This program provides choice and flexibility that allows students to explore diverse areas of science and encourages them to follow their emerging interests and scientific curiosity. Students design their own degree, choosing from a wide range of science courses according to their interests and strengths. In third year, students have the opportunity to choose at least one area of science to specialise in, which involves developing an in-depth understanding of this field. The program also provides students with the opportunity to acquire extensive transferable skills, including critical thinking, analytical methods, laboratory and field techniques, teamwork, science communication and information technology. Graduates are employed by a wide range of employers in a variety of discipline areas. As well as the range of professional career options, science graduates are finding their skills in demand in non-science areas such as business, human resources management, communications, media and teaching.

More than half of our graduates from the Bachelors program continue their training as a professional scientist by completing an additional one year Honours program within a specific scientific area. These studies may be extended with further postgraduate work through undertaking a Masters degree or a PhD. Alternatively, you may choose to continue your studies in postgraduate programs in other faculties or universities, leading to employment in areas such as dietetics and nutrition, medicine, chiropractics, media and communication, teaching, small business development or management.

If you are intending to apply for admission to a graduate entry medicine program in the future, you should note that the courses studied in the Bachelor of Science provide the skills and knowledge required.

International Baccalaureate students: the Faculty of Sciences allows some exemption from components of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics for scores of 7 and 6 in higher level studies undertaken in the International Baccalaureate. A maximum of 6 units of credit may be granted towards the Bachelor of Science.

You can pursue pathways in one or more of the following areas of science: Biomedical Sciences; Chemical Sciences: Earth Sciences; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology; Molecular Biology; Physics; Soil Science and Spatial Information Science.

Biomedical Science provides an understanding of the human body and the way it works. Graduates pursue professions allied with medical research, such as human anatomy and histology, the microbiology and physiology of disease, exercise physiology, immune responses, the harmful and useful roles of drugs and the psychological and physiological basis of human behaviour. Graduates gain employment in medical or research laboratories, hospitals, private industries, the pharmaceutical industry, sports clinics, the biotechnology industry, forensic science, food science and nutrition, cardiac technology, rehabilitation, chiropractics and teaching.

Chemical Sciences involves the study of the structure, physical and chemical properties and reactions of elements and compounds. Students learn how to apply this knowledge to develop new and useful chemicals such as plastics, fuels and pharmaceuticals, for use in manufacture, medicine and the environment.  A wide range of professional careers may be sought by graduates including environmental monitoring and control, mining, forensic science, nanotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medical and agricultural laboratories, manufacturing, food technology, the chemical industry, research and teaching.

Earth Sciences involves the study of how our planet is built, how it works, its turbulent 4.5 billion year history and how its precious resources can be located and used. It also investigates how the fragile landscape and often hazardous natural events must be studied and understood to allow them to be adequately managed.  Earth Science is one of the most diverse of the sciences covering everything from meteorites to dinosaurs and from gold deposits to volcanoes. Graduates may seek a wide range of professional careers in areas including resource management, environmental geology, mineral exploration, organic geochemistry, seismology, geomorphology, palaeontology, industry and fundamental research.

Evolutionary Biology and Ecology allows students to investigate the diversity of life on earth and the relationships between organisms and their environments.  Students will learn about plants and animals, their ecology, conservation and management, physiology and evolution, including those in terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems. Fieldwork and the study of South Australian ecosystems are important components of many later year courses. Exciting careers exist in environmental consultancy, environmental monitoring and management, marine science, aquaculture, community education, ecotourism, wildlife parks, catchment management, research and teaching.

Molecular Biology explores how biological processes function at a molecular level and its application in medicine, agriculture and research. Students develop an understanding of the manufacture of important biological molecules and how, through gene technology, genes may be manipulated in beneficial ways. Graduates can pursue careers in biotechnology, biomedicine, agricultural research, pharmaceutical industries and medical laboratories. 

Physics provides an understanding of the structure of matter and the nature of the universe. You will develop a detailed knowledge of areas which can include astrophysics, atmospheric and environmental physics, computational physics, optics and lasers, photonics and nuclear/particle physics. Mathematical and computer science courses are often taken along with physics.  Employment opportunities exist for graduates in electronics, optics and laser industries, scientific computing, telecommunications, space and astronomy programs, forensic science, defence, health and environmental industries, medical physics or in research.

Soil Science and Spatial Information Science explores the biological, chemical and physical properties of soils in Australian landscapes and uses the latest technology in geographical information systems, remote sensing, and spatial modelling to monitor distributions of landscape properties.  Graduates are keenly sought after by a wide range of government agencies, regional bodies, private enterprise and universities in the fields of oil surveying, environmental planning, soil conservation, environmental impact assessment, environmental engineering, land assessment and mapping, research and biodiversity survey and assessment.

Biomedical Science provides an understanding of the human body and the way it works. Graduates pursue professions allied with medical research, such as human anatomy and histology, the microbiology and physiology of disease, exercise physiology, immune responses, the harmful and useful roles of drugs and the psychological and physiological basis of human behaviour. Graduates gain employment in medical or research laboratories, hospitals, private industries, the pharmaceutical industry, sports clinics, the biotechnology industry, forensic science, food science and nutrition, cardiac technology, rehabilitation, chiropractics and teaching.

Chemical Sciences involves the study of the structure, physical and chemical properties and reactions of elements and compounds. Students learn how to apply this knowledge to develop new and useful chemicals such as plastics, fuels and pharmaceuticals, for use in manufacture, medicine and the environment.  A wide range of professional careers may be sought by graduates including environmental monitoring and control, mining, forensic science, nanotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, medical and agricultural laboratories, manufacturing, food technology, the chemical industry, research and teaching.

Earth Sciences involves the study of how our planet is built, how it works, its turbulent 4.5 billion year history and how its precious resources can be located and used. It also investigates how the fragile landscape and often hazardous natural events must be studied and understood to allow them to be adequately managed.  Earth Science is one of the most diverse of the sciences covering everything from meteorites to dinosaurs and from gold deposits to volcanoes. Graduates may seek a wide range of professional careers in areas including resource management, environmental geology, mineral exploration, organic geochemistry, seismology, geomorphology, palaeontology, industry and fundamental research.

Evolutionary Biology and Ecology allows students to investigate the diversity of life on earth and the relationships between organisms and their environments.  Students will learn about plants and animals, their ecology, conservation and management, physiology and evolution, including those in terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems. Fieldwork and the study of South Australian ecosystems are important components of many later year courses. Exciting careers exist in environmental consultancy, environmental monitoring and management, marine science, aquaculture, community education, ecotourism, wildlife parks, catchment management, research and teaching.

Molecular Biology explores how biological processes function at a molecular level and its application in medicine, agriculture and research. Students develop an understanding of the manufacture of important biological molecules and how, through gene technology, genes may be manipulated in beneficial ways. Graduates can pursue careers in biotechnology, biomedicine, agricultural research, pharmaceutical industries and medical laboratories. 

Physics provides an understanding of the structure of matter and the nature of the universe. You will develop a detailed knowledge of areas which can include astrophysics, atmospheric and environmental physics, computational physics, optics and lasers, photonics and nuclear/particle physics. Mathematical and computer science courses are often taken along with physics.  Employment opportunities exist for graduates in electronics, optics and laser industries, scientific computing, telecommunications, space and astronomy programs, forensic science, defence, health and environmental industries, medical physics or in research.

Soil Science and Spatial Information Science explores the biological, chemical and physical properties of soils in Australian landscapes and uses the latest technology in geographical information systems, remote sensing, and spatial modelling to monitor distributions of landscape properties.  Graduates are keenly sought after by a wide range of government agencies, regional bodies, private enterprise and universities in the fields of oil surveying, environmental planning, soil conservation, environmental impact assessment, environmental engineering, land assessment and mapping, research and biodiversity survey and assessment.

Science graduates gain a wide range of skills that can lead to a variety of careers in:

• Business
• The defence industry
• Environmental sciences
• Government departments
• Hospitals and health organisations
• Intellectual property
• Laboratory research and development
• Management
• The oil and gas industry
• Research
• Press and media outlets
• Private industry
• Sales and consultancy
• Science communication, consulting, journalism
• Teaching and lecturing
• Universities