Schools and Departments
Agricultural Chemistry Honours
Honours in Agricultural Chemistry aims to provide students with problem-solving and communication skills required by professional chemists in enterprises concerned with agricultural production and processing, foods and beverages, and environmental science; enable students to learn to work independently in a laboratory environment; familiarise students with the research literature and methodology of biological chemistry; and provide a basis for students who wish to proceed to postgraduate research.
Candidates should consult the department as soon as possible after results in senior units of study are obtained. The unit of study consists of a research project and four 6 credit point units of study. The research project component includes oral as well as written forms of assessment. Projects are usually available in one of the following areas of current research interest in the department: carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism in plants, biological nitrogen fixation and biofertilisers, greenhouse gas production, the biochemistry and environmental chemistry of pesticides and herbicides, environmental risk assessment, acidification of ecosystems, residue analysis in foods, aspects of food science including oil seed and cereal chemistry and biochemistry.
Anatomy and Histology Honours
Taking an Honours degree provides the opportunity for students to do research on a project supervised by a member of staff. Assessment is based on a thesis summarising the results of the year's research, along with additional studies. To qualify for admission to Honours year, the student must obtain an appropriate standard in Senior Anatomy or Histology or Neuroscience.
Biochemistry Honours
An Honours program of study designed for those wishing to enter research or to undertake work leading to a higher degree is conducted in the fourth year. The program runs from early February until mid-November. It provides the opportunity for laboratory research on a project supervised by a staff member, culminating in the production of a research thesis. During the year each student is also required to undertake a coursework program that involves six tutorials and an exam based on the critical evaluation of scientific manuscripts. Assessment of the year's work is based largely on the student's performance on the research project, and a written report on that project.
Honours Research Areas
Biochemistry Honours is conducted within the School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences. The School offers projects in a wide range of research areas including Physical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Microbiology, Proteomics and Biotechnology, Nutrition and Metabolism and Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Specific research topics currently offered include: Anticancer drugs: synthesis and mechanism of action; Biochemistry of cellular signal transduction; The causes of diabetes and/or obesity; Chaperones and amyloid formation; X-ray crystallography of proteins and drug DNA complexes; NMR studies of membrane transport and metabolism in cells; Antibiotic resistance mechanisms in microbial pathogens; Eukaryotic transcription factors; Protein structure modeling; Molecular biology of humans and yeasts; Gene expression in transgenic mice; Glycaemic index of foods; oligosaccharides in human milk.
Applying for admission to Honours
An application form providing the list of possible research projects is provided to interested students and is available from the Honours coordinator. Students must arrange to speak with potential supervisors and should choose two discipline areas and three supervisors in order of preference on the application form. A decision on Honours entry is made in December. Attempts will be made where possible to assign students to the supervisor of their choice but this will not always be possible. In such cases the School will work with students to find an available project. Students should note that some supervisors cannot accommodate mid-year entrants. The usual requirement for acceptance into the Honours program is a credit average in a major relevant to the project of interest; any student with an undergraduate background relevant to specific projects (including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Microbiology, Immunobiology, Physiology, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Physics, Biology or other related Medical Sciences) may be admitted. It should be noted that the number of students accepted into the Honours program may be limited because of resource restrictions (availability of a supervisor and/or laboratory space) and that, in the event of there being more applicants than resources will allow, offers will be made on the basis of academic merit. The Honours year coordinator is Dr Stuart Cordwell.
Biology Honours
A single Honours program in Biology accommodates students who have completed 24 credit points of Senior Biology Life Sciences units and have a minimum WAM of 65. Information about qualifications for entry into Honours is available from the School Office (Science Road Cottage, A10), or on the School of Biological Sciences website. During the Honours year the principles established in the first three years of the undergraduate award course are further developed, and students are introduced to a wider field of biology and biological techniques. Students may elect to specialise in any of the aspects of biology that are studied in the School. Projects jointly supervised by staff in other Schools or Departments within the University may also be considered. Students who have indicated their intention of entering the Honours program will be notified of acceptance after the publication of the second semester Senior examination results. Honours students start their academic year in late January, or in July.
