Bachelor of Science CU18
Program at a glance
Duration: | 3 years full time, 6 years part time |
Mode & Location: | internal - ROK (all years), BDG/MKY - Yr 1 (only), external part-time. Students at BDG/MKY should note that selected courses may only be available externally. |
Courses/Units of Credit: | 24 courses/144 units of credit |
Faculty: | Faculty of Arts, Health & Sciences |
Entry: | QTAC |
Accreditation: | this is related to the area of specialisation and co-plan |
Residential School: | Most courses taken in distance mode have compulsory residential components. Students should only enrol in courses where there is no clash in residential school dates (see Residential School Timetable). |
Practicum/Work placement: | see specific programs described below |
Exit awards: | Advanced Diploma after 96 units of credit. See specific programs described below |
Interim awards: | not applicable |
Contact: | Program Advisor - 07 4930 9253 or email ahs-program1@cqu.edu.au |
International students: | International students studying in Australia must study full-time, on-campus. |
CRICOS program codes: | ROK - 040203B |
Program outline
The Bachelor of Science is a flexible program with considerable applied content. It allows students the choice of specialising in one of the following four plans: Aquatic Resource Management, Biological Sciences, Marine Ecology or Chemical Sciences. Students first complete a foundation year appropriate to their area of specialisation, followed by second and third year study in the selected plan (one of Aquatic Resources Management, Marine Ecology, Biological Sciences or Chemical Sciences), plus a complementary co-plan. A wide range of co-plans are available, including Psychology, Geography, Environmental Science, Biomedical Sciences, Information Technology and Occupational Health and Safety. High achieving graduates can undertake one further year of full-time study to complete an honours degree in their chosen area of specialisation.
Aquatic Resource Management Plan
This plan is designed to provide graduates with the background and training necessary to become aquatic resource managers. Students initially develop an appreciation of the structure and function of freshwater and marine ecosystems, including man made systems. A range of specialist courses then deal with topics including water quality control, pollution monitoring, experimental design and aquaculture. An industrial placement provides practical experience.
Exit point: Students who do not wish to proceed beyond the second year of the program but who have completed the six foundation courses plus the six level 2 courses stipulated in the Aquatic Resource Management plan specified below, together with electives to give a total of 96 courses, can exit with an Advanced Diploma of Aquatic Resource Management.
Biological Sciences Plan
This plan is designed to prepare graduates who can work as professional biologists, either individually or as members of a team. Biology is the scientific study of all living organisms, including human beings. It includes botany, zoology, microbiology, marine science, biochemistry and ecology. It is increasingly important for modern biologists to have a thorough knowledge of the basic concepts of biology, together with a scientific approach to problem solving, experimental design and the interpretation of results. This plan helps develop these skills with a combination of theoretical and practical work, including applied problems, small research projects and teamwork. Biologists are employed in fields such as medicine, public health, universities, national parks, agriculture, conservation and environmental management.
Exit point: Students who do not wish to proceed beyond the second year of this program, but who have completed the level 1 foundation courses plus 36 units of credit of advanced level courses in this plan, together with additional courses to give a total of 96 units of credit can exit with an Advanced Diploma of Biological Sciences.
Chemical Sciences Plan
This program aims to provide graduates with a broadly based knowledge of modern chemical principles, who are also aware of the need for environmentally responsible and sustainable practices within chemical industries. Graduates are qualified for employment in areas as diverse as agriculture, medicine, mining, power industry, environmental science, materials production, ecology, food technology, as well as careers in research and development in the private and public sector. Royal Australian Chemical Institute accreditation for this plan is currently being re-confirmed.
In the second and third years, strong emphasis is placed on analytical/forensic chemistry and modern instrumentation techniques. In the third year an applied practical project is undertaken, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a problem solving situation. This combination of hands on experience and practical training leads to excellent employment prospects.
Exit point: Students who do not wish to proceed beyond the second year of this program, but who have completed the level 1 foundation courses plus 36 units of credit of advanced level courses in this plan, together with additional courses to give a total of 96 units of credit can exit with an Advanced Diploma of Chemical Sciences.
Marine Ecology Plan
The marine ecology plan prepares graduates to work in the marine environment with an emphasis on environmental management and tropical ecosystems. After an introductory year studying concepts in biology and chemistry students select from advanced level courses in aquatic botany, zoology, aquatic systems, aquatic phyisiology, marine resources and environmental impacts. A range of co-plans is available for selection of an option to complement the plan and broaden student expertise in a career orientated specialist field.
