Bachelor of Communication and Media/Bachelor of Business (Dual degree)

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

Mechatronic engineering is the combination of mechanical, electrical and computer technologies. Industrial robots are a famous example of mechatronic engineering: computer-controlled mechanical arms capable of performing manual labour with greater strength, speed and efficiency than a human.

The reality is computer control of systems is so commonplace in homes, business and industry that nearly everyone uses a mechatronic system every day, from washing machines to central air-conditioning, cameras and computer printers.

A Mechatronic engineer's skill for combining and refining elements to improve the whole makes them valuable in fields such as digital electronics, manufacturing, information technology and robotics.

This degree
You will study a common first year allowing you to learn more about engineering and its different fields before deciding which discipline to study. The common first year provides you with sound fundamentals in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, computing, engineering science and communication, mechanics, materials and fluids. You then focus on your chosen major study from second year.

Your degree includes a 12-week hands-on industry placement. You may gain credit for relevant work experience, either in Australia or overseas, by participating in our Professional Options Program.

Engineers work in a variety of industries, for example: construction, mining, resources, aeronautical, electronics, engineering management, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, aerospace, water resource management, robotics and manufacturing, railroad and shipbuilding.

What you will study
As an engineering student at UOW you will have access to fully-equipped laboratories and the latest computer-aided software that is used in modern industrial workplaces. Our engineering students are trained through practical learning experiences including:

• Laboratory experiments
• Problem based learning
• Computer simulations
• Teamwork assignments
• Industrial case studies
• Project management
• Site visits to industry

Environmental science is a practical and multi-disciplinary science that spans the biophysical, geochemical and social sciences and focuses on the interaction between the living and non-living elements of the world, including the role of human impacts. Environmental scientists assess, research and manage a wide range of environmental issues and provide solutions to emerging environmental problems that face current and future societies. These include climate change, biodiversity, water quality, resource management, waste and pollution and environmental protection and conservation.

The Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) integrates material from a wide variety of disciplines relevant to the environment and its management. These include science, engineering, management, law, technology and social science. You will be equipped with the knowledge of ethical, social, economic and political aspects of environmental issues. These skills will help you work with other professionals in the environmental field, such as engineers and policymakers.

The superb local marine life, coastal landscapes, nearby rainforest escarpment, and fresh-water and terrestrial ecosystems means that Wollongong is ideally located for environmental science studies. Students are exposed first-hand to a wide range of urban, rural and ecological issues during practical fieldwork components of the degree. You will graduate with real-world experience and will be ready for a career in government, educational and research organisations, private industry, and consultancies.

Studying Sociology at UOW will prepare and enable you to understand, question and analyse human life and society, social processes, cultural and social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. You will develop an understanding of our diverse and rapidly changing world and identify the roots of and solutions to social problems. In an increasingly dynamic world, where divisions and inequalities are becoming more prevalent, this discipline provides invaluable analytical, research and intellectual skills and an in-depth understanding of our diverse societies and cultures.

The Sociology program at UOW organises specific study areas thematically, allowing you to find your own path through the curriculum, and consolidate in areas of interest over the course of the degree.

What you will study
Specific areas of study include: power and stratification; employment, work futures, and social policy; globalisation, migration, and urban/family life; sexualities, genders and intersectionality; social movements, subcultures and networks; and bodies, biotechnology, emotions and affect.

Finance is about money and investments. People on their own, people in partnerships, companies and other entities (including state and federal governments), have a common objective of profitable investment. What is a government-secured bond? What is a share? What are the reasons for investing in either and when is the right time? These are some of the questions answered in the domain of finance.

This degree
You will undertake a foundation year that covers all core disciplines of business, giving you a solid understanding of issues facing organisations today. From your second year, you will begin your major in Finance. The degree has an emphasis on practical applications and real-world financial management. Careers include finance manager, research analyst, management reporting manager, equity trade analyst, stockbroker, bank officer, investment operations analyst and venture capitalist.

You will also undertake a final-year capstone subject that lets you apply everything you have learned in collaboration with students from other disciplines. Plus, you have the option of applying for an internship to gain valuable experience whilst receiving credit towards your degree.

What you will study
You will learn the theoretical knowledge and tools demanded by employers in all sections of the world economy: investment, financial markets, financial modelling and portfolio analysis. You will utilise state of the art technology to learn advanced statistical techniques for analysis, including the classical linear regression model, model diagnostics, univariate time series modelling and forecasting. You will explore corporate finance, including financial strategies, security analysis and portfolio management.

The Master of Applied Finance (Financial Services) is for students interested in acquiring an advanced understanding of financial institutions, bank management, and lending. If you are currently working in the Finance industry or a recent graduate, you will benefit from the specialized knowledge learned in this course.

You will study the theory and practice of financial management and gain an understanding of the global financial system. Additionally, competing approaches to corporate governance and business ethics will be developed, and you will learn how to provide protection against portfolio, financial and corporate risks.