The Honours year comprises:
- A project in which the student investigates a problem and presents oral and written accounts of his or her research.
- A coursework unit €’ BIOL4015 Scientific Research in Biology, instruction in experimental design, and other technical training.
The degree will be awarded on the basis of: (a) written assignments from coursework units; (b) marks awarded for a thesis on the subject of the project.
Chemistry
The Chemistry Honours program gives students the opportunity to get involved in a research program in an area that is of interest to them. It provides training in research techniques and experience using modern research instrumentation. The Honours program adds a new dimension to the skills that the students have acquired during their undergraduate years and enhances their immediate employment prospects and, more significantly, their future career potential. All students with a sound record in Chemistry are encouraged to apply for entry to the Honours program. Further information is available from the Honours Coordinator, or at sydney.edu.au/science/chemistry/study/honours.html
The Honours program
The School of Chemistry offers a wide range of possible projects in all areas of contemporary chemistry including Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, Chemical Education, Molecular Design and Synthesis, Materials Chemistry, Green Chemistry and Renewable Energy, Molecular Spectroscopy and Photonics, Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, Biological Chemistry/Chemical Biology, Soft Matter and Neutron and Synchrotron Diffraction and Spectroscopy. Details of available projects are contained in the School's Honours Booklet that is available from the School's Information Desk and online at sydney.edu.au/science/chemistry/study/honours.html.
Workload and assessment
In the Honours year, each student undertakes a research project under the supervision of a member of staff, attends a series of lectures aimed at developing generic skills, and attends research seminars. At the culmination of the research year, the student presents a seminar and a thesis which which explains the problem, outlines the research undertaken and the results obtained.
Units of study
CHEM4011
CHEM4012
CHEM4013
CHEM4014
Honours coordinator
Dr Tim Schmidt
Computer Science
To be awarded Honours in Computer Science, a student must complete units of study (from the Honours table) to a total of 48 credit points.
Note that the Faculty requires that Honours be completed in two consecutive semesters of full-time study, or four consecutive semesters of part-time study; a single final grade and mark is given for the Honours course, as determined by the Faculty based on performance in Honours and in prior undergraduate study.
Geography or Geology and Geophysics Honours
Offered February and July. Information sessions about Geography or Geology and Geophysics Honours are held for interested third year students during Second Semester. Students contemplating Honours in their fourth year should consider possible thesis topics and discuss these with potential staff supervisors.
Entry into fourth year Honours will require completion of units in Intermediate and Senior Geoscience units (to be passed at the level of credit or better) and a satisfactory WAM. In some years when the number of applicants exceeds resources (availability of supervisors, laboratory space etc.) offers will be made according to academic merit. Students will be notified in January of their formal acceptance into the Honours program.
Honours students are required to undertake formal coursework during their first semester and to participate in seminars throughout the year as arranged. They will be required to study original problems, working as appropriate in the field, the laboratory, libraries, and in some instances in conjunction with other university or government departments. A dissertation of not more than 20 000 words must be submitted during the second semester, followed by an examination that may include both written and oral work.
Further details relating to Geography or Geology and Geophysics Honours are available from the Honours Coordinator.
History and Philosophy of Science Honours
An Honours course in HPS is available to students of sufficient merit who have satisfied the requirements for the degree of BSc or BA or BLibSt with a major in HPS or another relevant area. Students who have obtained the TSP Certificate in HPS are also eligible for the Honours program. The Honours course consists of 48 points of Honours level units of study, which must include HPSC4201 HPS Research Project 1, HPSC4202 HPS Research Project 2, HPSC4203 HPS Research Project 3 and HPSC4204 HPS Research Project 4. In their final semester all students must also enrol in the zero credit point non-assessable unit HPSC4999. Students intending to proceed to Honours or to enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Science (HPS) are strongly advised to contact the Unit towards the end of the previous academic year to discuss thesis topic and supervision. Note: Honours level (4000) Units of Study are available only to students admitted to HPS Honours, Graduate Diploma in Science (History and Philosophy of Science) and Graduate Certificate in Science (History and Philosophy of Science), or by special permission. A number of our Honours-level courses are also open to students in the medical humanities and liberal studies.