The Central Queensland environment provides ideal natural aquatic habitats and systems to gain field and practical experiences.
Career options
aquaculture technician/laboratory technician/conservation manager/biological or aquatic scientist/chemist in all specialised areas
Program structure
To fulfil the requirements for the awarding of a Bachelor of Science degree, a student must complete the following:
- six foundation courses or 36 units of credit applicable to your chosen plan field of study;
- a plan, comprising 10 courses (60 units of credit) at advanced level. At least 4 of these must be third level courses (24 units of credit) from one of the plan disciplines of aquatic resource management, biological sciences or chemical sciences (See science plans below);
- a co-plan, comprising 6 courses (36 units of credit) made up of two courses at Level 1 and four at Advanced Level from one of the following discipline areas (details of which are given in science plans below). Students must undertake a plan in a different discipline area to their plan.
- aquatic resource management;
- biological sciences;
- chemical sciences;
- psychology;
- geography;
- environmental science;
- biomedical science;
- occupational health and safety;
- information technology;
- mathematical modeling;
- statistical modeling;
- electives chosen from any degree level offerings within the University to give a total of 144 units of credit.
Students are required to have at least six courses (36 units of credit) of third level courses in their program.
Science Plans
Plan 1: Aquatic Resource Management
Foundation courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ZOOL11005 | Foundation Animal Biology |
BOTN11004 | Foundation Plant Biology |
BIOL11007 | Principles of Animal and Plant Culture |
BIOL11008 | Introduction to Field Biology |
ENVR11011 | Environmental Science A |
ENVR11012 | Environmental Science B |
Advanced Courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 2 - The following 36 units of credit: | |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
CHEM11007 | Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences |
EVST12013 | Water Quality Management |
AQUA12003 | Aquaculture A |
AQUA12004 | Aquaculture B |
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 3 - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
EVST13014 | Aquatic Systems |
MARN13007 | Coastal Marine Resources |
ZOOL13014 | Aquatic Physiology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
BIOL12050 | Industrial Placement |
Recommended electives
Notes:
- Students intending to do honours must do Biological Experimentation.
- Students with an interest in environmental issues should select an Environmental Sciences co-plan.
- Students with business management interests should select electives from the Faculty of Business and Law.
Plan 2: Biological Sciences
Foundation courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ZOOL11005 | Foundation Animal Biology |
BOTN11004 | Foundation Plant Biology |
CHEM11007 | Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences |
CHEM11008 | Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences |
MATH11161 | Elementary Mathematics A (3 units of credit)*; plus |
MATH11162 | Elementary Mathematics B (3 units of credit)* |
*Students wishing to undertake a mathematics or information technology co-plan may replace these courses with MATH11163 Mathematics 1A or COIT11133 Programming A
Advanced Courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 2 - The following 36 units of credit: | |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
ZOOL19002 | Chordate Zoology |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
BOTN19001 | Terrestrial Botany |
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 3 - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
BIOL13029 | Applied Molecular Biology |
MBIO13007 | Microbial Ecology |
ZOOL13012 | Mammalian Physiology |
ZOOL13003 | Comparative Physiology |
ZOOL19004 | Insect Biology |
ZOOL13013 | Foundation Parasitology |
BOTN13002 | Plants and the Environment |
BIOL13031 | Ecology A |
Recommended electives
Plan 3: Chemical Sciences
Foundation courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
CHEM11007 | Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences |
CHEM11008 | Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences |
MATH11160 | Technology Mathematics* |
STAT11048 | Essential Statistics |
COIS11015 | Introductory Computing Applications^ |
OCHS12005 | Risk Management & Safety Technology |
*May be replaced by MATH11163 Mathematics 1A or MATH11161 Elementary Mathematics A plus MATH11162 Elementary Mathematics B
^Should be replaced by COIT11133 Programming A if the Information Technology co-plan is selected
