Bachelor of Sustainable Communities

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics provides rigorous training in three interconnected areas that shape the world around us. You will learn to understand the complex interactions between economic and political factors that affect policy and decision-making in contexts ranging from local communities to international organisations. You will develop skills in political understanding, critical thinking, and economic analysis that are essential for careers in politics and government, entrepreneurship, international development, public service, and many other areas.

What you will study
The program of study includes core subjects in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, plus a Major study focusing on a more extensive set of subjects within one of those three areas.

Through the study of Politics, you will learn the foundations of political theory, the impact of public policy, and the structure and history of politics in Australia. You will learn how political considerations affect international relations and the specific problems that arise in the politics of developing countries. You will also study the role of culture and media in politics, allowing you to situate your understanding in a broader social context.

Studying Philosophy will develop your skills in critical thinking and logical analysis. You will learn how distinct ways of understanding concepts such as justice, fairness, and human rights depend on different assumptions regarding knowledge, ethics, and the nature of mind and the self. You will also learn how fundamental philosophical problems relate to serious practical issues in areas such as mental health, bioethics and climate change.

Economics includes three components: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and quantitative methods. Through these, you will learn to interpret complex economic ideas and assess economic factors that arise in a wide variety of contexts. You will acquire formal skills that are essential in business and financial modelling, and you will study economic history, ensuring that your skills are informed by a broader context.

Finally, a Capstone subject integrates key components from all three disciplines into a coherent package, allowing you to apply your understanding of complex problems to real world scenarios.

Quantitative corporate finance and investment looks at the funding source and the capital structure of corporations. It examines tools and analysis utilised in corporate and business financial decision-making from a quantitative perspective. These decision processes may be short-term or long-term. Long-term decisions typically deal with the choice and type of corporate investments, sources of equity or debt funding and financial risk management. Short-term decisions mainly deal with working capital management of short-term assets and liabilities.

This degree
The Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance (Honours) teaches you the skills to apply sophisticated mathematical and statistical techniques to real-world problems. You are also encouraged to develop computing and communication skills, which are assets in the job market.

Bankers, investment managers, insurance companies and financial companies all rely on financial mathematics to survive and stay ahead of the competition.

Maths and Finance graduates work in all areas of industry and government as risk managers, investment advisers, traders, financial analysts and more. They work in all aspects of the finance sector from traditional banking to futures trading.

There are opportunities for scholarships from corporate partners, plus summer scholarships and undergraduate research projects with academic staff, access to programs of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) and inter-university courses via our Access Grid Room.

What you will study
You will learn how to assess investments and the method for identifying the best financial or investment product for a corporation. You'll develop quantitative skills and simultaneously develop an understanding of the corporate finance and investment sector.

Subjects you will study include: investment analysis, portfolio analysis, financial calculus, applied probability and financial risk, international finance, advanced corporate finance, linear and generalised linear models and partial differential equations. You will complete a Mathematics and Finance Honours Project.

Science Education at UOW involves learning science and how to teach it effectively. As a science teacher you will teach the structure and behaviour of both the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. UOW educated science teachers have practical teaching skills and a high-level knowledge of science.

Science Education at UOW qualifies you to be a high school science teacher. You will complete extensive professional experience throughout your degree, which allows you to learn by observation and apply your skills in the classroom. You may also have opportunities for rural and international professional experiences, and to study overseas with UOW's international exchange and study abroad partners, and to join international cultural immersion programs.

UOW offers up to five Science Secondary Education Scholarships to students starting this degree with an ATAR above 80 and Band 5 in at least one science subject.

What you will study
During this four-year degree you will study a combination of science and education subjects allowing you to practically apply both disciplines throughout your degree.

Science subjects including biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science, and physics are complemented with education subjects about teaching and learning strategies including learning and development, pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching), professional teaching skills, curriculum studies and meeting learners' needs.

