Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

This combined degree program allows students to study in the area of arts as well as science and complete two awards over four years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent.

In general, a combined degree program offers greater breadth of learning, enhancing the academic and professional qualities gained in each separate degree. At the same time, it recognises the increasing need for students to graduate with multidisciplinary skills.

The APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) accredited major sequence is not available to students who commence the program in 2012 or after. A Psychology major is available in the program, however it is not accredited for students commencing study in 2012 onwards. Students who commence the program in 2012 or after, and who wish to complete an accredited psychology program, are advised to apply for admission to the 4 year Bachelor of Psychology program.

Many of the academic staff in the Science degree of the program are at the forefront of their fields. They are highly respected for their teaching methods and encourage students to develop problem solving skills and abilities that contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in many areas of technology, industry, agriculture or the information revolution. There are a variety of majors to choose from:

• Biological Sciences (C)
• Chemistry (C)
• Earth Sciences (C)
• Geography (C)
• Marine Science (O)
• Photonics (C)
• Physics (C)
• Psychology (C,O)
• Sustainable Resource Management (O).

The Bachelor of Arts program currently has 15 majors to choose from. We are one of the few universities still offering Greek and Latin (as part of the Ancient History and Classical Languages major). As the Bachelor of Arts program is offered on both the Newcastle and Central Coast campuses, courses from either campus may be counted towards the Bachelor of Arts, provided that you meet the program requirements.

You can major in the following course areas (C - Callaghan campus, O - Ourimbah campus):

• Aboriginal Studies (C)
• Ancient History and Classical Languages (C)
• Chinese (C) (Please Note: the Chinese major is available to pre-2012 continuing students only)
• Creative and Performing Arts (C, O)
• English and Writing (C, O)
• Film, Media and Cultural Studies (C, Flexible Delivery)
• French Studies (C)
• German (C)
• History (C, O)
• Human Geography and the Environment (C)
• Japanese Studies (C)
• Linguistics (C)
• Philosophy and Religion (C)
• Politics and International Relations (C, O)
• Psychology Studies (C, O)
• Sociology and Anthropology (C, O).

This degree provides a foundation for a career in the vast field of Science or for a career in a broad range of fields available to Art graduates.

Because of the diversity of course areas, students are encouraged to seek the advice of a career consultant when selecting courses, especially if they have a particular career in mind.

Opportunities for graduates of this combined degree are extremely diverse and may include work in laboratories and research institutes, in government and industry in fields related to technology, production, environment, agriculture, minerals and resources, in planning agencies, management and administration, public relations, human resource management, and marketing.

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Admission to this program is available to Australian students, residents and international students. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/how-to-get-in/ for information on how to gain entry.

You may also be eligible to receive bonus points if you will be receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/how-to-get-in/domestic-students/options-for-entry/bonus-points.html to see if you may be eligible.

A basic understanding of General Mathematics at HSC level or equivalent is assumed. If you did not obtain HSC Math Band 5 or higher, you will be required to undertake a 1000 level Mathematics course and if you have no Mathematics background you are strongly urged to undertake a bridging course. As well, HSC Biology and/or Chemistry and/or Physics is an advantage. For Geography: HSC Geography, Social Science or Natural Science is desirable. If you intend to enrol in Biological Science, Chemistry, or Physics, but have no previous knowledge of these courses, you are advised to enrol in the bridging courses offered by the English Language and Foundation Studies Centre in January and February.

For the Bachelor of Science, it is recommended that in addition to Mathematics, HSC Biology and/or Chemistry and/or Physics would be a strong advantage to the program, depending on the major you intend to complete. For the Geography major, HSC Geography, Social Science or Natural Science is desirable.

For the Bachelor Arts, mathematics is recommended for those intending to study Psychology. English Advanced for all other Majors.

If you wish to apply for credit for studies completed at another institution, or if you are changing programs within the University and wish to transfer your credit to your new program, go to http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/credit-transfer/ and click on How to apply for credit.

Honours is available for both degrees as an additional 80 unit program. There are also opportunities for cross discipline studies at Honours level.

Students who perform well during the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree with a credit average (GPA of 5.0) or greater, may undertake a further year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) study to obtain an Honours degree. An Honours degree allows students to further develop their specific areas of interest.

In the Science degree of the program, laboratory or tutorial work is required in each major. Courses in some majors also require fieldwork as a supplement to or in place of laboratory work. Certain majors have a research placement course option.

A major in Chemistry, Photonics or Physics qualifies graduates for membership of the relevant professional organisation.

International students must comply with the University of Newcastle's English language proficiency requirements. All international students enrolled in the program will be provided with an orientation to familiarise them with the rules, expectations, facilities and services offered by the University. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/students/international/student-support/ to find out more about the support services available to international students.

Students with a disability who require reasonable adjustments to undertake their program should contact the Disability Support Service before semester or early in the semester. Some adjustments need up to 4 weeks lead time to organise, so it is imperative that early contact is made. The Disability Support Service and relevant Faculty and School officers will work together to ensure reasonably adjustments are provided in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses, and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/disability/ for more information.

To help students choose courses that match their interests and career aspirations, the Faculty of Science & IT has developed a website at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/science-it/degree-programs/pathways/ with suggested study pathways. This site also contains links to career information, job descriptions and details of employers.

Psychology Studies Major

This major is for students with a general interest in psychology, and for those who see psychology as complementary to their other majors within the Bachelor of Arts. It is not accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

An APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) accredited Psychology Major is not available to students who commenced the degree from 2012 or after.

Students who commenced the program prior to 2012, and who are undertaking a 120 unit APAC approved sequence of courses in Psychology followed by an accredited fourth year, will be able to complete the accredited sequence, but must complete the program within a limited number of years. Students should seek independent advice from the School of Psychology and relevant Program Officer regarding their eligibility for accreditation.

All students can access additional learning development mechanisms provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/centre-for-teaching-and-learning/about-the-centre/learning-development/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute.