Dean's Scholars Program

[Print-friendly version]

Strictly speaking, the 'Dean's Scholars Program' is the Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program. It involves covering the Bachelor of Applied Science course plus the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) course in a total of three years.

The information provided here is aimed specifically at students who are commencing the Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program and the academic staff who are involved in the teaching and administration. This information includes (a) details of the intensive preparatory program that runs during the first Summer Semester from about mid-January to Orientation Week, and (b) sample programs for various major-comajor combinations for the three years during which the Bachelor of Applied Science plus Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) courses are undertaken.

Overview of the Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program

The Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program offers an enriched course of study for students who obtain outstanding levels of academic achievement at Secondary School. At the same time it provides an accelerated pathway by which these students are able to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science course plus the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) course in a total of just three years.

Since a goal of the Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program is to introduce high achieving students to scientific research in a systematic manner with a view to developing future research scientists, it is noted that the enrichment component together with the acceleration allows Dean's Scholars to fulfil the requirements for a BAppSc(Honours) degree in a total of three years after completing their Year 12 studies.

The acceleration in the program is achieved by bridging Dean's Scholars directly to the second year of the BAppSc degree. In place of the core studies normally completed in the first year of the degree, Dean's Scholars undertake:

• an intensive preparatory program of five weeks' duration immediately preceding the commencement of the first semester (SCB301 Science for Dean's Scholars);
• an individually-tailored tutorial program during the first semester, under the guidance of an academic mentor (SCB303 Tutorial program for Dean's Scholars);
• a research component that is individually tailored to the Scholar's interests, in which research skills are developed in the second semester and a small research project supervised by a research mentor is completed in the final year (SCB401 Research methods for Dean's Scholars and SCB501 Research project for Dean's Scholars); and
• either (a) an approved elective unit, or (b) an enrichment unit that provides a forum for considering the major issues facing science, including the ethical aspects of scientific research and a critical analysis of the use of global resources, together with crucial issues for research management (LSB657 Perspectives in Science).

Since Dean's Scholars undertake both their major and comajor studies in science disciplines, they are well qualified for professional accreditation and employment in fields relevant to their specialisations. It is expected that many will proceed to PhD studies.

Structure of the Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program

The Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program requires the same number of credit points as the normal Bachelor of Applied Science degree (288 credit points) plus the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) course (96 credit points). The Program is completed in a total of three years as a result of extra credit points obtained from (a) the intensive preparatory program offered to Dean's Scholars over the five weeks immediately preceding Orientation Week for the first semester, and (b) additional tutorial and enrichment studies undertaken during the Program.

Entry Requirements

The Dean's Scholars program is open to current Year 12 students (or those returning from a gap year) who obtain a high level of achievement in their studies. Dean's Scholars are accepted into the program on the basis of outstanding academic ability and an interest in scientific research.

Applications are to be made via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre). Applicants are also required to attend a personal interview during late November - early December. (For each applicant, there will be a single interview. This will involve the Dean, Course Coordinator, and relevant academic staff from the Schools.) Applicants will be sent interview information progressively from mid-October.

Fixed Closing Date

Applications for Dean's Scholars Accelerated Honours Program close 28 November. Late applications and preferences are not accepted.

The Intensive Preparatory Program (Unit SCB301)

SCB301 Science for Dean's Scholars - intensive preparatory unit commencing mid-January.

Modular structure of SCB301 to accommodate the range of majors (and comajors) chosen

The unit SCB301 Science for Dean's Scholars is offered in a modular structure to accommodate the range of majors (and comajors) chosen by Dean's Scholars in the BAppSc course. Students meet the requirements of the unit by choosing three of the modules offered.

The following modules will be available (subject to student demand).

• LS - Life Sciences (animal and plant structure and function; cell and molecular biology)
• CH - Chemistry
• MA1 - Mathematical Sciences 1 (based on MAB111)
• MA2 - Mathematical Sciences 2 (based on MAB112)
• MS - Statistics
• PH - Physics

Summary of arrangements for SCB301

The arrangements for the unit SCB301 are summarised below.

