Bachelor of Science

With a Bachelor of Science at JCU, you can pursue the scientific study that aligns with your interest, aptitude and career goals. JCU’s Bachelor of Science has 9 majors to choose from. Build a fundamental understanding of key scientific fields, and then explore areas of specialisation that align with core industry opportunities.

Tailor your science degree to suit your interests

Learn the fundamentals of science in your first year, then select one or two specialisations to continue building knowledge and skills in your chosen discipline.

You can also expand your knowledge by choosing to enrol in a minor or include elective subjects available per semester or trimester. This versatility allows you to gain a breadth of insights, knowledge bases and experiences while studying science at university.

Small class sizes allow you to make strong connections with your peers and with expert academics who are committed to your success. Throughout your degree, you will develop professional networks as well as key employability skills, relevant to your discipline, that will equip you to kickstart your career upon graduation.

Hands-on learning in practical classrooms

When you study science in North Queensland at JCU, you’ll undertake real-world projects and research in unrivalled locations, including the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and the Australian Outback. JCU’s contemporary facilities provide you with dynamic spaces within which to learn and grow, such as The Science Place (LEED Gold Certified), the Orpheus Island Research Station and the Daintree Rainforest Observatory.

Gain the confidence to initiate and conduct research, with opportunities to design reliable, evidence-based laboratory and field experiments. You’ll learn the keys for determining the best methods, techniques and tools to support your investigations. Learn side-by-side with leading academics and industry experts both in class and in professional settings.

Upon completing this Bachelor of Science course, you will be equipped with advanced skills and a knowledge base relevant to a vast range of settings, including the global Tropics.

Students who are based in Townsville and have completed at least one year of their degree are eligible to apply for an Australian Public Service Academy Campus position. With opportunities in the Digital and Data spheres, you can align your studies to part-time work, that may translate into a full-time job offer upon graduation. Explore the APS Data and Digital Programs page for more information.

View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Science.

Majors

A major is your area of expertise. There are nine majors within the Bachelor of Science, and you can choose to study one or two majors. Not all majors are available at all campuses.

Aquaculture Science and Technology

Explore the science behind the large-scale production of aquatic species with the Aquaculture Science and Technology major. Throughout this major, you will explore the scientific, technological, and practical applications of domesticating, breeding, rearing, and harvesting of aquatic animals and plants for food, aquarium, pearl and pharmaceutical applications.

Through course work, field trips to aquaculture enterprises and work experience, you will understand how a diverse range of species are farmed and studied. Learn the science and biotechnology approaches to support improved production including physiology, nutrition and diet optimisation, genetic selection and disease management. Through this Bachelor of Science, Queensland, you will get hands-on experience in handling animals, systems design and the rearing of various live organisms to feed class-spawned larval fish.

With a focus on tropical species, our researchers’ links to industry will give you a strong professional network when you graduate. Career opportunities include jobs in hatcheries, stock nutrition programs and management, fresh water and marine farming, professional scientific advisory services, NGOs, government policy or aquaculture research to ensure secure protein sources into the future.

Explore Aquaculture

Chemistry

When you study Chemistry at JCU, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning opportunities in well-equipped laboratories and gain invaluable industry insight through JCU’s Work Integrated Learning program.

Gain current skills and explore the many areas of chemistry including analytical chemistry, synthetic, organic and inorganic chemistry, and kinetics and mechanisms of chemical reactions. In your third year, you will learn a number of instrumental techniques widely used in the industry.

Accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), this chemistry major will open up career opportunities both nationally and internationally. Working across a number of industries, you could work as an analytical chemist, research chemist, clinical diagnostician, forensic scientist or environmental scientist.

Explore Chemistry

Please note: mid-year entry is not available for the Chemistry major.

Data Science

Data and analytics capabilities have accelerated in recent years. The volume of available data has grown exponentially, more sophisticated algorithms have been developed and computational power and storage have steadily improved.

The Data Science major packages existing data science subjects together with new subjects on Data Visualisation, Big Data and Machine Learning. Gain a strong foundation in data science principles and mathematics before building your skills in database and statistical modelling, multiple streams of processing and optimal methods of operations.

Standout to employers with skills that distinguish you from the rest, such as science communication, advanced analytical skills and problem-solving relevant to business operations. Expert academics in this Bachelor of Science course prioritise your professional capacity in addition to your knowledge and skills.

Data scientists work in every industry — from defence departments to internet start-ups and financial institutions — and tackle big data projects on every level. Skills in data science, big data and analytics are among the most sought-after jobs in the tech world today.

Explore Data Science

Earth Science

Study earth science and gain practical skills relevant to a variety of careers related to managing the Earth’s ecosystems and resources, with hands-on experiences unique to studying a Bachelor of Science, Queensland.

