Honours Programs

Including:
Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) BAppSc(Hons)
Bachelor of Science (Honours) BSc(Hons)
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) BEnvSci(Hons)

This Honours program within the Faculty of Science is designed to provide graduates with the opportunity to pursue research in agriculture, environmental science, viticulture, wine science, food science or science.

About the course

An Honours year is available for graduates who are interested in the pursuit of research in agriculture, environmental science, viticulture, wine science, food science or science.

Depending upon the area of research chosen, students will receive one of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours)

Students may commence studies at the beginning of the academic year, or in mid-year, subject to places being available. The Honours course typically includes a substantial research project.

Objectives of the program are to:

• provide knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to the conduct of research, especially for entry to higher degree courses
• develop an advanced level of knowledge in the area of specialisation
• further develop verbal and written skills relevant to advanced studies and research

Credit

Faculties may approve credit in a fourth year add-on Bachelor (Honours) course up to a maximum of 50% of the point value of the course. Credit may only be granted for the coursework component of the course, not for the dissertation or project.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 64 points, consisting of a Research Program component and a Discipline Development component. The structure is flexible so that students can design a program which will meet their individual requirements, subject to approval.

Science and Agriculture Honours Programs

Enrolment details

Australian & New Zealand students

International students

Course structure

Research Program component

Students must complete between 24 and 48 points in the Research Program component. This component consists of:

• a compulsory Research Project (16 to 48 points). The project is conducted under the direction of a supervisor and a co-supervisor (for projects with 24 points or more)
• an optional Readings subject (16 points maximum). The Readings subject is a series of directed readings and seminars in the discipline of interest to the student, which must be approved by the relevant Course Coordinator.

Discipline development component

Students must complete between 16 and 40 points in this component, depending on the size of the Research Program selected. The combination of subjects to make up this component is elective, but must be related to the development of the discipline area and be approved by the relevant Course Coordinator. A student may satisfy this component by completing:

• any Level 4 subjects
• any Level 5 subjects
• any Level 2 and 3 subjects, providing that such subjects (or similar subjects under different codes) were not previously completed and the number of subject points taken at these levels does not exceed 16.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies
   and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Universities Admissions Index (UAI) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL Internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE ‘A’ level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in ‘Use of English’ in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in ‘Use of English’;
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Additional Requirements

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission applicants must have been awarded, or be eligible to graduate with, a three-year Bachelor degree in an appropriate discipline from a recognised tertiary institution.

Normally, to be eligible, a student must have completed 50% of their second and third level subject points at a grade of Credit or better with no Fails, and completion of the degree in minimum time.

Contacts

For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:

Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) Telephone: +61 2 6338 6077 (outside Australia) Facsimile: (02) 6338 6001 (within Australia) Facsimile: +61 2 6338 6001 (outside Australia) Email: inquiry@csu.edu.au Web inquiry: www.csu.edu.au/student/contact Web: info.csu.edu.au