James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING — UNDERGRADUATE AWARD REQUIREMENTS

GENERAL

1.1  The degrees shall be:

1.2  Joint degrees involving Science shall be:

1.3  There shall be awards of:

DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES IN SCIENCE

2.1  Application of Requirements

In addition to the Faculty Award Requirements candidates for Awards of the Faculty must comply with the University Requirements for Undergraduate or Postgraduate Coursework Awards listed in this Handbook and specific Degree or Certificate Award Requirements.

2.2  In exceptional circumstances the Executive Dean, with the approval of the relevant Head of School, may dispense with or amend any requirements of or prescription by, the University Requirements for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coursework Awards, Faculty Award Requirements and Degree or Certificate Award Requirements.

3.  Enrolment in Awards

A person who holds an award listed in General Requirement 1.1 may not be a candidate for that award in the same discipline.

4.  Enrolment in Subjects

Except with faculty permission, granted on the advice of the Head of the appropriate School, a candidate may not:

4.1  enrol for any subject unless a passing grade for any prerequisites listed in the Master Schedule of Subjects has been obtained within the previous four years, or
4.2  enrol for any subject unless the candidate concurrently enrols for any corequisites listed in the Master Schedule of Subjects for which passing grades have not been obtained in a previous year.

5.  Credit

Candidates for awards of the faculty may apply to obtain credit for previous tertiary study as detailed in the faculty policy statement on credit transfer and associated guidelines.

6.1  The Grade of Pass Conceded

The grade of Pass Conceded may be recommended by the school directly on the basis of the particular examination. This grade may also be awarded by the faculty following consideration of the student’s overall result for the year.

6.2  A candidate who is granted the grade of Pass Conceded in a subject shall, for the purposes of Requirement 4.1, be deemed to have passed the subject and shall be credited with the appropriate units, but may not enrol for a more advanced subject in any discipline requiring the first as a prerequisite except with the approval of the appropriate Head of School.

6.3  The number of units that may be credited at Pass Conceded level shall not exceed 18 for a three year degree and the equivalent for degrees of greater length.

6.4  A candidate awarded the grade of Pass Conceded may apply to the Head of the School concerned for permission, at the next regular examination in that subject, to attempt to convert that grade to a Pass grade. Such re-examination will not be counted towards aggregate units work load for an academic year.

7.  The faculty will publish annually a list of subjects available to candidates. The list appears as Table V in the Master Schedule of Subjects.

8.  In exceptional circumstances the Executive Dean with the approval of the relevant Head of School, may permit a candidate to graduate with fewer than the minimum stipulated units of study for an award offered in the faculty.

POLICY ON RE-NAMED, DISESTABLISHED, SUSPENDED OR NOT OFFERED AWARDS^*

1.  For re-named awards, continuing students enrolled in the previous award be permitted to continue in the previous award or transfer to the re-named award.

2.  For disestablished awards, continuing students enrolled in the previous award be permitted to continue in the previous award or transfer to another award as approved by the appropriate Executive Dean or delegate.

3.  For re-named awards and disestablished awards, commencing students not be permitted to enrol in the previous award.

4.  For suspended awards or not offered awards, continuing students be permitted to continue but commencing students not be permitted to enrol for the period of suspension or not offering.

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE WITH HONOURS

1.  A candidate for the pass or honours degree shall, unless admitted with advanced status, follow an approved course of study to obtain a minimum of 96 units. The normal time for completion of the degree is four years full-time study.

2.  The maximum period of candidature for the degree is normally ten years.

3.  The minimum of 96 units from Requirement 1 shall be obtained by passing subjects from Table V of the Master Schedule of Subjects, according to the following:

3.1  at least 18 units from Table Va (level 1 subjects);

3.2  at least 15 units from Table Vb (level 2 subjects);

3.3  at least 15 units from Table Vc (level 3 subjects);

3.4  at least 18 units from Table Vd or Table Ve (level 4 and 5 subjects).