You will examine the legal framework establishing, controlling and regulating financial institutions and examine bank management theory, a bank's lending process and the securities associated with it.

The degree is targeted at students who have a bachelor degree in Business, Engineering, Maths or IT, if you do not have an academic background in these areas you should consider studying the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance.

Students interested in a two-year Master of Applied Finance option should consider the Master of Applied Finance (Investing and Financial Services).

The Master of Computer Science will provide you with the skills and ability to solve complex real world problems by integrating computer science methods with effective management strategies, and by developing and deploying computer applications. During this degree you will be able to put theory into practice with an individual capstone project.

What you will study

You will study subjects in IT project management, advanced programming, algorithms and data structures. You can choose to complete subjects from the below four areas:

• Computational intelligence, and reasoning and learning
• Machine learning algorithms and big data
• Advanced network security and computer security
• Software requirements and specifications, and service-oriented software engineering

Medical and health science provides in-depth insight into the structure and function of the human body at all levels of organisation. This knowledge can be used directly to work alongside other health professionals within the medical research and clinical health fields in both private industry and hospital settings. It can also be used as an underpinning set of knowledge for postgraduate medicine, dentistry and most other allied health professional areas. It is the Medical and Health professionals in their various roles that are involved in the development of therapies, application of diagnostic methods and treatments associated with health and disease.

This degree includes opportunities for you to develop your research knowledge and skills throughout the degree, and the chance to participate in a variety of research enrichment activities with options to gain hands-on experience in the diverse range of research laboratories. This degree will ensure you are ready for a career as a  research scientist, medical scientist, laboratory manager, technical writer or pharmaceutical scientist or prepare you for other postgraduate options.

The first years cover the core sciences including Human and General Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Anatomy. You then have the opportunity to customise individual programs of study with a wide selection of elective subjects that include, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Histology, Exercise and Cardio-Respiratory Physiology, more advanced Physiology and Anatomy subjects, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Bioethics, Philosophy,  Indigenous Studies, Public Health, Work Health and Safety and all specialised areas within chemistry, with potential to also create minors in many of these and other areas. You will also develop an understanding of and demonstrate practical applications of medical research via Medical Science Research Project opportunities and the final year Honours subject.

A major in Environmental Humanities will equip you with the tools to analyse, critique and engage with contemporary debates about the environment. You will acquire a deep and critical understanding of the social contexts through which we experience environmental issues and problems such as climate change, species loss, adaptation, exploitation and natural disasters. You will gain a clear understanding of the role of cultural forces (histories, narratives, cultural values and ethics) that influence and shape relationships to the environment.

What you will study
You will investigate the works of key humanities thinkers in environmental debates, and how these manifest in policies, solutions and conflicts. It will explore ideas for alternative futures, Indigenous conceptions of country, and also how relationships with nature and other animals have been historically and culturally produced. The Environmental Humanities major brings together subjects from International studies, Philosophy, History, Indigenous Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, English, Contemporary Arts and Geography. All of the strengths of Humanities research and teaching (critical and creative thinking, questions of social justice, ethics and cultural engagement) will be brought into the domain of the environment. The development of Environmental Humanities is in response to 21st Century environmental crises of climate change; depletion of natural resources, species extinctions, mass migration, natural disasters, global inequalities and climate refugee crises.

The Master of Information Technology (Enterprise Networking) involves an in-depth study of the organisational, economic, regulatory and socio-technical issues that arise in the implementation of IT in business and government, and how to effectively manage those issues.

This degree is suitable for those without an IT background seeking to develop the fundamental skills required to work in the sector, or to undertake a management role in which an understanding of IT implementation is essential.

What you will study
You will study core subjects in programming, data management and security, information design and content management, e-business technologies, strategic network design, systems development and business process management. You will also complete a minor research project or report.

This degree
With the proliferation of mobile and other devices with network capability, along with the rising popularity of the Internet, users and application providers expect services to be available anytime and anywhere. This course in Enterprise Networking provides you with the skills to project manage and administer computer networks and security risks.

This course will prepare you for a career in network administration or network design and management, or network security engineer or administrator.

French is one of the two working languages of the United Nations and many other organisations actively engaged in international politics and welfare (such as the Red Cross, the Olympic Games, the EU). As the language of a former colonial power and a language spoken on all five continents, it continues to play an important part in the arts, politics and daily lives of millions of people throughout the world.

At UOW, you will study French language, grammar, culture and history. You can begin your study of the French language from scratch or from the intermediate level and become proficient in all four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. France has a history and fascinating culture. You will discover the events and socio-cultural forces that have shaped modern France, its people and language.

What you will study
Core subjects will teach you to speak French in a variety of social situations while learning French history, culture and society, including Francophone cultures outside of France. In addition to the French major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.