• Students select 3 modules. This selection depends largely on the major + comajor chosen in the BAppSc course and will be discussed with each student at the commencement of the unit. In this way, the unit aims to provide a good coverage of the core units of the normal first year of the BAppSc course (SC01) while at the same time placing an emphasis on the second semester units of Year 1. This is important since the unit SCB301 aims to bridge Dean's Scholars to the second year of the BAppSc degree.
• Duration: 5 weeks, immediately prior to Orientation Week. Assessment of the unit will be completed by Orientation week.
• It is emphasised that the assessment will be reported as an ungraded pass (satisfactory) or a fail (unsatisfactory).
• The bridging teaching-learning undertaken in SCB301 links to the first semester unit SCB303 Tutorial program for Dean's Scholars. This arrangement allows the individual mentoring provided in the unit SCB303 during the normal semester to build on the bridging work provided by the intensive preparatory program. The manner in which the individual mentoring operates in the unit SCB303 is established by mutual agreement between each academic mentor and student.
• The contact time required for each module in the unit SCB301 averages approximately 6 - 8 hours per week.

Please note the following:

• Students who plan to study the Mathematics major plus a comajor in mathematics in their BAppSc course will undertake a full program in mathematics for the unit SCB301.
• Certain majors in the BAppSc course require Dean's Scholars to have undertaken particular subjects at Secondary School e.g. the Physics major requires Senior Physics; the Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Microbiology majors require Senior Chemistry; the Mathematics major requires Mathematics B and Mathematics C.

Suggested SCB301 programs and timetable

The selection of the modules to be studied by each Dean's Scholar depends largely on the study areas that are chosen and will be made at the commencement of the intensive preparatory program. Typical choices are indicated below.

• Life Sciences majors (Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Microbiology)
  • LS - Life Sciences (animal & plant structure and function; cell and molecular biology)
  • CH - Chemistry
  • MS - Statistics
• Chemistry major
  • CH - Chemistry
  • MS - Statistics
  • + 1 additional module that depends on the comajor selected
• Physics major
  • PH - Physics
  • MA1 - Mathematical Sciences 1 (module based on the unit MAB111)
  • MA2 - Mathematical Sciences 2 (module based on the unit MAB112)
• Mathematics major (with Physics comajor)
  • PH - Physics
  • MA1 - Mathematical Sciences 1 (module based on the unit MAB111)
  • MA2 - Mathematical Sciences 2 (module based on the unit MAB112)
• Mathematics major (with Mathematics comajor)
  • MA1 - Mathematical Sciences 1 (module based on the unit MAB111)
  • MA2 - Mathematical Sciences 2 (module based on the unit MAB112)
  • + additional MA work to provide the equivalent of a third module

Note:

• Classes in the unit SCB301 normally commence on the second Monday in January.
• Students taking a Mathematics major and Chemistry comajor (or Chemistry major and Mathematics comajor) should consult with the course coordinators for their program.
• MS classes are held in conjunction with classes for the unit MAB101 offered in the Summer Semester.
• MA1 classes are held in conjunction with classes for the unit MAB111 offered in the Summer Semester.
• MA2 classes are held in conjunction with classes for the unit MAB112 offered in the Summer Semester.

The Non-Accelerated Mode of the Dean's Scholars Program

The structure of the non-accelerated mode of the Dean's Scholars Program

High achieving students in the SC01 BAppSc course (generally with GPA =/> 6.5) may be eligible to apply to join the Dean's Scholars Program after three semesters of full-time study. Applicants for this non-accelerated mode of the Program need to have undertaken both their major and comajor in science or mathematics, generally in closely related or complementary areas.

The overload required of non-accelerated Dean's Scholars is normally 24 credit points. This overload corresponds to the unit SCB501 Research Project for Dean's Scholars. The normal 192 credit points for their second and third years would comprise: major - 96 cp; comajor - 72 cp; SCB401 - 12 cp; LSB657 (or approved elective unit) - 12 cp. Non-accelerated Dean's Scholars would need to complete a total of 312 credit points for their BAppSc degree. (This additional load is funded by the Faculty by enrolling the non-accelerated Dean's Scholars as visiting students for the unit SCB501).

Both accelerated and non-accelerated Dean's Scholars would undertake equivalent Level 3, Semester 1 programs (Life Sciences majors) or Level 3 Semester 2 programs (majors other than Life Sciences). Importantly, this is the semester in which the research project is included.

The selection process for non-accelerated Dean's Scholars

Students who are eligible to apply for an interview to enter the Dean's Scholars Program in non-accelerated mode are identified by the Faculty. These students are invited to apply to join the Program. The selection process may involve a personal interview. As with the accelerated Dean's Scholars Program, only full-time students are eligible.