Course

Bachelor of Natural Science

Approved Abbreviation: BNatSc

Western Sydney University Course Code: 3637.2

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 063561A

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year in this course is 2011 or later.

Commencement Year 2009, 2010 - 3637.1 Bachelor of Natural Science

The Bachelor of Natural Science is a broadly based, multi-disciplinary undergraduate degree offering flexibility and choice through a range of complementary key program areas related to human interaction with the environment, whether in terms of food production, harvest, sustainability of supply, safety and distribution; or societal and environmental effects on human health; or environmental sustainability through landscape management and conservation; or adaptation to global and local climate change issues. The degree, based at the Hawkesbury campus, seeks to equip all students with a good understanding of fundamental academic and scientific skills complemented by a high level of discipline specific knowledge. Each specific discipline has a capstone unit in engaged learning, to ensure that graduates will be ‘business ready’ in terms of dealing with real world issues and problems. In addition to the key programs, students will be able, if they wish, to complete a sub-major related to another key program.

Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Natural Science (Environment and Health) key program is accredited by Environmental Health Australia (EHA), formerly the Australian Institute of Environmental Health (AIEH).

Admission

Local students will normally be admitted through UAC. The following sets of Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies apply.

Agriculture: Recommended Studies: One or more of agriculture, business studies, geography, society and culture, and any two units of mathematics and any two units of science.

Animal Science: Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English and any two units of Mathematics. Recommended Studies: One or more of Biology, Chemistry, Geography or Agriculture.

Environment and Health: NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent and NSW HSC Science or equivalent.

Environmental Management and Climate Change: Any two units of Science (biology or chemistry recommended) and any two units of English.

Food Sustainability: Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English and any two units of Mathematics. Recommended Studies: One or more of Biology, Chemistry, or Agriculture.

Food Systems: Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English and any two units of Mathematics. Recommended Studies: One or more of Biology, Chemistry, or Agriculture.

Horticulture: Recommended Studies: Any two units of mathematics and any two units of science (biology or chemistry recommended).

Nature Conservation: Assumed Knowledge: Any two units of English and any two units of Mathematics. Recommended Studies: One or more of Biology, Chemistry, Geography or Agriculture.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

http://pubsites.uws.edu.au/international/

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Course Structure

Qualifying for this award requires successful completion of 240 credit points within the following rules.

Completion of: (a) eight compulsory units (80 credit points) which are the common core.

Level 1

300497

Professional Skills for Science

300792

Biology A - The Diversity of Life

200263

Biometry

300663

Resource Sustainability

Level 2

300664

Science in Society

300662

Research Methods

Level 3

300659

Field Project 1

300660

Field Project 2

and; (b) between ten units (100 credit points) and 16 units (160 credit points) associated with a particular applied Science discipline together with the common core units making up the key program.

Depending upon their key program of study students will also need to complete between four (40 credit points) and six (60 credit points) electives. This structure allows students the opportunity to undertake their Key Program in addition to sub majors from across the university. In the case of the Key Program in Environment & Health where students wish to become accredited Environmental Health Officers, the Key Program consists of 240 credit points with no elective choices.

Students are required to complete

No more than 120 credit points in total at Level 1
at least 60 credit points in total at Level 3
all specified units in their chosen key program discipline

Key Programs

All students must complete a Key Program.

KT3066

Agriculture

Agriculture is an exciting, inter disciplinary area that is essential to feeding the growing world population.

KT3067

Animal Science

Interactions between people and animals are increasing as we become more dependent on animals for companionship and food production, and strive to understand the greater pressures being placed on our unique native wildlife.

KT3069

Environment and Health

The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the places we live, work and play all have major impacts on our health and well being.

KT3070

Environmental Management and Climate Change

Environmental managers are concerned with ensuring the ecological sustainability of human development. History has shown that if we don’t effectively manage our environment, we will degrade it – possibly to the point where it can no longer sustain us.

KT3068

Food Sustainability

The new Food Sustainability key program will provide students with a deep understanding of current food systems, the challenges faced by society in achieving food security and food sustainability, and approaches for making the transition to a more secure and sustainable future for food.

KT3071

Food Systems

The Food Systems program covers the value chain management of the food industry, from farm to fork. The program fills a critical niche in our increasingly complex food provision systems, by addressing food supply chains and production processes.

KT3072

Horticulture

Horticulture is an exciting and diverse field encompassing science, technology, business, tourism and sociology. It impacts our lives through parks and gardens, organic farming, recreational landscape development, rural tourism and the use of plants in alternative therapies, and its practitioners play a key role in our country’s economic future.

KT3073

Nature Conservation

Nature conservation is shaped by the interplay of diverse political, cultural, economic, scientific and technological forces across Australia and internationally. With the increasing exploitation of the world’s non-renewable resources and the rapidly unfolding degradation of the planet’s natural systems there is an urgent need to conserve those wild places we have left and begin to restore the damage man has done.

Landscape Design Major

M3034

Landscape Design

Sub-major elective spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Indigenous Australian Creative Expressions Sub-major

Indigenous Economics Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)