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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2014

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2014.
Information for the previous year's courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2013.

172699 v.4 Bachelor of Surveying

BSurv(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 003922M
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 4 Years


Course Overview

Bachelor degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications.


Surveying is a science-based discipline which is concerned with the measurement, representation and management of data concerning the earth's physical and man-made features. Specialist areas such as cadastral studies, geodesy, photogrammetry, surveying and land information systems, are included within this discipline. Related areas include remote sensing, land development and planning, mine surveying and hydrographic surveying. The discipline has moved into several high technology areas which include satellite positioning, laser scanning, airborne and marine navigation, digital mapping and remote sensing, specialised alignment surveying, analysis of structural deformations, and land and environmental management. Studying modern surveying necessarily calls upon elements from such diverse disciplines as computing, engineering, environmental science, geography, geology, management, mathematics and physics. The Department of Spatial Sciences offers the only comprehensive degree program in surveying in Western Australia. The fourth year of the course incorporates an honours program which can lead directly into the Master of Science (Surveying and Mapping) and the Doctor of Philosophy.


Professional Recognition

Graduate may become eligible for full membership to and certification by the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), as well as membership to and accreditation by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).


Career Opportunities

Interesting and challenging professional careers are available to surveying graduates throughout Australia and the world. Excellent opportunities exist with local, state and federal governments, industry sectors - including land development, construction, defence, tourism, mapping, resource development and mining or in private practice as a registered surveyor under the Licensed Surveyors Act (WA).


Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials. All students are required to have access to a portable electronic programmable calculator having hard wired trigonometrical subroutines and a minimum capacity of 10 significant figures. It is also expected that certain costs involved with associated field trips must be met. A requirement for graduation is the successful completion of a Senior First Aid certificate and this expense must also be met.



Course Entry and Completion Details

Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways.


Specifically one TEE Mathematics subject. OR at least Mathematics 2C/2D Mathematics 3C/3D desirable STAT elements considered are E and Q. STAT applicants will be required to meet entry prerequisites by completing enabling units. This study may extend the duration of the course.


Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.


Specific Course Completion Details

Attendance at field excursions and survey camps is compulsory. Students who do not attend will not have completed the course requirements. All degree students should seek employment in their field during the summer vacations. Three months' approved practical experience is required before a surveying degree will be awarded. This requirement must also be met prior to undertaking the Cadastral Option in the final semester. Students must hold a certificate indicating completion of an approved course in senior first aid before graduating.



Course Organisation

Bachelor degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors/streams for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study.


Course Learning Outcomes

A graduate of this course can:

1. apply surveying concepts and methods to surveying applications

2. think critically and creatively to generate innovative solutions and apply logical and rational processes to analyse surveying problems

3. access, evaluate and synthesise spatial and related information from multiple sources

4. communicate in ways appropriate to the discipline of surveying

5. use and apply technologies, recognising their advantages and limitations when applied to surveying

6. demonstrate responsibility and self-learning skills by applying critical reflection and being proactive

7. describe and apply australian and international best practice standards in surveying methods and technologies

8. demonstrate respect for cultural diversity in professional life

9. work ethically and professionally, both within a team and independently


Duration and Availability

The course is four years' full-time or equivalent part-time study.


Location and delivery Mode


Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 1   Y      
2014 Bentley Campus Semester 2   Y      

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.




Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
307554 v.1   Science Communications 101 2.0 12.5
7054 v.5   Physics 113 6.0 12.5
10416 v.3   Survey Computations 100 5.0 25.0
10418 v.3   Plane and Construction Surveying 100 5.0 25.0
305640 v.1   Mathematics 136 4.0 25.0
  OR  
302283 v.3   Mathematical Modelling 101 4.0 25.0
  OR  
305639 v.1   Mathematics 135 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 1 Semester 2
302318 v.2   Spatial Computations 100 4.0 25.0
312189 v.2   Spatial Mapping 100 3.0 25.0
4536 v.6   Geographic Information Systems 100 4.0 25.0
311054 v.1   Mathematics 146 5.0 25.0
  OR  
10926 v.5   Mathematics 103 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 1
310588 v.1   Mathematics 271 4.0 25.0
7073 v.8   Applied Cartography 200 4.0 25.0
8920 v.6   Cartographic Statistics 100 4.0 25.0
10457 v.6 *   Engineering Surveying 210 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 2
312188 v.2   Spatial Data Processing 215 3.0 12.5
314068 v.2   Integrated Surveying 210 5.0 25.0
8039 v.6   Mathematics 274 3.0 12.5
10422 v.4   Photogrammetric Mapping 210 5.0 25.0
10424 v.3   Coordinate and Mapping Systems 210 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 3 Semester 1
10461 v.4   Satellite and Space Geodesy 310 5.0 25.0
302321 v.2   Land Planning 300 4.0 25.0
10423 v.6   Remote Sensing 210 4.0 25.0
10458 v.3   Measurement and Adjustment Analysis 310 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 3 Semester 2
10460 v.3   Analytical Photogrammetry 310 5.0 25.0
302313 v.4   Global Positioning Systems Surveying 310 5.0 25.0
10462 v.4   Survey Law Ethics Practice 400 4.0 25.0
10459 v.5 *   Mine Surveying 310 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 4
304022 v.2   Honours Surveying Stream 200.0
  OR  
300164 v.3   Surveying Fourth Year Stream 200.0
  200.0

*    Compulsory field excursion included in these units




Further Information

For further information about the program, contact the Department of Spatial Sciences on telephone: (08) 9266 7566 or email: spatial@curtin.edu.au or visit our website: http://www.spatial.curtin.edu.au. See also Geographic Information Science, Mine and Engineering Surveying, Surveying/Entrepreneurship (double degree), and Surveying/Property (double degree).


Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.




Handbook Disclaimer

The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.

For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.