Bachelor of Social Science

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

UOW has experts encompassing the entire breadth of the underlying sciences, IT, engineering and mathematical methodologies in the ICT industry. Working closely with industry partners we ensure all programs remain relevant to industry trends and developments. Students study real-world projects and interact with and learn from industry professionals to ensure their job-readiness upon graduation.

The Bachelor of Information Technology provides foundation knowledge of organisational areas in IT, including:

• Database management
• Programming
• Information systems analysis and design
• Communications and networks
• Security
• Project management
• Web-based technology
• Professional practice in IT

Throughout your degree you will study a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. There is an opportunity to specialise in a major at the Wollongong campus from your second year of study by choosing one or both the following majors:

• Network Design and Management
• Web Design and Development

For students who do not wish to specialise with a major, you will complete advanced subjects providing you with specific knowledge while also instilling you with professional knowledge and skills in information technology.

Mathematics is the basis for successful decision-making and problem-solving independent of sector or industry. Mathematical and statistical models help us analyse information and forecast results in economics, finance, medicine and industrial processes. This analysis helps governments and businesses understand the factors behind important decisions.

This degree
The Bachelor of Mathematics will teach you highly transferable skills in problem-solving, data analysis, probability and variability, mathematical modelling, logistics and logic. The degree is flexible, and allows you to take subjects from other study areas to expand your career options; you can also choose to study a major in Applied Statistics, Applied Mathematics or Pure Mathematics.

Other opportunities include scholarships from corporate partners, summer scholarships and undergraduate research projects with academic staff, access to programs offered by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and inter-university courses via our Access Grid Room.

What you will study
During this degree you will study subjects in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics; giving you the quantitative skills that are in demand across all industries. The content covered in this degree also serves as initial preparation for employment as a professional mathematician. You will gain problem-solving, critical thinking and analytical skills that are in demand across all government and private sectors.

The Bachelor of Pre-Medicine, Science and Health is a three-year undergraduate degree providing a solid foundation towards graduate medicine, dentistry, veterinary studies, optometry, podiatry, physiotherapy or pharmacy. Depending on which major/minor you choose, this course also leads to a wide range of postgraduate study or professional career options in the physical and life sciences, allied health or health informatics. High performing students from a diverse range of backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, in particular, Indigenous and rural students.

This degree will explore core content for medical school entry including academic literacy, critical thinking skills and an understanding of what it takes to be a successful health practitioner. Extracurricular activities will demonstrate your leadership, dedication, and cooperation. From your first year, you will have opportunities to participate in a wide range of volunteer and enrichment activities in the community. These will assist you in developing real-world skills and ready for a career in health and medicine.

In the first year, you will study core foundational topics in anatomy, biology, chemistry, exercise physiology, and nutrition. In year two, under the guidance of the course coordinator, you can tailor your interests by selecting one of the following study areas:

• Biomedical Research
• Exercise Science
• Medical Science
• Molecular Medicine
• Nutrition

In year three, a capstone subject examines medical case studies across topics in the same case-based learning format used by graduate medical schools across the world. The cases are explored and managed via patient-oriented evidence summaries, group video presentations, clinical trial critiques and debates on ethical issues.

Medicinal Chemistry covers all elements of the development of new medicines for human use, including the isolation of new medicinal agents from natural sources, the design and synthesis of new drugs, and understanding the cause of diseases at the molecular level. Medicinal chemists design and synthesise new medicinal and pharmacological agents, monitor guidelines for testing drugs and analyse drug regulatory affairs, assess patent applications for new drugs, and teach in tertiary institutions.

The Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) provides excellent training in the modern techniques of chemical science applied to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic agents. During the fourth (Honours) year of this degree, you will undertake a substantial piece of independent research in Medicinal Chemistry, under the supervision of a leading researcher, together with other course work. On completion you will be ready for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies (health, agriculture, food and drug administration), or research organisations.

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop ideas into sustainable business opportunities and to foster innovation in your workplace. You will learn how to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset, experiment with design thinking, and learn to use tools and techniques to convert your ideas into reality.

Throughout your degree, our academics will equip you with knowledge in innovative leadership, financial skills for entrepreneurs, how to navigate the complexities of innovation and entrepreneurship, business innovation planning, and creating and marketing new products. You will understand how to raise capital and gain detailed knowledge of the complexities of initiating, developing, managing and exploiting innovation.

The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship will allow you to explore the potential exploitation of your own business idea. You will learn to evaluate opportunities from a range of perspectives, including financial, technical and legal, as well as gain a thorough understanding of the processes associated with the development and marketing of a new product in today’s complex environment.

You will then complete your degree with an industry-based research project that will enable you to apply the skills developed into a practical project.

