Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of International Studies (3764)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BSc/BIntlSt
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 3764
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 068793M

This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2020 - 2021 - please refer to 3764.1 Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of International Studies

For Commencement Year 2016 - 2019 - please refer to 3660.6 Bachelor of Science/ Bachelor of International Studies

This double degree program is designed for students who want to combine their interest and expertise in science with a sophisticated understanding of international issues and systems. This will equip them to work in globalised science-based professions and industries. In the Science area, students can design their own academic program within the Bachelor of Science program structure, which must include a science testamur major selected from the following: Zoology, Animal Science, Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition and Food Science, Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Mathematics, Data Science, Applied Physics, Chemistry, Sustainable Environmental Futures

This will be combined with a degree in International Studies that examines the relationships of societies, cultures, languages and systems of government within the international system. It develops students’ capacity to analyse the historical development of relations among nation states and contemporary political, social and cultural issues, such as globalisation, transnationalism and migration. Students complete a major in International Relations and Asian Studies, and a minor in any Asian language, Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, or Japanese.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their IRAS Major and language minor subject to WSU limits on advanced standing. Students are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a B.IS or BA course advisor first.

Students should note that not all majors and units are available at all campuses and travel between campuses may be required.

Study Mode

Four years full-time or eight years part-time.

Program Advice

science@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is an optional work component available in this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the program but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation.  For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

The following sets of Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies apply.

Bachelor of Science

  • Assumed knowledge: At least two unit science (any science) and two unit mathematics at year 12 equivalent.

Bachelor of International Studies

  • Assumed knowledge: Two units of HSC English at Band 4
  • Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local 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.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

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

All other International applicants must apply directly to the 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.

International Office

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.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as prescribed in the structure below. Students who complete this award will graduate with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of International Studies.

Note: At least 120 credit points must be at Level 3 or above.

Students who wish to exit this double degree after their third year and graduate with a Bachelor of Science must have completed 240 credit points and completed the subjects as listed below in Years 1, 2 and 3 with at least 60 credit points at Level 3 or above

Students completing the Bachelor of Science portion of this double degree must complete one of the Science testamur majors listed, in the first three years of study.

The conceptual design of this BSc/BIS double degree is as follows:

Years 1 to 3

Students complete 160 credit points of Bachelor of Science subjects comprising eight Bachelor of Science core subjects. eight Bachelor of Science testamur major subjects and eight BIS subjects as listed in the program structure below.

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 80 cps with a Diploma in General Science (exit only) 

Diploma in General Science (exit only) 

Bachelor of Science Core Subjects

Students should note that core subjects will be allocated based on the Testamur Major chosen and as indicated in the relevant Testamur Major sequence.

Subject Title Credit Points
Bachelor of Science Core Subjects
Students are required to complete the following three units:
BIOS 1001Biodiversity10
CHEM 1008Introductory Chemistry10
NATS 1019Scientific Literacy10
Foundation
Select one of the following (depending on testamur major selected):10
Cell Biology
Essential Chemistry 2
Mathematics
Select one of the following (depending on testamur major selected):10
Biometry
Mathematics 1A
Quantitative Thinking
Analytical Science
Select one of the following (depending on testamur major selected):10
Analytical Chemistry
Forensic and Environmental Analysis
Functional Proteins and Genes
Natural Science Research Methods
Programming Fundamentals
Work Integrated Learning
Select one of the following (depending on testamur major selected):10
Complex Case Studies in Science
Work Internship for Science Professionals
Core Capstone
Select one of the following (depending on testamur major selected):10
Applications of Big Data
Biological Adaptation to Climate Change
Field Project 1
Laboratory Quality Management
Mathematical Modelling
Quality Assurance and Food Analysis
Total Credit Points80

Bachelor of Science Testamur Majors

Students must choose one of the following testamur majors:

Please note that not all Testamur Majors are available at all campuses.

Years 1 to 4

In Years 1 to 4 students complete the four level 1 Bachelor of Arts (BA) core subjects, plus the eight-subject International Relations and Asian Studies major and one of the four-subject language minors listed.

The Four Level 1 Bachelor of Arts (BA) Core Subjects

Subject Title Credit Points
HUMN 1052Australian Politics and Active Citizenship10
HUMN 1053Diversity, Language and Culture10
LANG 1029Foundations of Academic English10
LANG 1030Thinking Critically About Texts and Society10
Total Credit Points40

Students must also complete subjects in the following, as per the chosen program structure

Major - International Relations and Asian Studies

Minor

A minor in one of the following languages must be undertaken in conjunction with the major

Note: The following minors have inherent requirements: Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. Please see the link below:

Inherent Requirements

Students should seek program advice in relation to the level 2/3 language sequences

For details of International Studies subjects required please see program 1658 Bachelor of International Studies.

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
Select BA core subject 10
Select BA core subject 10
BIOS 1001 Biodiversity 10
CHEM 1008 Introductory Chemistry 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
Select BA core subject 10
Select BA core subject 10
Select one core Science Mathematics subject of the following (depending on testamur major selected): 10
Biometry  
Mathematics 1A  
Quantitative Thinking  
Select one core Science Foundation subject of the following (depending on testamur major selected): 10
Cell Biology  
Essential Chemistry 2  
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
CULT 1001 Asia in the World 10
NATS 1019 Scientific Literacy 10
Select one Analytical Science subject of the following (depending on testamur major selected): 10
Analytical Chemistry  
Forensic and Environmental Analysis  
Functional Proteins and Genes  
Natural Science Research Methods  
Programming Fundamentals  
Select one testamur major subject (see sequence provided with each testamur major) 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
POLI 1007 World Politics and International Relations 10
Select one of the following: 10
Work Internship for Science Professionals  
Complex Case Studies in Science  
Select two Science testamur major subjects (see sequence provided with each testamur major): 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
Select one Language minor subject 10
Select one Science capstone subject of the following (depending on testamur major chosen): 10
Laboratory Quality Management  
Biological Adaptation to Climate Change  
Mathematical Modelling  
Applications of Big Data  
Field Project 1  
Quality Assurance and Food Analysis  
Select two Science testamur major subjects (see sequence provided with each testamur major) 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
Select one Language minor subject 10
Select three Science testamur major subjects (see sequence provided with each testamur major) 30
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Autumn session
POLI 2006 Politics of Australia and Asia Relations 10
Select two Level 2/3 International Relations and Asian Studies major subjects 20
Select one Language minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
HUMN 3079 The Asian Century 10
Select two Level 2/3 International Relations and Asian Studies major subjects 20
Select one Language minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points320

Equivalent Subjects

The subject listed below count towards completion of this program who passed this subject in 2022 or ealier.

POLI 1002 Introduction to International Relations, replaced by POLI 1007 World Politics and International Relations