The three-year Science degree has been designed for students who seek a 'generalist' degree in which there is a large element of choice. A student can combine courses from two or more Science disciplines, or take courses from outside the Science disciplines.

The basic rules for the degree are set out in the following sections under Program Objectives and Academic Rules. Students in the Science program need to ensure that they complete at least one Major and either a second Major or a Minor sequence. At least 84 units of credit (out of a total of 144) must be taken from Science. The remainder may be in another Faculty. Subject to certain conditions, a student may be permitted to continue into a fourth year to complete an honours degree.

This program has been designed to:

1. Develop and sustain an interest in and knowledge of Science.

2. Develop a working knowledge of scientific methods of investigation.

3. Encourage curiosity and creative imagination and an appreciation of the role of speculation in the selection and solution of problems, the construction of hypotheses, and the design of experiments.

4. Develop an appreciation of scientific criteria and a concern for objectivity and precision.

5. Develop confidence and skill in formulating problems and in treating both qualitative and quantitative data.

6. Develop the ability and disposition to think logically, to communicate clearly by written and oral means, and to read critically and with understanding.

7. Develop the habit of seeking and recognising relationships between phenomena, principles, theories, conceptual frameworks and problems.

8. Promote understanding of the significance of science, technology, economics and social factors in modern society, and of the contributions they can make in improving material conditions.

9. Provide opportunities for the development of students' motivations and social maturity, and an awareness of their capabilities in relation to a choice of career which will be fruitful to themselves and to society.

10. Provide opportunity to study science in combination with other disciplines.

Majors and Minors

For links to online handbook entries for each of the available major and minor plans scroll down to Areas of Specialisation.

All available majors and minors and their requirements are listed below and in the pdf files Table A (Majors) and Table B (Minors). You can also contact the Science Student Centre (sso@unsw.edu.au) or specific schools for further information.

* See under Biological Science in the Specialisations list below

** See under Geoscience in the Specialisations list below

.

Available Minors
The above listed majors may also be taken as minors. Other options are as follows:

* See under Biological Science in the Specialisations list below

Students enrolled in any Science degree may normally only take as electives any courses (subject to satisfying prerequisites) which are specified as electives for their degree, or available within a major or minor in program 3970.

In order to graduate, students must satisfy requirements for the award by passing all the courses and requirements specified for their program. Students who complete requirements will be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science at Pass or Honours level with a major in the area of specialisation (usually indicated by the name of the major). The award will appear on the testamur as:
Bachelor of Science in (name of major)
or
Bachelor of Science with Honours in (name of Honours specialisation)

Students in this program must also satisfy the University's General Education requirements. For further information, please refer to General Education in the Table of Contents (see left-hand side of this page).

Conditions for the Award of the Degree

1. A student must complete 144 units of credit including 12 units of General Education.

2. The degree must contain a Major sequence of study and either a second Major or a Minor sequence.

3. A student must complete at least 36 units and no more than 60 units in Level I courses from at least three Schools.

4. A student must complete at least 24 units at Level I from Science Schools (defined as Schools in the Science Faculty plus those in other Faculties that currently provide programs under the authority of the Faculty of Science).

5. No student may commence Level II courses until 24 Level I units have been successfully completed.

6. No more than 18 Level 1 units of credit in any one subject are may be counted towards the completion of the degree.

7. A student must complete a minimum of 84 units of credit from Science Schools (defined as Schools in the Science Faculty plus those in other Faculties that currently provide programs under the authority of the Faculty of Science).

8. Progression to Stage 4 Honours is subject to academic performance. Students seeking to enrol in Honours are required to have the permission of the Head of School, to have completed all the requirements for Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the BSc and to have satisfied prerequisite requirements as specified. All General Education must also have been completed. Students who have not qualified for the BSc at pass level will not be permitted to enroll in honours.

9. A Major sequence is defined as: at least 42 units at Level II and III in a single discipline or area of study, including at least 18 units at Level III.

10. A Minor sequence is defined as: 24 units of credit at Level II or III. The Minor may either consist of courses available within but not taken as part of a Major or may be a sequence as defined in Table B.

11. Where a student does Majors in two cognate areas that have courses in common they may be permitted to count up to 18 units of credit towards each Major sequence, but only 6 units of credit may be at Level III.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following web-page:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html