The Master of Engineering (Electrical) provides graduate engineers with discipline-specific knowledge and technical skills in electrical engineering, including renewable energy and high-voltage systems. You will learn how electrical energy is produced and used in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. You will gain advanced knowledge in designing and building systems that generate, transmit, control and use electrical energy. Areas include wireless engineering, high voltage engineering, and digital integrated circuit design.

The program will suit you if you're an engineering graduate wanting specialist knowledge in the latest power engineering technologies, or seeking a career change in this sector.

This degree

The Master of Engineering delivers expert skills and applied competencies required for the professional engineer. It is designed to train and enhance professional practice, advance technical and specialist skills, and provide an opportunity to put theory into practice with applied projects and research. The degree also delivers communication, strategic and project management skills essential to the practising engineer.

What you will study

You will complete the core subjects in Professional Communications and Engineering Workplace Practice, Innovation and Design, Advanced Laboratory, and Research Methods.

For the Electrical major you will study subjects in Advanced Signals and Systems, Power System Analysis, Renewable and Distributed Generation, plus electives from Electrical, Computer, Mechanical or Engineering subjects. You will also complete an advanced project.

Mandarin is the first language of more than one billion people and is the most spoken language in the world. China has a 5,000-year history and culture and boasts the fastest-growing economy worldwide. Cultural and economic exchange between China and its neighbours is continually increasing and Chinese language skills are now in great demand. The Chinese (Mandarin) for Non-Chinese Background Students major is for students who have no prior knowledge of the language, or of Chinese characters.

At UOW, you will study Mandarin language, grammar, culture and history. You will learn Mandarin from the comparative linguistic perspective and be able to express yourself clearly and accurately in spoken and written Mandarin in a wide range of situations including social and the global business market. You will learn to recognise and respond personally to differences between Chinese culture and your own cultural heritage by analysing film, poetry and other cultural products.

What you will study
Core subjects will teach you to speak Mandarin for social situations before moving on to speaking advanced Mandarin, and learning about Chinese heritage, modern Chinese history and contemporary China.

In addition to the Mandarin major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

The Honours program is an alternative option for students wishing to undertake research during the fourth year of either the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years pass degree or the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years (Dean's Scholar) degree. Entry to your honours year is based on application and merit.

Early Years education enriches learning in children from birth to five years by giving children the opportunity to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for lifelong learning. It focuses on the significance of early education to foster children’s health, development and wellbeing.

For the duration of this four-year degree Early Years students will engage in continuous professional mentoring through the Professional Partners in Practice (PPP) program. This will give you invaluable sector experience and professional connections that will enhance your employment pathways and opportunities.

Throughout the degree students spend up to 16 weeks teaching in Early Childhood Education and Care Centres and two weeks in the Community and Family sector, complementary to the mentoring experience within the Professional Partners in Practice program.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake exchange, study abroad and international cultural immersion programs.

Working closely with two supervisors, you will undertake a major project during the program, you will undertake special experiences for research work either in the field or that examine other aspects of education. The degree will culminate in the production of a thesis or other project work that disseminates your research findings and the results from your project and research inquiry.

What you will study
During this degree you will study:

• The development of young children and their connection to family, community, and culture
• Improving education and developmental outcomes for children
• Establishing relationships with children and families
• Cultural and social diversity
• Early intervention and transition to school
• Leadership and advocacy
• Creating physical and social learning environments
• Developing skills and experiences in research in educational settings.

The Archaeology and Ancient History major at UOW offers you the opportunity to combine two distinct, but overlapping disciplines that will transform your understanding and perceptions of the past. The Archaeology and Ancient History major is a new major jointly offered by the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry and the Centre for Archaeological Science.

In 2003, UOW researchers uncovered evidence of a previously unknown Hominin species (nicknamed the "Hobbit") in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. This major is an opportunity to become part of UOW's internationally-recognised research in archaeology and the complex story of human evolution.

Archaeology and Ancient History at UOW will enable you to gain valuable skills and study topics about which both you and our staff are passionate. Graduates from the Archaeology and Ancient History major may gain employment in heritage management, museums, in archaeological research and as teachers.

What you will study
You will explore the political, social and economic contexts of Rome and Greece. This will be complemented by learning about the ‘Big’ questions in Archaeology, in both our own region and the rest of the world, from early prehistory to the Middle Ages. You will gain field and practical experience using a range of different techniques and sources to examine material remains including fossils, artefacts and relics from a wide range of periods, places and people. You will round off your major by completing capstone subjects in Archaeology and Ancient History where you will apply the knowledge and skills you have learned to real-world investigations into the ancient past.

In addition to the Archaeology and Ancient History major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.