4.  In addition, the minimum of 96 units from Requirement 1 shall include at least 24 units from Schedule 1 appended to these Requirements.

5.  Not more than 24 units may be credited from subjects listed in Table Vf (i.e., subjects from other faculties).

6.  Not more than 33 units may be credited from level 1 subjects.

7.  A candidate may not, except with the approval of the Executive Dean:

7.1  enrol for any subject in Table Vb until 12 units from subjects in Table Va have been obtained; or
7.2  enrol for any subject in Table Vc until 18 units from subjects in Tables Va and Vb have been obtained; or
7.3  enrol for any subject in Table Vd until 72 units have been obtained; or
7.4  enrol in any subject in Table Ve until 12 units from Table Vc have been obtained.

8.  For the degree to be awarded in a field of study listed in Schedule 2, the candidate must complete the requirements laid down by the faculty for that field of study.

9.  A candidate who has satisfied the school requirements relating to the necessary standard of academic achievement may enrol in the Honours degree.

10.  Students may articulate from the Bachelor of Science degree at this University into the Bachelor of Applied Science or the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) and complete the degree in the minimum time according to the following:

10.1  satisfy the requirements 3.3, 3.4 and 4 above; and
10.2  relinquish an existing Bachelor of Science degree prior to graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Applied Science.

11.  Students who have completed a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree at this or another higher education institution recognised by the faculty may complete a Bachelor of Applied Science or Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) degree according to the following:

11.1  obtain a minimum of 36 units; and
11.2  satisfy the requirements 3.3, 3.4 and 4 above.

Schedule 1

AQ2001, AQ2002; EV2002, EV2003; all level 3 Aquaculture (AQ) and Environmental Studies (EV) subjects; BT3320, BT3330, BT3410; BZ3212; GE3301, GE3501, GE3502, GE3503, GE3504, GE3555; ZL3204, ZL3205; AQ4021, AQ4022; BZ4010, BZ4100; EV4003; LA4011, LA4025; all subjects in Table Ve.

Schedule 2

Applied Ecology and Conservation; Aquaculture; Environmental and Urban Planning; Environmental Management; Environmental Science; GIS and Spatial Analysis; Tropical Agriculture.

BACHELOR OF ARTS-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF ARTS-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN BOTH OR EITHER DISCIPLINES

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS- BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts Student Handbook. This course has replaced Bachelor of Business-Bachelor of Computing.

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE- BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts Student Handbook. This course has replaced Bachelor of Commerce-Bachelor of Computing.

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF EDUCATION- BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING WITH HONOURS-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Requirements for the joint degrees are shown under Degrees in Engineering.

BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WITH HONOURS

1.  A candidate for the pass degree shall, unless admitted with advanced status, follow a course of study as detailed in the specific program shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors to obtain a minimum of 72 units. The normal time for completion of the degree is three years full-time study.

2.  The maximum period of candidature for the pass degree is normally six years.

3.  The minimum of 72 units from Requirement 1 shall be obtained by passing at least 18 units of level 1 subjects, at least 15 units of level 2 subjects, and at least 18 units of level 3 subjects.

4.  For the pass degree, a minimum of 36 units of Computer Science subjects, or cognate subjects from other disciplines as approved by the Executive Dean, must be completed.

5.  Elective subjects should normally be selected from subjects in Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, Geographical Information Systems, Business Information Systems, Mathematics, Accounting and Finance and Management.

6.  Not more than 30 units may be credited from level 1 subjects.

7.  A candidate may not, except with the approval of the Executive Dean, enrol:

7.1  for any subject at level 2 until 12 units from subjects at level 1 have been obtained; and
7.2  for any subject at level 3 until 18 units from subjects at level 2 have been obtained.