Advanced Courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 2 - The following 36 units of credit: | |
CHEM10016 | Environmental Chemistry |
BMED19010 | Macromolecules & Cell Function |
CHEM12017 | Industrial Chemistry |
CHEM12018 | Drug Discovery |
CHEM12019 | Metals in Chemistry |
CHEM12020 | Energy and Reactivity |
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 3 - the following 24 units of credit: | |
CHEM13080 | Analytical Science |
CHEM13033 | Green Chemistry |
BMED19007 | Forensic Chemistry |
CHEM13032 | Research Project |
Recommended electives
Plan 4: Marine Ecology
Foundation courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
ZOOL11005 | Foundation Animal Biology |
BOTN11004 | Foundation Plant Biology |
CHEM11007 | Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences |
CHEM11008 | Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences |
MATH11161 | Elementary Maths A (3)*; plus |
MATH11162 | Elementary Maths B (3)* |
BIOL11008 | Introduction to Field Biology |
*Students wishing to undertake a mathematics or information technology co-plan may replace these courses with MATH11163 Mathematics 1A or COIT11133 Programming A
Advanced Courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 2 - The following 30 units of credit: | |
EVST12013 | Water Quality Management |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
ZOOL19002 | Chordate Zoology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 3 - the following 30 units of credit: | |
EVST13014 | Aquatic Systems |
MARN13007 | Coastal Marine Resources |
BIOL13031 | Ecology A |
MARN13013 | Marine Environmental Impact Assessment |
ZOOL13014 | Aquatic Physiology |
Recommended electives
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
BIOL11007 | Principles of Animal and Plant Culture |
ENVR11011 | Environmental Science A |
ENVR11012 | Environmental Science B |
BIOL12050 | Industrial Placement |
CHEM10016 | Environmental Chemistry |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
AQUA12003 | Aquaculture A |
AQUA12004 | Aquaculture B |
Science Co-plans
Co-plan 1: Aquatic Resource Management
Level 1
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
BIOL11007 | Principles of Animal and Plant Culture |
BIOL11008 | Introduction to Field Biology |
Advanced Level
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
AQUA12003 | Aquaculture A |
AQUA12004 | Aquaculture B |
EVST13014 | Aquatic Systems |
MARN13007 | Coastal Marine Resources |
ZOOL13014 | Aquatic Physiology |
EVST12013 | Water Quality Management |
BIOL12050 | Industrial Placement |
Co-plan 2: Biological Sciences
Level 1
Advanced Level
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
ZOOL19002 | Chordate Zoology |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
BOTN19001 | Terrestrial Botany |
BIOL13029 | Applied Molecular Biology |
MBIO13007 | Microbial Ecology |
ZOOL13012 | Mammalian Physiology |
ZOOL13003 | Comparative Physiology |
ZOOL19004 | Insect Biology |
ZOOL13013 | Foundation Parasitology |
BOTN13002 | Plants and the Environment |
BIOL13031 | Ecology A |
BMED19010 | Macromolecules & Cell Function |
Co-plan 3: Chemical Sciences
Level 1
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
CHEM11007 | Introductory Concepts of Chemical Sciences |
CHEM11008 | Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences |
Advanced Level
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Advanced Level - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
CHEM10016 | Environmental Chemistry |
BMED19010 | Macromolecules & Cell Function |
CHEM12017 | Industrial Chemistry |
CHEM12018 | Drug Discovery |
CHEM12019 | Metals in Chemistry |
CHEM12020 | Energy and Reactivity |
CHEM13080 | Analytical Science |
CHEM13033 | Green Chemistry |
BMED19007 | Forensic Chemistry |
# may be replaced by CHEM19031 Pre-Honours Topic by special approval of the Head of the School of Chemical and Biomedical Sciences
Co-plan 4: Marine Ecology
Level 1
Advanced Courses
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
24 units of credit selected from: | |
EVST12013 | Water Quality Management |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN12010 | Botany of Aquatic Environments |
ZOOL19002 | Chordate Zoology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
EVST13014 | Aquatic Systems |
MARN13007 | Coastal Marine Resources |
BIOL13031 | Ecology A |
MARN13013 | Marine Environmental Impact Assessment |
ZOOL13014 | Aquatic Physiology |
Co-plan 5: Psychology
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
PSYC11008 | Biological Foundations of Psychology |
PSYC11009 | Social Foundations of Psychology |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
PSYC12010 | Introduction to Human Development |
PSYC12047 | Research Methods in Psychology A |
PSYC12048 | Research Methods in Psychology B |
PSYC12012 | Physiological Psychology |