Immunology Honours
The Honours program in Immunology provides the opportunity for full-time research on a proposed project supervised by a staff member expert in that field. Experimental research, a seminar and a thesis constitute the major part of the program and of assessment. Guidance in research techniques is given in training programs covering experimental design, data analysis, written and oral communication and critical appraisal of the literature. Student contributions to this program are also assessed. In addition, a supplementary seminar program keeps students informed and abreast of wider issues in immunology.
Applying for Honours
Students are invited to apply for Honours enrolment during semester two of the year preceding Honours. Applicants should consult the Honours coordinator in the first instance. A list of possible research topics is provided, and students select projects of interest, speak with prospective supervisors and apply for permission to enrol, before the end of semester two. Within the constraints of availability, an attempt is made to assign students to the project of their choice.
General Requirements for Admission
Usually Honours candidates will have achieved a Credit in Senior Immunology units of study and will also have successfully completed Senior study in Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Pathology, Microbiology, Physiology or Virology. BSc candidates will have gained a major in Immunobiology, or a related discipline such as Biochemistry, Biology, Cell Pathology, Microbiology or Physiology. Usually Honours candidates will have an overall SCIWAM of 65 or greater. Departmental permission is required for enrolment.
Honours coordinator
The Immunology Honours coordinator is Dr Allison Abendroth (alison.abendroth@sydney.edu.au, 93516867).
Infectious Diseases Honours - Medical Science Honours
The Honours program in Infectious Diseases provides the opportunity for full-time research on a proposed project supervised by a staff member expert in that field. Experimental research, a seminar and a thesis constitute the major part of the program and of assessment. Guidance in research techniques is given in training programs covering experimental design, data analysis, written and oral communication and critical appraisal of the literature. Student contributions to this program are also assessed. In addition, a supplementary seminar program keeps students informed and abreast of wider issues in infectious diseases.
Applying for admission to Infectious Diseases Honours
Students are invited to apply for Honours enrolment during semester two of the year preceding Honours. Applicants should consult the Honours coordinator in the first instance. A list of possible research topics is provided, and students select projects of interest, speak with prospective supervisors and apply for permission to enrol, before the end of semester two. Within the constraints of availability, an attempt is made to assign students to the project of their choice.
Usually Honours candidates will have achieved a Credit in the senior unit Infectious Diseases and will also have successfully completed Senior study in Biochemistry, Microbiology, or Virology. Usually Honours candidates will have an overall SCIWAM of 65 or greater. Departmental permission is required for enrolment.
Information Systems Honours
To be awarded Honours in Information Systems, a student must complete units of study (as specified below) to a total of 48 credit points.
Note that the Faculty requires that Honours be completed in two consecutive semesters of full-time study, or four consecutive semesters of part-time study; a single final grade and mark is given for the Honours course, as determined by the Faculty based on performance in Honours and in prior undergraduate study.
Marine Sciences Honours
The structure of Honours in Marine Science will be about one third formal coursework, seminars and reading, and about two thirds devoted to preparation of a thesis on a topic with a clear marine or estuarine orientation. The formal coursework may comprise units of study mainly chosen from existing Honours options offered in the Department of the student's principal interest. Background study in a subsidiary field of interest may be required. Students may commence Honours in either semester 1 or semester 2. Generally, Honours enrolments will be with the School in which the project research is undertaken.
Admission to Honours
In general, a Credit average or better in Senior Marine Sciences units of study and at least a Pass in another Senior unit of study are required for entry. Arrangements for the supervision and School of primary location of students will be made in the light of their proposed thesis topic. Joint supervision involving staff of more than one School may be arranged if a thesis topic is deemed to be transdisciplinary. Upon acceptance, students should register formally with the Undergraduate Advisor of USIMS.
Mathematics and Statistics Honours
In general, 4 units of study (24 credit points) are required in order to major in Mathematics and a credit average is required to progress to an Honours year. Potential Honours students are strongly encouraged to include one or more Advanced level unit(s) of study and seek advice from a Senior year coordinator.
