science major can only be undertaken in conjunction with a second science major (which cannot be biotechnology).
To complete a science major, students complete one of the science majors listed below. Students may not complete alternative combinations of subjects to major unless approval is obtained from the Faculty of Science. Contact the Science Student Centre for further information.

The descriptions of science majors may vary from year to year. Students may complete a major as defined by the current structure or structure detailed in a previous year's handbook applicable to any year the student was enrolled in the course.

The following science majors are available to BASc students:

Majors/Minors/Specialisations:

Arts majors available in this course

Students may complete an arts major in this course.

Students may not complete a major with an alternative combination of subjects unless written approval is obtained from the academic convernor of that major. Contact the Arts & Music Student Centre for further information.

The descriptions of arts majors may vary from year to year. Students should refer to the structure of the major as defined in the year they commenced their degree.

The following arts majors are available to BASc students:

Majors/Minors/Specialisations:
Subject Options:

The BASc degree requires the completion of a minimum (and maximum) of 400 points of study comprising 200 points of subjects from approved departments of each faculty. The study must be completed according to the requirements stated below.

Subjects offered in the areas of Geography, History and Philosophy of Science and Philosophy cannot count toward the science requirement of the BASc course. The only exception is the subject Applied Ecology. Students completing Applied Ecology may receive credit for this subject towards either the arts or science component of the BASc course. Students should advise the Faculty of Science Office if they would like the subject to count toward the science component of the BASc course. BASc students cannot complete a science major in geography or history and philosophy of science.
Students undertaking psychology subjects can receive credit toward either the science or arts component of the BASc course. Credit for psychology points cannot be split between the two components. Students should advise the Faculty of Science Office if they would like psychology to count toward the science requirement of their BASc course. Likewise, students should contact the Arts and Music Student Centre if they wish to count psychology toward the arts requirement of their degree.


Science requirement
A minimum (and maximum) of 200 science points is required, which must include:
  • 50 points, but no more than 75 points, at the first year subject level;
  • completion of 50 points of a prescribed science major at the third year subject level.
Note that:
  • there are no second year subject level requirements;
  • students completing a science major in psychology must complete 50 science points at third year subject level (37.5 points of prescribed third year subject level psychology subjects plus an additional 12.5 points of third year level science subjects);
  • BA/BSc students cannot complete a science major in geography or history and philosophy of science.
All subjects attracting science points are indicated as such within the individual subject description.

Arts requirement

All students in the BASc are required to complete 200 points of Arts subjects of which;

  • 50 points must be taken at first year level;
  • 75 points must be taken at second year level and;
  • 75 points must be taken at third year level.

In addition it is expected that BASc students should complete a major in the Arts component of their degree.

All arts subjects undertaken in the BASc must be from the following arts-approved study areas (see the individual area of study entry for full details):

  • all language subjects
  • American studies
  • Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
  • Australian Indigenous Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
  • Australian Studies
  • Cinema Studies
  • Classical studies and Archaeology
  • Communication Skills
  • Computuer Applications in the Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Development Studies (some non-art approved subjects included)
  • English Literary Studies
  • English as a Second Language
  • English Language Studies
  • Environmental Studies (some non-arts approved subjects included)
  • European Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography
  • Hebrew and Jewish Studies
  • History
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • International Studies
  • Islamic Studies
  • Linguisitics and Applied Linguistics
  • Philosophy
  • Planning and Design
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Theory
  • Socio-legal Studies
  • Sociology
  • Theatre Studies
Entry Requirements:

There is no new student intake into this course after 2007.

For enquiries about admission requirements for later year entry into this program, please contact the Science Student Centre.
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.
Further Study:

Honours and Masters level studies are available as indicated at

http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au

http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au
Graduate Attributes: In the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Melbourne, we expect to educate our students with the fundamental skills of transforming information into knowledge and communicating this knowledge clearly. These outcomes are fully consistent with the University's general ambition for our graduates, and emphasise the transferability of the skills practised in the arts and in science.
Throughout their course, students will find that many of the abilities that they develop are shared by, and so are valued by and are applicable to, activities in all walks of life. In particular, these are the skills that are essential to providing leadership to the science-technology base of the Australian economy and culture.
The Bachelor of Arts and Sciences aims to educate and train students in both science and humanities areas of study. The course enables students to access a major (specialisation) stream in both the arts and science components of the degree, which may be chosen as complementary or independent to each other.
Through their scientific training, these graduates have a broad knowledge of science across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of understanding in one or more of these disciplines. They also have an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts. They have the knowledge, skills and attitude to enable them to adapt to scientific, technological and social change and have a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for lifelong learning.
From their exposure to a range of quantitative and qualitative disciplines, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences graduates have strong cognitive, social and communication skills. In particular they are able to:
  • synthesise and evaluate information from a range of sources and add new ideas to their existing knowledge;
  • observe, record and evaluate data or evidence appropriately;
  • make effective use of information to identify and solve problems;
  • synthesise and integrate disparate elements into a meaningful whole;
  • express ideas, opinions and judgements and present them effectively in written or oral format that is appropriate to the audience;
  • question, reflect and clarify;
  • explain and defend their position on an issue; and
  • work effectively in group discussions.
Graduates in arts and sciences are independent and creative thinkers, and are able to approach scientific or social issues creatively. They are used to formulating hypotheses which can be tested for validity. They can extrapolate from the known to the unknown and are comfortable working with analogues rather than needing to deal with literal situations.
Studies in the humanities and social sciences strengthen students' understanding of the need to question and clarify issues surrounding a particular situation before developing a response. By suspending judgement and listening to other points of view, they are able to build on the ideas of others and develop strong critical analysis skills. These studies also provide graduates with excellent written and oral communication skills.
The science disciplines also value clear reporting. Consequently, the arts and sciences graduate has developed skills of efficient and effective communication of ideas and results, whether in the accepted modes of scientific report writing or through more informal oral presentations. Graduates recognise the need to present information and ideas in an effective written form that is appropriate to the purpose and the reader.
Having undertaken laboratory and tutorial classes, arts and sciences graduates are adept at activity planning as well as the application of theory to practice. Some students will have found collaborative learning an efficient tool, while others will find their practical work enhanced by effective teamwork.
The need to manage the multiplicity of tasks (lectures, laboratory and assignment work), means that arts and sciences graduates are aware of the need to structure and manage time effectively and efficiently, to retain balance and to prioritise their activities. They are able to juggle several tasks simultaneously, take responsibility for their own work, independently or within a group, and to plan their schedule appropriately.
The breadth of the Science @ Melbourne program means that arts and sciences graduates will have been exposed, directly or indirectly, to thoughts and ideas from a number of bodies of knowledge. These graduates are aware of the breadth and depth of knowledge in areas beyond their specific areas of specialisation.
Generic Skills: A detailed description of the generic skills expected of a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences is included under 'Graduate Attributes'.

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