8.  A person may continue in an honours degree if that person has:

(a)  completed the requirements of the pass degree or been admitted by the faculty to equivalent status; and
(b)  satisfied the discipline’s requirements relating to the standard of academic achievement necessary to proceed to an honours degree.
8.1  The honours degree shall comprise the requirements of the pass degree plus an additional 24 units and, except with the approval of the faculty on the advice of the Head of School, shall be commenced within two years of completion of the pass degree.
8.2  The proposed course of study undertaken by the candidate must be approved by the Head of the School of Information Technology.
8.3  Except with the approval of the Faculty, there shall be no re-examination.

BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGY-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF PSYCHOLOGY-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS IN BOTH OR EITHER DISCIPLINES

Requirements for the joint degree are shown in the Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences Student Handbook.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

1.  A candidate for the pass degree shall, unless admitted with advanced status, follow an approved course of study to obtain a minimum of 72 units. Refer to the program shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors.

2.  The normal time for completion of the degree is three years full-time study. The maximum period of candidature for the degree is normally ten years.

3.  The minimum of 72 units from Requirement 1 shall be obtained by passing subjects from Table V of the Master Schedule of Subjects according to the following:

3.1  at least 18 units from Table Va (level 1 subjects);
3.2  at least 15 units from Table Vb (level 2 subjects);
3.3  at least 18 units from Table Vc or Table Ve (level 3 or level 5 subjects);
3.4  at least 6 units of approved subjects from Table V from discipline areas outside the major.

4.  Unless otherwise approved by the Executive Dean, a candidate for the BSc degree shall obtain a major from subjects listed in Table V. Only subjects passed at a grade of P (Pass) or higher can be counted towards a major.

4.1  A major shall consist of an approved sequence of 27 units in a discipline or cognate disciplines, including 12 units from Table Vc (level 3 subjects).
4.2  A double major may be obtained, and shall consist of two sequences of units following the requirements of 4.1, from two different disciplines.
4.3  An interdisciplinary major may be obtained, comprising an approved sequence of at least 42 units, and including a total of 18 units of level 3 subjects from at least two different disciplines.

5.  Not more than six units may be credited from subjects listed in Table Va3 (i.e. preparatory subjects).

6.  Not more than a total of 18 units may be credited from subjects listed in Tables Va3 (i.e. preparatory subjects) and Table Vf (i.e. subjects from other Faculties).

7.  Not more than 30 units may be credited from level 1 subjects.

8.  A candidate may not, except with the approval of the Executive Dean:

8.1  enrol for any subject in Table Vb until 12 units from subjects in Table Va have been obtained; and
8.2  enrol for any subject in Table Vc until 18 units from subjects in Tables Va and Vb have been obtained; and
8.3  enrol for any subject in Table Ve until 12 units from subjects in Table Vc have been obtained.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH HONOURS

1.  The degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours may be undertaken within the schools in either the Faculty of Science and Engineering or in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences listed below. With the approval of the Executive Dean of the relevant faculty, a joint honours degree may be undertaken in more than one school.

2.  A person may enrol for the honours degree if that person has:

2.1  completed the requirements of the pass degree or been admitted by the faculty to equivalent status; and
2.2  satisfied the school requirements relating to the standard of academic achievement necessary to proceed to an honours degree.

3.  The degree studies shall comprise 24 units and, except with the approval of the faculty on the advice of the Head of School, shall follow on directly from the pass degree and no later than two years following completion of the pass degree.

4.  A candidate for the honours degree shall undertake such subjects, research and literature projects as the Head of School designates.

5.  Except with the approval of the faculty, there shall be no re-examination.

Schedule

Anthropology, Archaeology and Sociology

Biomedical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Information Technology

Marine Biology and Aquaculture

Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences

Tropical Biology

Tropical Environment Studies and Geography

Schedule

Programs of Study will be presented under Undergraduate Courses and Majors.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE-BACHELOR OF LAWS

1.  Administration of the degree

The joint degree course shall be administered by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

2.  Application for enrolment

An applicant for enrolment for a joint degree course shall —

2.1  possess the prerequisites and satisfy any quota requirements, specified for the subjects constituting the first year of the course; and
2.2  obtain approval from the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. (Applicants may enter a joint degree course, at second year, with the approval of the Executive Deans and provided they have obtained the prerequisites specified for the subjects constituting that year of the course.)