Teaching is an academically rigorous profession and teachers play a critical role in our communities. Strengthening requirements for studying teaching degrees is an initiative of the NSW Government to ensure that initial teacher education programs prepare high quality graduate teachers who can respond to the needs of all learners to make a positive impact on student learning. At UOW we are committed to ensuring our graduates are of the highest standard by setting appropriate entry criteria and maintaining a strongly developmental program that supports teacher education students from diverse backgrounds with diverse experiences, abilities and perspectives to become the teachers of the future.

The Master of Engineering (Mechanical) is designed to strengthen and extend your understanding of specific knowledge and technical skills in advanced mechanical engineering. With a focus on design, you will have access to knowledge of design and engineering sciences through courses such as heat transfer and thermodynamics, dynamics and control, aerodynamics, structural design and solid mechanics as well as a range of advanced technical coursework.

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, Advanced Manufacturing Processes, Innovation and Design, Research Methods, Project Management, and Engineering Computing.

For the Mechanical major you will study subjects in Finite Element Techniques in Mechanical Engineering, Strategic Management for Engineers and Technologists, Integrated Manufacturing Systems, plus electives selected from Mechanical or Engineering subjects. You will also complete an advanced project.

A Bachelor of Business – Bachelor of Laws from UOW equips you with a comprehensive legal education: a world-class degree that provides a thorough grounding in the law, as well as a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates.

Combining Law with Business prepares you for a range of careers, giving you the edge as you gain a legal perspective on contemporary and socially responsible business practice. It provides a program of study in commerce, business and administration and further develops analytical and interpersonal skills, and high levels of literacy and numeracy.

We believe that practical experience is a vital part of your legal training. We are the only law school in New South Wales that requires you to complete a legal internship, providing highly valued industry experience.

We are committed to social justice and providing a legal education that engages with the complexities of law's intersection with society.

Today’s business environment is dynamic and complex. The Bachelor of Business degree provides core skills across all business functions, as well as specialist knowledge in a chosen field. Throughout this degree you will have the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience and make professional connections, including the opportunity to participate in the Business Internship program.

This degree

Double degrees are designed to broaden your knowledge and skills set, giving you a competitive advantage in the workforce. They also reduce the length and cost of study by combining two different degrees. This double degree delivers a practical and contextual legal education that prepares graduates not only for traditional careers in the legal profession but also for a wide range of careers in government, business and community organisations – as leaders, innovators and problem solvers.

On completion of this degree, you will be able to apply critical thinking, including the application of research methods to commercial issues in local, national and international contexts.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Business – Bachelor of Laws covers the prescribed areas of knowledge for future admission to the profession as well as including a choice of electives. Additionally, an integrated skills program equips graduates with experience in areas such as legal research, interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and negotiation. Opportunities also exist to undertake subjects by way of an international exchange. You will select from a list of business majors including, Accountancy, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing and Public Relations.

The Bachelor of Arts in Western Civilisation combined with the Bachelor of International Studies is an exciting and unique double degree combination. It will take you on a unique philosophical adventure through which you will engage with a carefully curated selection of some of the greatest intellectual and artistic masterpieces ever produced. It will also allow you to examine the relationships of politics, society, culture and the global impact of climate change, revolutions and economic fluctuations.

What you will study

You will philosophically reflect on questions about art, literature, science and religion while also investigating such topics as the nature of selfhood, truth, reason and wisdom. You will discover how great ideas and art can shape us - our understanding of ourselves and the world - and how ideas can make a difference for good or ill. By studying the double degree your studies will be enhanced as you learn about the forces shaping the modern world and the theories that reinforce our understanding of the most important global issues of today.

You will develop informed and reasoned views about significant contemporary concerns, such as the value of democracy, benefiting from your acquired knowledge of the history of ideas. You will become acquainted with diverging perspectives from within various Western traditions of thought and art as well as under-represented voices and perspectives from outside of those traditions.

A core component of the International Studies degree is a language minor. You may choose from Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish and Japanese.

Are you interested in understanding the links between the brain and behaviour? Do you want to understand the biological building blocks of behaviour? The Bachelor of Neuroscience will provide you with a sound understanding of the molecular, neural and cognitive underpinnings of behaviour as well as providing grounding in the investigative research methods used in the area.

