Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science (BITS) - BIT BSc

CRICOS code (International applicants): 031457K

This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area should contact us.

Contact us

Current students

Contact the Administration Officer (Mathematics and Computing), telephone +61 7 4631 2384, email sciences.enrolment@usq.edu.au or submit a question via USQAssist.

Program focus

This combined degree is designed to produce graduates with a professional level of knowledge and skills in both science and computing. It allows students who wish to work in either the Information Technology field or in a scientific environment to have a useful combination of computing skills and scientific areas of knowledge or expertise without having to undertake two separate degree programs.

Career opportunities

Computer professionals with expertise in one of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics (see careers options under each of the disciplines listed separately)

Program objectives

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 (Faculty of Sciences) and the Bachelor of Science programs.

Admission requirements

Applicants for admission to the program must satisfy the admission requirements for both the Bachelor of Information Technology (Faculty of Sciences) 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.

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/EAP programs .

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who reside outside Australia pay full tuition fees.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Program structure

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 three 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 (Faculty of Sciences) and Bachelor of Science programs in this Handbook.

Structure A: Any major of Bachelor of Information Technology and Mathematics and Statistics major of Bachelor of Science

This structure contains compulsory courses as follows:

• all courses in the Common Core Courses of the Bachelor of Information Technology (Faculty of Sciences) except for the course MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics

• the eight courses in the selected major of the Bachelor of Information Technology

• all courses in the Mathematics and Statistics major of the Bachelor of Science.

Any remaining units to make up the 32 required are to be taken as elective courses. A maximum of four electives may be from non IT or Mathematics courses.

Structure B: Any major of Bachelor of Information Technology and an eight-unit Science major of Bachelor of Science

This structure contains compulsory courses as follows:

• all courses in the Common Core Courses of the Bachelor of Information Technology (Faculty of Sciences)

• the eight courses in the selected major of the Bachelor of Information Technology (Faculty of Sciences)

• an eight-unit major from those offered within the Bachelor of Science other than Computing

• eight electives.

Some of the electives may need to be drawn from support courses for the major e.g. CHE1110 and CHE2120 for the Biology major. Any remaining units to make up the 32 required are to be taken as elective courses. A maximum of four electives may be from non IT or Science courses.

Structure C: Biology and Computing

This structure contains the following courses :

• four units consisting of the courses: MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics or MAT1102 Algebra and Calculus I, STA2300 Data Analysis, and ELE1301 Computer Engineering

• 13 units of approved Computing courses and 13 units of approved Biology courses

• 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.

Elective Courses

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

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ Recommended Hardware and Recommended Software sites to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Recommended enrolment pattern

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.