3.  Re-enrolment

Re-enrolment in each subsequent year of the course shall require approval by both the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Arts and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

4.  Requirements for the degree

To qualify for the degree a candidate shall, during not fewer than five years of study, fulfil the requirements set out in the schedule shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors.

5.  Withdrawal from joint degree course

A candidate who has completed all the requirements of the first year of a joint degree course may convert to candidature for the degree of Bachelor of Laws without loss of credit. (Note: Conversion after completion of any later year of a joint degree course will normally entail loss of credit for non-Law subjects completed beyond first year.)

6.1  A candidate who has met the requirements of the first to third years of a course of study prescribed in the Schedule shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors and who does not enrol for the fourth or fifth years of the course, or, having enrolled, does not complete the requirements prescribed for either year, shall consult the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering on the requirements for the completion of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

6.2  A person who graduates under the provisions of clause 6.1 will not be debarred from seeking re-enrolment at a later date in order to complete the degree of Bachelor of Laws, but will be subject to any quota requirements in effect at that time.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE-BACHELOR OF LAWS WITH HONOURS IN BOTH OR EITHER DISCIPLINES

1.1  Requirements for the degree

Honours in the joint degree may be completed as:

BSc(Hons)-LLB(Hons); BSc(Hons)-LLB; BSc-LLB(Hons) depending on the requirements of individual candidates.

1.2  A candidate for the honours degree shall pursue studies as follows:

BSc(Hons)-LLB(Hons) — six years to obtain 158 units;

BSc(Hons)-LLB — six years to obtain 158 units;

BSc-LLB(Hons) — five years to obtain 134 units.

1.3  Candidates undertaking honours shall complete the requirements of the joint pass degree followed by the requirements of the normal honours year in either or both components of the joint degree depending on the degree in which the candidate enrols.

DIPLOMA OF SCIENCE

1.  A candidate for a diploma shall follow a course of study to obtain a minimum of 24 units, of which at least eight units shall be in a single discipline at level 2 (Table Vb). The normal time for completion of the diploma is two years part-time study.

2.  Admission to the diploma shall be as per the University’s Admission Requirements and subject to the prerequisites for the subjects chosen.

CERTIFICATE OF SCIENCE

1.1  Requirements for entry to the course

Candidates will normally satisfy the entry requirements listed in the Master Schedule of Subjects for any subject taken as part of a certificate course.

1.2  Candidates will not qualify for any recognition of prior learning as credit towards the requirements for any certificate.

2.  Requirements for completion of the course

To qualify for the award a candidate must normally have completed two subjects to a minimum total value of six units in accordance with these Requirements. The normal time for completion of the certificate is two semesters part-time.

3.  Constitution of the course

The subjects selected shall be in accordance with the programs shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors.

AWARDS IN ENGINEERING

1.  Candidates for Awards in Engineering must comply with (i) the University Requirements for Undergraduate Coursework Awards, (ii) general Faculty Award Requirements and (iii) specific Degree or Certificate Award Requirements.

2.  In exceptional circumstances and notwithstanding the University Requirements for Undergraduate Coursework Awards and the Degree or Certificate Award Requirements the faculty may dispense with or amend any conditions specified in the Requirements.

3.1  Enrolment in Bachelor degrees

A candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Engineering with Honours may specialise in one of the following Majors:

1. Chemical
2. Civil
3. Computer Systems
4. Electrical and Electronic
5. Environmental
6. Mechanical.

3.2  A person who holds either a Bachelor of Engineering pass or Honours degree in a particular major may not be a candidate for these degrees in that particular major.

3.3  The faculty will publish annually a list of subjects available to candidates. This list appears as Table IV in the Master Schedule of Subjects.

3.4  The combined minimum units value of any candidate’s personal course of study which will be approved in any year shall be six.