What you will study
You will study the biological basis of behaviour and learn about how the brain links to human behaviour. Using a foundation in biology, chemistry and psychophysiology, the Bachelor of Neuroscience will provide you with the groundwork for applying this knowledge to addressing questions in understanding how we think, the processes underpinning ageing, neurological and mental health disorders.

This degree
Your first year will provide you with a broad understanding of foundation level biology, chemistry, physiology and psychology. You will learn the basics of writing research reports, laboratory skills, scientific communication and the scientific knowledge that will be examined in depth later in the course. During your second and third year, you will gain knowledge on specific topics such as pharmacology, cognitive sciences, genetics and quantitative research methods. Throughout your degree you will be an active scientist, gaining scientific skills which will be applied during a research internship in your third year.

The BCA Honours year is for students who’ve done well throughout their Bachelor of Creative Arts degree. If you have a Distinction average or higher, the Honours year offers an additional year of study to pursue both critical and creative projects. For your critical work, you’ll focus on one topic from your undergraduate degree, writing a thesis of 10,000-15,000 words; and for your creative project, you’ll pursue a body of work in your chosen discipline. In both instances, the Honours year allows you to pursue a topic or theme you are really interested in with a supervisor who’s there to encourage and support you.

Potential employers appreciate the Honours degree because it demonstrates that students can: achieve complex goals, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively, and write clearly.

What you will study
The Honours year has two functions at UOW: it offers students the chance to pursue in-depth critical and creative projects at the end of undergraduate study, and it acts as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research.

Studying Honours is about:

• Pursuing a creative project in a field you are passionate about
• Learning research skills, navigation skills and information systems (archives, the library, databases, electronic research networks)
• The opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing. It provides the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and working with firm deadlines
• Experiences in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument or thesis.

Social Science looks at why and how we live the way we do. The social sciences look at society and social behaviour to understand, explain and change human behaviour to positively transform the lives of individuals, families and communities.

Social Scientists work in diverse social environments to identify issues and develop strategies for solutions to social problems. Nationally and globally there is a demand for social scientists who are able to understand the complex and changing needs of societies in the face of technological, economic and social changes that constantly affect the smallest of communities to the largest of continents.

This degree
The UOW Bachelor of Social Science degree embeds Indigenous knowledge’s and content, and subjects that will develop your understanding of social inequalities impacting on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. You will also be provided with career ready experiences throughout the degree to prepare you for a changing world of work.

What you will study
You will complete a common foundation of compulsory core subjects and engage in interdisciplinary study through majors that come from a number of social science disciplines. You will also have the opportunity to complement your studies with a minor or elective subjects from any field in the University offering cross faculty enrolment.

Business information specialists are trained to analyse business problems and find possible IT solutions for these problems. This ranges from running an efficiency audit on a company's information systems through to analysing the effectiveness of a file management system and designing business software applications.

Business information specialists are also involved in the analysis, design, implementation, maintenance and enhancement of computer-based information systems critical to the successful operation of modern organisations. These specialists require a sound understanding of the business requirements to develop information systems and solutions to meet identified business needs and must deal with users at all levels within an organisation.

This course is specifically designed to prepare you for a career as a systems analyst or an information systems specialist. As well as having the capability of working in a business environment, graduates can work for the government or non-profit organisations.

This degree
The Bachelor of Business Information Systems provides foundation knowledge of organisational areas in IT, including:

• Database management and security
• Networks and Communications
• Human-computer interaction
• Principles of eBusiness
• IT project management
• Management Information Systems
• Project

You will also study key commerce subjects such as accounting and management. In your final year you will develop your own application as part of an annual student team project, developing solutions to real-world problems provided by our industry partners.

What you will study

• Business analysis systems and design
• Programming
• Data management
• Business systems infrastructure and security

You will also study key commerce subjects such as accounting and management. In your final year you will develop your own application as part of an annual student team project, developing solutions to real-world problems provided by our industry partners.