Particular combinations would be suitable for students with special interests.
Microbiology Honours
During the Honours year, students will be involved in a study program designed for those wishing to further develop their laboratory skills and critical thinking. The program is very strongly recommended for any student wishing to enter a research career or undertake further work leading to a higher degree. The program runs from early February to mid-November and provides the opportunity for individual laboratory research work under the direction of a supervisor. This project culminates in the production of a research thesis and presentation of the key findings in a seminar. During the year each student is also expected to attend research seminars and complete a coursework component that consists of six tutorials and an exam based on the critical evaluation of scientific manuscripts. Assessment is based on the research project (including laboratory performance, written report and oral presentation) and the coursework (tutorial performance and written exam). The Microbiology Honours co-ordinator is Dr Andrew Holmes.
Honours research areas
Microbiology Honours is conducted within the School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences. All Honours programs within the school operate according to the same applications process, timetable and assessment format. The School offer microbiology Honours projects in a wide range of research areas including molecular microbiology, microbial genetics, applied and environmental microbiology, biotechnology, and virology. An overview of research projects is available through the school office, or web site. For further information on specific research projects prospective students should consult individual academic staff members.
Applying for admission to Honours
An application form providing the list of possible research projects is provided to interested students and is available from the Honours coordinator. Students must arrange to speak with potential supervisors and should choose two discipline areas and three supervisors in order of preference on the application form. A decision on Honours entry is made in December. Attempts will be made where possible to assign students to the supervisor of their choice but this will not always be possible. In such cases the School will work with students to find an available project. Students should note that some supervisors cannot accommodate mid-year entrants. The usual requirement for acceptance into the Honours program is a credit average in a major relevant to the project of interest; any student with an undergraduate background relevant to specific projects (including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Microbiology, Immunobiology, Physiology, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Physics, Biology or other related Medical Sciences) may be admitted. It should be noted that the number of students accepted into the Honours program may be limited because of resource restrictions (availability of a supervisor and/or laboratory space) and that, in the event of there being more applicants than resources will allow, offers will be made on the basis of academic merit. The Honours unit of study codes are listed in the Honours chapter of this handbook - chapter 12. The Honours year coordinator is Dr Stuart Cordwell.
Neuroscience Honours
There are many opportunities for high-achieving students to undertake Honours study within the field of Neuroscience. Honours projects are typically undertaken within individual departments: Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Psychology, Pathology and associated institutes. Students should canvass respective departments during their senior studies for details of projects, admission criteria and enrolment details.
Nutrition Honours
The coordinators for Nutrition Honours are Ms Beth Rohrlach and Ms Margaret Nicholson. Students who have completed the three year Bachelor (Nutrition) may complete an Honours year in either the clinical strand, or by research. Students who want accreditation as a dietitian will need to complete the clinical strand.
Clinical Strand
Students in this strand enrol in and complete: NUTR4001 Clinical Nutritional Science A and NUTR4002 Clinical Nutritional Science B (Practical Placement). The contact hours per week are a minimum of 24 and during intensive practicals will be 35. With problem based learning it is expected that a student will need to spend minimum of 20 hrs in self-directed learning.
At the completion of this course students will be able to describe the pathophysiology and biochemistry of disease processes where nutrition is an important part of prevention and/or treatment and will be able to construct appropriate treatment regimes and prevention strategies for these diseases using their nutritional science knowledge and be able to apply this to patient care in practice.
Research Strand
Students in this strand enrol in and complete:
NUTR 4101 Nutrition Research A;
NUTR 4102 Nutrition Research B;
NUTR 4103 Nutrition Research C;
NUTR 4103 Nutrition Research D;
Students will be involved in full-time research under the supervision of a staff member within the Human Nutrition Unit or a cognate department. During the year, students will be required to:
- carry out a supervised research project
- present a written project proposal and present orally a brief literature survey and aims of the project
- write an essay based on the project; and
- deliver a seminar on the project.
