155210 v.3 Bachelor of Science (Mathematical Sciences)

Introduction

This course consists of core studies in mathematics and statistics. Students study one or more of the major streams of applied mathematics, discrete mathematics, operations research, statistics and other areas of mathematics.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites

Applicable Mathematics. Calculus is desirable. Applicants without Calculus may be admitted to the course but are required to complete a bridging unit (Mathematics 011) prior to the commencement of semester.

Specific Requirements

The STAT is not accepted for entry to this course.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis.

Duration and Availability

The course is three years full-time study.

Course Organisation

In the first year of the course students are required to take Frontiers of Science 101, Science Communications 101, a Mathematics unit and a Statistics unit. Students also take one Science Foundation Studies in each semester of year one. The Science Foundation Studies units are to be chosen from disciplines other than their major field (for example, Environmental Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biomedical Sciences or Resource Science, as per the prescribed list). The remainder of the first year is made up of three major studies units. In each of years two and three of the course students do six major studies units and two minor studies units. The major studies provide students with depth in the discipline and professional accreditation in Chemistry/Physics/Mathematics and Statistics. The minor studies are chosen from a different discipline to the major. The final year includes a 50 credit project in the major.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Australian Mathematical Society and the Australian Society of Operations Research.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other vital study materials. In addition, students may also need to contribute some of the cost of consumables, which varies depending on the area of study.

Further Information

The core mathematics components cover the various areas of Applied Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Operations Research and Statistics. Applied Mathematics covers a wide area and cuts across several branches of mathematics including analytical and numerical methods applied to problems arising from Engineering and Science. Discrete Mathematics is concerned with the study of finite structures arising from modelling real physical systems consisting of components which must interact correctly for the system to function. The subject includes algorithms, graph theory, boolean algebra, combinatorics, logic and discrete optimisation. Operations Research deals with scientific methods for solving any decision problem faced in a complex system. Statistics concentrates on the methodologies, concepts and data handling techniques necessary for informed decision making under uncertainty, and for describing real world phenomena where variation is present. Students will be exposed to each of the main areas during their studies in the first two years of the course. During the third year, they may choose to specialise in one or two of these main areas.

Special Note

The course structure for years 2 - 3 is indicative only for the 2004 intake and is currently under review.

Availability

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.