General Information

Overview

With a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science combine a science specialisation with a deep understanding of the world for a broad scope of exciting careers. With this combination of degrees, you’ll equip yourself with the skills required to work in a range of professional scientific environments and grow your knowledge as you unpack what drives social change in contemporary society.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure.

Units of study Unit code
Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10005
Power and Protest: The History and Politics of Social Movements
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HIS10005
History, Politics and Human Rights
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HIS20009
First Nations Resistance, Activism and Empowerment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20004
Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI20010
Conflict, Justice and Peace
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30019
Environmental Philosophy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI30009
Changing our Climate: Past and Future
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC30020
Units of study Unit code
Fundamentals of Criminology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI10002
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR10001
Global Crime
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI20002
Policing: Systems and Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI20001
Youth Justice and Crime
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI30010
Corrections: Systems and Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CRI30002
Cyber Crime and Security
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30018
Units of study Unit code
Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10014
Introduction to Ethics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI10008
Digital Justice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL20019
Technology, Intimacy and Family Life
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC20003
Winners and Losers: The Politics and Ethics of Work
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL20018
Thinking and Intelligence: Critical, Creative, Artificial
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI30011
Planet B: Space and Extra-Terrestrial Ethics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI30012
Bodies, Health and Technology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC30021
Units of study Unit code
Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS10001
Global History
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HIS10003
Unlearning the Past: Indigenous Australian History
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS10002
First Nations Resistance, Activism and Empowerment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20004
International Indigenous Perspectives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20002
International Indigenous Perspectives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20002
Indigenous Representations
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20001
Indigenous Enterprise And Entrepreneurship
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS30001
Indigenous Knowledges
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS30002
Contemporary Communities
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS30003
Units of study Unit code
Global Perspectives on Modernity
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10012
Global History
Major unit
HIS10003
Race, Ethnicity and Migration
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC20013
Work in a Globalised World
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL20020
International Indigenous Perspectives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
INS20002
Global Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC30013
Politics of the Pacific
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30014
Borders, Security, and Belonging
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30022
Units of study Unit code
What is Power?
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI10007
Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL20009
Contemporary Approaches to Security
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL20016
Philosophy, Media, Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI20006
Propaganda
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HIS10006
Philosophy, Politics and Society
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHI30010
The Politics of Public Policy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30010
Critical Security Studies
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
POL30020
Units of study Unit code
Writing Fiction
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT10002
Reading and Writing Genre Texts
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT10003
Diversity in Australian Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT20002
Exploring Iconic Texts
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT20004
Prose Poetics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT20003
Reading, Writing and Criticism
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30005
Scripting for Screen and Beyond
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30006
Literary Industry Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30004
Units of study Unit code
Introduction to Game Studies
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ART10004
Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10003
Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10014
Screen Franchising and Innovation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20007
Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20018
Screen Technology and Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30016
Screen Sounds and Music
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30019
Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30002
Units of study Unit code
Matrices, Vector Calculus and Complex Analysis
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH20014
Modelling Nature’s Non-Linearity
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH20015
Series and Transforms
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH20012
Quantitative Prediction
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH20016
Differential Equations
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH30002
Optimisation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH30006
Stochastic Modelling
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH30001
Numerical and Computational Mathematics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MTH30003
Units of study Unit code
Chemistry 2
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10002
Concepts of Biotechnology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10003
Introduction to Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20002
Biochemistry of Genes and Proteins
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20001
Advanced Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH30003
Environmental Biology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ENV30001
Molecular Biotechnology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30004
Computational and Advanced Organic Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE30006
Units of study Unit code
Concepts of Biotechnology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10003
The Microbial World
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20002
Introduction to Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20002
Biochemistry of Genes and Proteins
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20001
Microbes in the Environment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30005
Applications of Bioinformatics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30009
Advanced Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH30003
Molecular Biotechnology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30004
Units of study Unit code
Chemistry 2
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10002
Spectroscopy and Instrumentation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE20009
Analytical and Forensic Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE20006
Investigative Organic Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE20008
Inorganic Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE30010
Surface and Colloid Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE30009
Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE30005
Computational and Advanced Organic Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE30006
Units of study Unit code
Consumer Chemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10005
Built and Sustainable Communities
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PEH20004
Environmental Management
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ENV30003
Food Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PEH20002
The Microbial World
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20002
Water Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PEH20006
Environmental Biology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ENV30001
Microbes in the Environment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30005
Units of study Unit code
Discovering the Universe
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
AST10001
Electronics and Electromagnetism
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY10004
Quantum Mechanics and Solid State Physics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY20007
Optics, Relativity and Subatomic Physics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY20004
Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY20008
Physics Research Laboratories
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY30005
Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY30003
Quantum, Atomic and Optical Physics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PHY30004

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

Units of study Unit code
Option 1
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Humanities
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
SOC20018
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Humanities
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
SOC20019
or
Option 2
Work Experience In Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Science
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
NPS20003
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Science
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
NPS20004

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results.

