Diploma of Science (DPSC) - DipSci

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 906271; External: 906275

	On-campus*^	Online+
Start:	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)
Campus:	Toowoomba	-
Fees:	Commonwealth supported place Domestic full fee paying place	Commonwealth supported place Domestic full fee paying place
Standard duration:	1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Footnotes
*	The Biology and Computing/IT majors cannot be completed full-time with a semester 2 entry.
^	Please refer to the Program Structure for further information on mode of offer for each major.
+	The Biology major is available on-campus and online with highly recommended on-campus residential schools.

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students	Current students
Ask a question Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315 Email: study@usq.edu.au	Ask a question Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285 Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au

Program aims

This is a generalist program providing students with the necessary skills that are essential for successful study in a Bachelor's degree and the knowledge of fundamental concepts in a chosen science major. The program aims to provide an articulation pathway for students into the BSCI Bachelor of Science.

Program objectives

On completion of this program, students should be able to:

Display broad technical and theoretical knowledge with some depth of understanding associated with the underlying principles and concepts within a scientific context
Identify, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information gathered from a range of scientific sources to enable the development of problem solving skills
Display and apply a limited range of specialist cognitive, technical and practical skills relevant for paraprofessional work and further study in a field of science
Proficiently communicate knowledge within a scientific context to a diverse range of audiences, including professionals, paraprofessionals, clients and the wider community
Work autonomously displaying accountability, responsibility, cultural competency and ethical capacity for their own performance and actions within defined parameters.

Program Information Set

View USQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under Course Admission Information Set via the QTAC website.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Have achieved a minimum Overall Position (OP) 15, tertiary entrance rank 68 or equivalent qualification.^

English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2.

Applicants are advised to also note the following:

Assumed knowledge expectations: English and Mathematics A.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements.

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a University-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

These are determined by the University for specific programs each Semester. The 2019 OP and tertiary entrance ranks are based on agreed QTAC schedules which assess formal study at Year 12 or equivalent level, tertiary, preparatory, professional or vocational qualifications or work experience, as detailed in the QTAC Assessment of Qualifications Manual and QTAC Assessor Guidelines.

Special admissions may help you get into the program of your choice by increasing your Selection Rank. The additional points don't apply to all applicants or all programs. Please read the information about USQ's Special Admissions carefully to find out what you may be eligible for.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for FEE-Help.

Program structure

The Diploma of Science consists of 8 units comprising 2 core units of Foundation Studies with 4 units chosen from either a specified major or from level 1 or 2 courses included in the Diploma of Science or the Bachelor of Science, with two additional elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Faculty approval.

Major	Offering
	ONC	ONL	EXT
Biology	Toowoomba		Highly recommended residential schools
Computing/IT	Toowoomba	Online
Environment and Sustainability	Toowoomba	Online
Mathematics	Toowoomba	Online
Physical Sciences		Online
General Science	Depends on the 6 Approved courses

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

Core courses

Foundation Studies

The Foundation knowledge courses for every major in the program are listed in the table below. Students wishing to vary foundation studies courses must obtain Faculty approval.

Course	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
CMS1100 Communicating in the Sciences	1,2	ONC, ONL
SCI1001 Succeeding in Science	1	ONC, ONL

Specific majors

In this section:

Biology major
Computing/IT major
Environment and Sustainability major
Mathematics major
Physical Sciences major
General Science major courses

Biology major

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
BIO1101 Biology 1	1	ONC, EXT^*
BIO2107 Cell and Molecular Biology 1	1	ONC, ONL
BIO2103 Biology 2	2	ONC, EXT^*
BIO2219 Genetics	2	ONC, ONL

Footnotes
*	This offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

Biology major - recommended electives (Complete either the recommended electives or two (2) elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Program Coordinator approval.)

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
CHE1110 Chemistry 1	1	ONC, EXT^*
CHE2120 Chemistry 2	2	ONC, EXT^*

Footnotes
*	This offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

Computing/IT major

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
MAT1101 Discrete Mathematics for Computing	1	ONC, ONL
CSC1401 Foundation Programming	1,2,3	ONC, ONL
CSC2406 Web Technology 1	2	ONC, ONL
CIS1000 Information Systems Concepts	1,2,3	ONC, ONL

Computing/IT major - recommended electives (Complete either the recommended electives or two (2) elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Program Coordinator approval.)

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
ELE1301 Computer Engineering	1	ONC, ONL
STA2100 Evaluating Information	2	ONC, ONL

Environment and Sustainability major

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
REN1201 Environmental Studies	1	ONC, ONL
CLI1110 Weather and Climate	1	ONC, ONL
REN2200 Ecology for Sustainability	1	ONC, ONL
CLI2201 Climate Change and Variability	2	ONL

Environment and Sustainability major - recommended electives (Complete either the recommended electives or two (2) elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Program Coordinator approval.)

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
STA2100 Evaluating Information	2	ONC, ONL
BIO1100 Biology Concepts OR	2	ONL
BIO1101 Biology 1	1	ONC, EXT

Mathematics major

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
CSC1401 Foundation Programming	1,2,3	ONC, ONL
MAT1000 Mathematics Fundamentals^* OR MAT1102 Algebra and Calculus I^*	1	ONC, ONL
STA2100 Evaluating Information	2	ONC, ONL
MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics	2	ONC, ONL

Footnotes
*	Students who have completed Mathematics B (4, SA) or equivalent should include MAT1102 in their program. All other students should include MAT1000.

Mathematics major - recommended electives (Complete either the recommended electives or two (2) elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Program Coordinator approval.)

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
MAT1101 Discrete Mathematics for Computing	1	ONC, ONL
CSC2410 Computational Thinking with Python	2	ONC, ONL

Physical Sciences major

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
PHY1101 Astronomy 1	1	ONL
PHY1104 Physics 1^{^}	1	ONL
PHY1107 Astronomy 2	2	ONL
PHY1911 Physics 2^{^}	2	ONL

Footnotes
^	PHY1104 and PHY1911 can only be completed by students who have completed Mathematics B (4, SA) or equivalent. Students who have not completed Mathematics B (4, SA) or equivalent must complete MAT1100 as one of the electives prior to enrolling in PHY1104 and PHY1911.

Physical Sciences major - recommended electives (Complete either the recommended electives or two (2) elective units chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to Program Coordinator approval.)

Courses	Semester(s) Offered	Mode
STA2100 Evaluating Information	2	ONC, ONL
MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics ^{^}OR	2	ONC, ONL
MAT1102 Algebra and Calculus I	2	ONC, ONL

Footnotes
^	PHY1104 and PHY1911 can only be completed by students who have completed Mathematics B (4, SA) or equivalent. Students who have not completed Mathematics B (4, SA) or equivalent must complete MAT1100 as one of the electives prior to enrolling in PHY1104 and PHY1911.

General Science major courses

Any four (4) level 1 or 2 approved courses included in the Bachelor of Science or Diploma of Science, plus any two (2) approved elective courses chosen from any level 1 or 2 course offered by the University of Southern Queensland, subject to pre-requisite requirements and Program Coordinator approval.

Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: V = Voluntary; O = Optional; C = Compulsory; R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. To find out more about residential schools, visit the Residential School Schedule to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the Policy and Procedure Library.

Highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

Biology major:

Articulation

Upon successful completion of the Diploma of Science students have the opportunity to articulate directly into the BSCI Bachelor of Science).

Students articulating into the USQ BSCI Bachelor of Science may be given exemptions for eight courses completed in the Diploma of Science.

Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the USQ Credit and Exemption Procedure.