Students will prepare a project proposal, which should outline the aims, significance and background of the project, including an indication of the relationship of the project to the work of others, citing key references (not to be included in the 1000 word limit) where appropriate and a brief outline of methods and techniques to be used.
Pharmacology Honours
Subject to meeting the Faculty of Science entry criteria for Honours, a student may apply to conduct a research project in the Pharmacology Honours program. Interested students are advised to contact the Honours Co-ordinator and potential supervisors listed in their area(s) of interest. Written assessments include a research proposal, literature review and 50-page thesis based on the research topic. The students will also be required to give an introductory talk and a final talk about the progress of the project.
Physics Honours
Honours Coordinator
Associate Professor Stephen Bartlett and Professor Cathy Stampfl
Qualifying
To be considered for admission to the Honours program, students need 24 credit points of senior Physics units of study or equivalent with a SciWAM as specified in the degree resolutions.
Classes
Six lecture courses and a research project
Assessment
Coursework examinations, a 40-page Research report and oral presentation of the Research project. Physics Honours comprises formal coursework (weight 50%) and a research project (weight 50%).
Undertaking an Honours year in Physics
The Honours program in Physics provides students with an opportunity to undertake an original research project as well as attend advanced lecture courses to give students a broad understanding of modern physics at a high level. All students satisfying the qualifying requirements as set out above and in the Science Faculty Honours section of this handbook are strongly encouraged to apply for entry into Physics Honours. Fulltime enrolment is equivalent to 48 credit points for the year. Students are offered an opportunity to carry out independent research as a member of one of the active research groups in the School of Physics, under the supervision of a member of staff. Students may also study with staff from complementary disciplines, subject to the approval of the Honours coordinator. Honours students join a research group in the School of Physics and are encouraged to participate with staff and research students in activities within the School. They are provided with office accommodation, and are expected to attend colloquia and seminars. They may be employed for several hours per week in Junior teaching. Further information is available from Physics Student Services, the Honours coordinator or from the website www.sydney.edu.au/science/physics.
Ask a question
physics.studentservices@sydney.edu.au
Physiology Honours
During fourth year, no formal series of lectures is provided but students are given a relevant problem to investigate. This problem usually represents a small facet of one of the major current research projects within the Department, and the students work in collaboration with members of the staff. Students write a thesis embodying the results of their work.
Psychology
In order to be eligible to enter Psychology Honours, it is necessary (except as provided in the by-laws or resolutions) to gain a year average of at least Pass with Credit in Intermediate and in Senior Psychology units of study constituting a major in Psychology, and must include PSYC3010. Students wishing to graduate with Honours in Psychology are urged to discuss their choice of other subjects with a Faculty adviser as soon as practicable. There is currently a quota on entry to Psychology Honours. Entry is competitive on the basis of academic merit.
Prerequisites for admission
A Major in Psychology with a minimum Credit average or better across both the Intermediate and Senior Psychology. Units of Study comprising the 48 credit points of Intermediate and Senior Psychology Units that constitute the minimum required for the major. PSYC (3010 or 3201) must be included in the Senior Units. BPsych students should consult resolutions in chapter 6. School permission required.
Due to restricted resources for research supervision, the intake to Psychology Honours will be limited to approximately 80 students and will be determined by academic merit in Intermediate and Senior Psychology.
Assessment
Formal exams in Ethics and Issues in Psychology and in Research Methods; report of empirical research project; theoretical thesis or assessment in two Special Fields modules.
Students are required to:
(a) devise, conduct and report upon an empirical research project (research area dependent on interests and specialities of staff members);
(b) write a theoretical thesis or attend two Special Fields seminars and complete required assessment tasks; and
(c) attend one lecture series in Ethics and Issues in Psychology and two series of lectures in Research Methods.
Soil Science Honours
The Honours program consists of several parts:
(i) supplementary lectures and seminars;
(ii) topics of study selected from Agricultural Chemistry, Biometry, Botany, Geology, Physical Chemistry, Mathematics, Soil Mechanics, Soil Microbiology, etc;
(iii) a small amount of field work performed under direction; and
(iv) a project in one branch of soil science.