  • Advertising

  • Animation

  • Biotechnology

  • Business Analysis 

  • Business Analytics and Analysis

  • Cinema and Screen Studies

  • Climate and Social Justice

  • Computer Science 

  • Creative Writing and Literature

  • Criminology

  • Data Analytics

  • Digital Advertising Technology 

  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation

  • Environmental Science

  • Environmental Sustainability

  • Ethics and Technology 

  • Finance

  • Games and Interactivity

  • Global Studies

  • History 

  • Human Resource Management

  • Indigenous Studies

  • Information Systems

  • Journalism 

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management

  • Management

  • Marketing

  • Media Industries 

  • Neuroscience

  • Perspectives on Globalisation

  • Philosophy

  • Politics and International Relations 

  • Politics, Power and Technology

  • Professional and Creative Writing

  • Professional Writing and Editing

  • Psychology 

  • Public Relations

  • Screen Production

  • Screen Studies and Popular Culture

  • Social Media 

  • Space Technology

View co-major units

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon.

Advanced Finance

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Accounting

  • Entrepreneurship

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management

  • Management

  • Managing Information Systems

  • Marketing

View minor units

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ACC30009 Analysis for Competitive Advantage
  • ECO20003 Managerial Economics and Strategy
  • ECO20004 Macroeconomic Policy
  • ECO30003 Data Analysis and Econometrics
  • FIN30014 Financial Risk Management
  • FIN30016 Management of Investment Portfolios
  • FIN30020 Alternative Investments
  • HRM20016 Dynamics of Diversity in Organisations
  • HRM20017 Managing Workplace Relations
  • INF30036 Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
  • LAW20045 Finance Law
  • MGT10010 Ethics of Innovation
  • MGT20007 Organisational Behaviour
  • MGT30005 Strategic Planning
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  • systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to inform their knowledge and conceptual understandings in the humanities and/or social sciences
  • formulate arguments that are fit for purpose and demonstrate an understanding of the relevant theories and evidence in their areas of expertise
  • critically analyse information to generate creative solutions to solve complex problems in the area of humanities and/or social sciences, and understand the importance of inter-disciplinarity for generating solutions
  • define and integrate theoretical principles and apply these in their areas of expertisecommunicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience
  • apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice, individually and in collaboration with others
  • interpret and communicate ideas, problems and arguments in modes suitable to a range of audiences using a range of media
  • coherently articulate a line of reasoning demonstrating cultural sensitivity and apply a framework to analyse and offer solutions to ethical dilemmas in local and international contexts
  • articulate the methods of science, explain why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry and explain the role and relevance of science in society
  • exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge by demonstrating well-developed knowledge in at least one science disciplinary area
  • critically analyse and solve scientific problems by evaluating information from a range of sources, designing and planning an investigation, selecting and applying practical and theoretical techniques for that investigation and collecting, recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data
  • effectively communicate science by presenting information or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes using a variety of modes
  • adopt ownership of their own learning and scientific work by being independent and self-directed learners, working effectively and safely in an individual or team context, demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory framework relevant to the disciplinary area and practising ethical conduct.

Career opportunities

Career outcomes are dependent on selected areas of study, but may include employment in advertising, advocacy, anti-corruption, astrophysics, biochemistry, biotechnology, consultancy, communications, community activism, community development, cultural services, climate change, data analysis, education, environmental sustainability, food processing, forensic science, entertainment, ethics, film distribution, government relations, healthcare, human rights, intelligence and security, mathematics, meteorology and climate modelling, ministerial liaison, NGO/aid work, political campaigning, pathology, public administration, policy development, physicist, scientific research, R&D, stakeholder relations, new media, research and development, writing, and youth work.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science students must complete 400 credit points comprising:

  • twelve [12] core units of study (150 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from an Arts discipline major (100 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Science discipline major (100 credit points)
  • four [4] units of study comprising an advanced minor or minor or electives (50 credit points)

Professional placements

Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a WIL Professional Placement. This option is not available to International Students. Professional Placements Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process.

Students who undertake a 12 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:

  • eleven [11] core units of study (150 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from an Arts discipline major  (100 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Science discipline major (100 credit points)
  • four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points)
  • two [2] units of study comprising electives (25 credit points)

Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:

  • twelve [12] core units of study (150 credit points) 
  • eight [8] units of study from an Arts discipline major  (100 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Science discipline major  (100 credit points)
  • two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points)
  • three [3] units of study comprising electives (37.5 credit points)

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science is 200 credit points (normally 16 units), 100 credit points maximum from each discipline.

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 65 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments 

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne

Subject Adjustments 

A study score of 25 in any Humanities, Literature, any LOTE, any Mathematics, Physical Education or any Science equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent. VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any Mathematics or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer

<5

<5

Median rank to receive an offer

<5

<5

Lowest rank to receive an offer

<5

<5

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than five years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than five years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English and applicants who do not meet the Mathematics prerequisite can sit the STAT Multiple Choice or successfully complete Swinburne's MathsLink: Further bridging program.

Mathematics study scores or prerequisites older than five years are not considered to have met course prerequisite requirements. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2024
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) <5 <5
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 0 0%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 0 0%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) <5 <5
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 0 0%
International students 0 0%
All students <5 100%

Notes: “<5” – the number of students is less than 5.

N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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