PSYC12013 | Personality |
PSYC12014 | Social Psychology |
Co-plan 6: Geography
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
GEOG11023 | Physical Geography of Australia |
GEOG11024 | Conservation in Australia |
Advanced - 24 units of credit from the following: | |
EVST19007 | Environmental & Social Impact Assessment |
EVST19008 | Environmental Management |
EVST19020 | Environmental Management Systems |
GEOG19021 | Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing |
GEOG19022 | Graphic & Cartographic Techniques |
Co-plan 7: Environmental Science
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
ENVR11011 | Environmental Science A |
ENVR11012 | Environmental Science B |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
GEOG19021 | Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing |
EVST19008 | Environmental Management |
SOCL19057 | Environmental Sociology |
SOCL19060 | Human Ecology |
ZOOL11001 | Invertebrate Zoology |
ZOOL19002 | Chordate Zoology |
BIOL12105 | Biological Experimentation |
BOTN19001 | Terrestrial Botany |
MBIO13007 | Microbial Ecology |
EVST13014 | Aquatic Systems |
MARN13007 | Coastal Marine Resources |
ZOOL19004 | Insect Biology |
BOTN13002 | Plants and the Environment |
BIOL13031 | Ecology A |
ZOOL13014 | Aquatic Physiology |
CHEM10016 | Environmental Chemistry |
EVST19020 | Environmental Management Systems |
Co-plan 8: Biomedical Science
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
BMED11001 | Introduction to Biomedical Sciences |
HMSC11005 | Human Anatomy |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
MBIO19003 | Introductory Microbiology |
MBIO19004 | Humans, Microbes and Disease |
BIOL13029 | Applied Molecular Biology |
BMED19011 | Cellular Metabolism |
BMED19003 | Clinical Biochemistry |
CHEM13080 | Analytical Science |
BMED19010 | Macromolecules and Cell Function |
PHRM19001 | Pharmacology and Toxicology |
BMED19005 | Immunology |
MBIO19011 | Molecular Basis of Infective Diseases |
BMED19006 | Clinical Dietetics |
BMED19007 | Forensic Chemistry |
Co-plan 9: Occupational Health and Safety
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
OCHS12001 | Introductory Occupational Health and Safety |
OCHS12005 | Risk Management & Safety Technology |
Advanced - the following 24 units of credit: | |
OCHS13016 | Occupational Health, Hygiene and Toxicology |
OCHS13008 | Human Factors |
OCHS13010 | Applied Worksite Analysis |
OCHS13011 | Occupational Rehabilitation & Compensation |
The Occupational Health and Safety co-plan will provide the following certification:
- Workplace Health and Safety Officer in all industries as accredited with the Department of Employment Training and Industrial Relations (Qld).
Co-plan 10: Mathematical Modelling
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
STAT11048 | Essential Statistics |
MATH11164 | Mathematics 1B |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
MATH12170 | Computational Mathematics |
MATH12171 | Differential Equations |
MATH12172 | Multivariable Calculus |
MATH12173 | Real Analysis |
MATH13179 | Numerical Analysis |
MATH13181 | Advanced Dynamics |
MATH13182 | Control Theory |
MATH13187 | Optimisation Methods |
Co-plan 11: Statistical Modelling
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
STAT11048 | Essential Statistics |
MATH11164 | Mathematics 1B |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
STAT12049 | Total Quality Management & Statistical Process Control |
STAT12032 | Data Analysis |
STAT13033 | Mathematical Statistics |
STAT13035 | Applied Multivariate Statistics |
COIT12120 | System Simulation |
Co-plan 12: Information Technology
Course Code | Course Title |
---|---|
Level 1 | |
COIT11133 | Programming A |
COIT11134 | Programming B |
Advanced - 24 units of credit selected from the following: | |
COIT12167 | Database Use and design |
COIT12170 | Data Communications |
COIT12140 | Object-oriented Programming |
COIT12141 | Computer Graphics |
COIT12120 | Systems Simulation |
COIT13121 | Machine Intelligence A |
COIT13122 | Machine Intelligence B |
COIT12137 | Internet Programming |
COIT13152 | Operating Systems |
COIT13143 | Database Programming and Administration |
COIT13147 | Networks |
Check the details
Note: Students must check to see when and where a course is offered before enrolling. See the course availability section in this handbook for details.
Application for credit transfer
Credit transfer will only be granted where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies equivalent in content and depth to the CQU program has been successfully completed. Students should examine the course synopses in this handbook to determine the courses for which they may be eligible to claim exemption. For more information about credit transfer contact the program administrator.