3.5  A candidate may enrol concurrently in subjects from no more than two levels of the course as specified in majors. The combined points value of the subjects for which such a candidate shall be permitted to enrol shall not exceed 24 units.

3.6  To satisfy the requirements for a given level of study as specified in each major, a candidate shall:

3.6.1  obtain a passing grade in each subject; and
3.6.2  obtain a weighted average mark of not less than 50 per cent.

3.7  Some subjects in each of the majors may require students to participate in field trips, site visits or other off-campus activities. A fee may be charged by the School of Engineering for transport or subsistence associated with these trips.

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING AND BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING WITH HONOURS

1.1  Requirements for completion of the degree courses

A candidate for the pass or honours degree shall follow a course of study as specified in majors shown under Undergraduate Courses and Majors, and obtain passing grades in all prescribed subjects. The normal time for completion of these degrees on a full-time basis is four years.

1.2  A candidate is required to achieve an acceptable level of competence in the St John’s Ambulance Senior Certificate, or equivalent, during his/her degree program. This is normally completed during Semester 2 of the third level of the degree course to ensure that the certificate is current at the time of graduation.

2.1  Requirements for vacation practice

The course of study of each candidate shall include a minimum of 12 weeks of vacation practice which shall normally be carried out at the end of the second and third levels of the course. This vacation practice shall be in engineering employment approved by the Executive Dean.

2.2  After completing a period of vacation practice and before entering a succeeding level of study, a candidate shall submit to the Principal Academic Adviser a certificate from the employer of the candidate that outlines the nature of the practice. The certificate shall be on a form provided by the faculty and shall be signed by the employer or by a responsible officer of that employer.

3.1  Entry to the honours degree

At the start of level 4, the Engineering Board of Studies will invite selected students to enter the honours course. Invitations will be based on the weighted GPA^* from the first three levels.

3.2  The thesis of an honours student must have a significant research component.

3.3  The award of an honours (I, IIA, or IIB) or a pass degree will be determined by the Engineering Board of Studies after consideration of the weighted average GPA^* achieved by the candidate over all four levels of study.

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING WITH HONOURS-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

1.  Administration of the degree

The joint degree shall be administered by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

2.  Requirements for the degree

A candidate for the degree shall pursue an approved course of study to obtain a minimum of 120 units. The requirements for the degree are normally completed in five years full-time study.

3.1  Constitution of the degree

Candidates will take level 1 engineering studies as the first year of the degree.

3.2  Normally, at least one subject from the science major will be taken in each semester of levels 2 through 5.

3.3  Candidates must pass 30 units from an approved science major.

3.4  At least 12 of the 30 Science units must be from Table Vc.

3.5  Candidates will pass all 96 units from an engineering program that is listed in Undergraduate Courses and Majors. An exception will be made if the engineering major contains fewer than six units from the science major and additional science units are necessary to satisfy Requirement 3.3. For these cases, the candidate must pass an approved set of at least 90 units from the engineering major.

4.1  Requirements for vacation practice and first aid certificate

Candidates must participate in and report on a minimum of 12 weeks of approved vacation practice that is normally carried out after levels 2, 3 and/or 4 of the course.

4.2  Candidates are required to have a St John’s Ambulance Senior Certificate or equivalent that is current at the time of graduation.

5.1  Entry to the honours degree

At the start of year 5, the Engineering Board of Studies will invite selected students to enter the honours program. Invitations will be based on the weighted average GPA^* from the first three levels of the BE program.

5.2  The thesis of an honours student must have a significant research component.

5.3  The award of an honours (I, IIA or IIB) or a pass degree will be determined by the Engineering Board of Studies after consideration of the weighted average GPA^* achieved by the candidate over all levels of study.

CERTIFICATE OF INTRODUCTORY ENGINEERING STUDIES

To qualify for the award a candidate must normally have completed subjects of a minimum total value of six units in accordance with these Requirements. The normal time for completion of the subjects is one or two semesters.