Faculty of Sciences > Programs > Bachelor Programs > BIT BSc

• Program Summary
• Program Objectives
• Admission Requirements
• Program Structure
• IT Requirements
• Program Fees
• Enquiries
• Recommended Enrolment Patterns

Key
HECS = Higher Education Loans Scheme
PELS = Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme
RTS = Research Training Scheme
ANZ = Australia and New Zealand Students
INT = International Students

The general objective of the program is to produce graduates who have professional knowledge and skills in Computing and one of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Statistics. Graduates should be able to operate effectively in and between the two disciplines studied and would therefore be useful members of interdisciplinary teams. Graduates will meet the aims and objectives of both the Bachelor of Information Technology and the Bachelor of Science programs.

Applicants for admission to the program must satisfy the admission requirements for both the Bachelor of Information Technology and the Bachelor of Science. In particular, applicants will need to have studied Queensland Senior Mathematics B at Year 12 and achieved an Exit Level of at least Sound Achievement (SA). Applicants with equivalent mathematical backgrounds will also be considered.

The program requires students to complete 32 units of study and at least six of these must be for Third Level courses. Completion of one of the following nine structures will qualify candidates for the award. Particular courses in each of these structures can be obtained from the entries for the Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science programs in this Handbook.

Structure A: Applied Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

This structure contains 27 compulsory courses and five electives, four of which must be selected from the Applied Computer Science Elective courses.

The 27 compulsory courses include all courses in the Applied Computer Science major of the Bachelor of Information Technology except for the course MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics and all courses in the Applied Mathematics major of the Bachelor of Science.

Structure B: Mathematics and Computing and Applied Mathematics

This structure contains 28 compulsory courses and four electives, three of which must be selected from the Mathematics and Computing Elective courses that are not in the Applied Mathematics major. The 28 compulsory courses include all courses from the Mathematics and Computing major of the Bachelor of Information Technology and all courses in the Applied Mathematics major of the Bachelor of Science.

Structure C: Software Engineering and Applied Mathematics

This structure contains 30 compulsory courses and two electives which must be selected from the Software Engineering Elective courses which are not in the Applied Mathematics major. The thirty compulsory courses include all courses in the Software Engineering major of the Bachelor of Information Technology and all courses in the Applied Mathematics major of the Bachelor of Science.

Structure D: Networking and Applied Mathematics

This structure contains 29 compulsory courses and three electives which must be selected from the Networking Elective courses which are not in the Applied Mathematics major. The twenty-nine compulsory courses include all courses in the Networking major of the Bachelor of Information Technology except for the course MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics and all courses in the Applied Mathematics major of the Bachelor of Science.

Structure E: Applied Computer Science and a Science major

This structure contains the 15 compulsory courses of the Applied Computer Science major; four electives taken from the Applied Computer Science Elective courses, an eight unit major from those offered within the Bachelor of Science (Science) other than Computing Studies; and five electives. Some of the electives may need to be drawn from support courses for the major eg CHE1110 and CHE2120 for the Biology major.

Structure F: Mathematics and Computing and a Science major

This structure contains the 16 compulsory courses of the Mathematics and Computing major; five electives taken from the Mathematics and Computing Elective; an eight unit major from those offered within the Bachelor of Science (Science) other than Computing Studies; and three electives. Some of the electives may need to be drawn from support courses for the major eg CHE1110 and CHE2120 for the Biology major.

Structure G: Biology and Computing

This structure contains the following courses.

• Five units consisting of the courses:
  • MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics or MAT1102 Algebra and Calculus I
  • AST1000 Australia, Asia and the Pacific
  • CMS1001 Communication: Key Concepts (Biology) (0.5 unit course)
  • BIO1102 Biological Methods (0.5 unit course)
  • STA2300 Data Analysis
  • ELE1301 Computer Engineering; and
• 13 units of approved Computing courses and 12 units of approved Biology courses; and
• Two units of approved Biology and/or Computing courses selected by the candidate and approved by the appropriate program coordinator.

The Biology and Computing Program Coordinators are responsible for approving courses to be studied by the candidates in their discipline.

Note that students who follow this structure may need to take additional Biology or Computing courses to proceed to Honours study in either Biology or Computing depending on the area of that study.

Structure H: Networking and a Science Major

This structure contains the 17 compulsory courses of the Networking major; four units of the electives taken from the Networking elective courses; an eight unit major from those offered within the Bachelor of Science (Science) other than Computing Studies; and three units of electives. Some of the electives may need to be drawn from support courses for the major, eg: CHE1110 and CHE2120 for the Biology major.

Structure I: Software Engineering and a Science Major

This structure contains the 17 compulsory courses of the Software Engineering major, four units of electives taken from the Software Engineering elective courses; an eight unit major from those offered within the Bachelor of Science (Science) other than Computing Studies; and three units of electives. Some of the electives may need to be drawn from support courses for the major eg CHE1110 and CHE2120 for the Biology major.

Elective Courses

All electives must be level 1, 2 or 3 courses.

All students are required to have access to a personal computer with a minimum configuration of:

Pentium, 64Mb RAM, 8Gb Hard Disk, CDROM, Sound Card, SVGA with 2Mb memory, 3-button mouse, modem, printer, dual boot operating system: Linux and Microsoft Windows.

Macintosh computers are not recommended due to the software used in the courses in the Bachelor of Information Technology.

Software is specified on a course-by-course basis and, in some instances, it is provided with the textbook required for the course.

Students studying CSC2406 Web Publishing and/or CSC3407 Computer Communication and Internetworking will require Internet access.

The University is installing a wireless network for students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. A notebook/laptop may be required for some courses.

Higher Education Contribution Scheme

For those Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of Australia who pay HECS fees, details about the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) are in the Fees and Charges section of this Handbook: http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2003/feecharge.html.

International Students

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the Fees and Charges section of this Handbook: http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2003/feecharge.html

Initial enquiries should be directed to the Faculty Marketing Officer, Mary McGilvray: telephone (07) 4631 2681; email studysci@usq.edu.au .

Currently enrolled students should contact the Program Coordinator, Dr Richard Watson: telephone (07) 4631 5546; email rwatson@usq.edu.au .

Upon accepting a place in the program, students must inform the Program Coordinator of the structure that they wish to study. In collaboration with appropriate academic staff, the Program Coordinator will construct a suitable enrolment pattern for individual students, inform them of this pattern and enrol them in courses according to this pattern. Students may also be able to utilise external and Semester 3 offerings to assist them to complete the program in minimum time.

Students who commenced the program prior to 2002 should contact the Program Coordinator, if they feel that the changes have adversely affected their planned Enrolment Pattern, for advice about their options. Generally speaking, all reasonable attempts will be made to ensure that no students are disadvantaged by the changes to the program.