Gain a thorough understanding of rocks, soils, rivers, coasts and climate and how they affect people and are influenced by human activities. With access to the diverse environments of North Queensland, including JCU Fletcherview Research Station, JCU Orpheus Island Research Station, the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, and the Environmental Research Complex, your learning will be grounded in real-world applications.

With an understanding of earth surface processes and practical skills in field work, data analysis and report writing, job opportunities exist in many sectors. You can work as a consultant, in government or industry. You could pursue a career as a geologist, geographer, hydrologist, soil scientist, climatologist, environmental scientist or oceanographer.

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Marine Biology

Be equipped to address critical challenges facing marine and coastal ecosystems. You will study in a location that gives you access to one of the most diverse and fragile marine ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef.

By studying the surrounding habitats of the Great Barrier Reef, you will discover the impact that humans have on the marine environment and how the oceans and atmosphere interact. You will gain valuable employability skills through practical experiments and opportunities to visit the JCU Orpheus Island Research Station.

Benefit from our researchers’ strong links with industry, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), TropWater and CSIRO Townsville. As a marine biologist, you could work in conservation biology and policy, environmental and resource management, fisheries biology, ecosystem restoration and marine impact assessments.

Explore Marine Biology

Mathematics

Develop the problem-solving, analytical and quantitative reasoning skills that are highly sought-after by employers worldwide. With small class sizes, you will receive the one-on-one support required to excel as a mathematician.

Understand advanced mathematical techniques, data analysis and multivariate statistical methods. You will learn how to formulate mathematical models to illustrate science and engineering problems and use various techniques to help find solutions.

To enhance your employability skills, you have the flexibility to combine this major with another Bachelor of Science major. As a mathematician, you can work in many sectors such as information technology, animated films, business and finance, astronomy and space exploration, climate study or meteorology, cryptography and applied research.

Explore Mathematics

Molecular and Cell Biology

Learn how to amplify and edit DNA sequences and conduct laboratory-based and field-based projects. Throughout your degree, you will study the basis of health and disease at a molecular level and analyse the functions of a whole cell.

Benefit from hands-on experience using cutting-edge equipment and techniques. Study biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics and gain an in-depth understanding of molecular genetics. These structures and processes form the basis of all living matter and provide insights into complex biological interactions.

Develop the foundations needed to work towards developments of modern medicine and biotechnology. You will have the knowledge to work across a breadth of industries — job opportunities include working in research laboratories, hospital and diagnostic departments and biotech or pharmaceutical companies.

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Physics

Explore some of the universe’s most challenging questions. Accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics, this major will give you a broad range of practical and theoretical skills across various physics disciplines.

Physicists study the laws of nature; you will learn the fundamentals of energy, quantum mechanics, relativity, antimatter, weather and climate. Develop your ability to think critically and explore biophysics, geophysics, molecular electronics, organic solar cells or astrophysics. You will study the structure of matter, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum physics, oceanography and meteorology and thermodynamics.

As a physicist, your skills are relevant to a diverse number of careers. Job opportunities exist in industrial, scientific and educational occupations in fields such as health, meteorology, mining, environmental monitoring, energy production, telecommunications and aerospace.

Explore Physics

Please note: mid-year entry is not available for the Physics major.

Zoology and Ecology

Learn from academics with global standing. Study amazing rainforests and diverse species and go on field trips to Borneo or the Galapagos Islands. Offered at both our JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba, Douglas and JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campuses, Smithfield you will study in one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia.

Study the biology of plants and animals and their natural habitats. Discover many of the environmental threats to the Tropics by studying the effects of deforestation, infrastructure expansion, habitat fragmentation, over-hunting and invasive species.

You will access the various environments of the Wet Tropics and our Daintree Rainforest Observatory to learn about biosecurity, behavioural ecology, conservation biology and ecological modelling. You could find work as a wildlife or environmental consultant, zoologist or ecologist for a conservation, quarantine or biosecurity organisation.

Explore Zoology or Ecology

Refer to the handbook for a detailed overview of each major and minor available.

Honours

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. Please refer to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Handbook for eligibility information.

International students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening. Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

English competency requirements may also be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree or master degree from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, or
• Undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University.

JCU Science graduates are broadly skilled and equipped to work across a variety of fields. They have the advanced analytical skills needed to enter the workforce and make a meaningful impact on the world.

Depending on your area of specialisation, you could work in a growing number of fields including aquaculture, fisheries management, agriculture, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, mining, or biotechnology. The connections you make during placements and internships or with academics, researchers, and organisations that facilitate your field trips provide opportunities to connect with experts in your area of specialisation and allow you to leverage professional networking for future employment.

You could be employed in roles such as geologist, environmental scientist, oceanographer, mathematician, marine or molecular and cell biologist, physicist, ecologist, conservationist or rehabilitation scientist, environmental and policy consultant, wildlife consultant or chemist.