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Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) / Bachelor of Business

ESBB057  054817A



Duration

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Fee*
4 Year/s Hawthorn (February, July) A$19,750 (annual fee for 2009) 
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Discontinued: This course has no new intake. This information is provided for continuing students

This information is for current students only.
 
If you are commencing at Swinburne from 2010, please refer to the new Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)/ Bachelor of Commerce course structure.
 
This double degree course emphasises the skill sets of a biotechnologist while broadening the student’s skills to include a discipline of business. The course is ideal for students who want to study biotechnology with a view to using that knowledge in a business venture, or as an employee of a biotechnology company that requires business skills. Students may also continue to higher degree studies (honours) in either discipline.

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The course is designed to develop:
  • mastery of the basic scientific principles that underpin biotechnology
  • a sound and practical knowledge of laboratory techniques and practices through which biotechnological discoveries are made
  • an appreciation of the social context in which scientific work is undertaken and in which scientific knowledge is applied
  • an appreciation of the legislation that regulates scientific activities, and particularly those that relate to biotechnology
  • advanced communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written
  • an appreciation of the moral, ethical and social elements essential to a satisfying personal philosophy and a sound professional attitude
  • skills in self education, evaluation of new information and encouragement in flexibility of thought, to prepare students for a world of accelerating technological change
In addition, this course aims to develop:
  • an understanding of the local and global business environment
  • general business knowledge and skills, especially in the area of management
  • an advanced understanding of the roles of research and development in the development of business enterprises
  • an understanding of entrepreneurship and the management of entrepreneurship in business
  • an understanding of the processes of innovation
  • excellent skills for professional communication, especially within the business environment

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The program involves four equally weighted units of study per semester over four years, plus one optional year of full-time, paid Industry-Based Learning (normally undertaken after the fourth semester). Practical laboratory work is undertaken throughout the course. A research project is undertaken in final year.

Note: The optional Industry-Based Learning (IBL) program is not available to international students.
 
The normal study mode is full-time with the courses being completed in four years. However, subject to student demand and the availability of staff, the academic component of the course may be accelerated in calendar time by undertaking Summer Semester studies.
 
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Science, a student must complete 200 credit points of science units of study e.g. subjects that would normally be regarded as contributing to the science component of a science degree.
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Business, a student must complete at least 200 credit points of  business units of study that are selected to fulfil the requirements for the business degree. The business requirements of this course are as follows:
 
Students must choose six business foundation units of study:
 
*Note that HMS102 is deemed equivalent to the sixth foundation business unit - HMB110 Quantitative Analysis A or HMB111 Quantitative Analysis B.
 
The above units of study are chosen to ensure pre-requisite study for later year studies has been completed and any professional body requirements that might apply.
 
As well as the foundation business units of study,  students must undertake an additional ten units (eight specilisation units and two capstone units). Students in the double degree are not required to undertake a minor.
 

The following business majors are available:
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree.  Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of your course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt for the unit as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.

Final Year Experience - Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates from 2007 will undertake 25 credit points of
professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.

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Stage 1
Semester 1
HES1610 Concepts of Biology
HMS101 Foundation Mathematics **
HES1510 Chemistry 1* 
Foundation Business Unit of Study #
Semester 2
HES1616 Concepts of Biotechnology
HES1525 Chemistry 2
HMS102 Introduction to Statistics (counts as Foundation Business Unit of Study #)
Foundation Business Unit of Study #

Stage 2
Semester 1
HES2621 Introduction to Biochemistry
HES2631 The Microbial World
Elective 1
Foundation business unit of study #
Semester 2
HES2626 Biochemistry of Genes and Proteins
HES2636 Microbes in the Environment
Elective 2
Foundation business unit of study #

Stage 3
Semester 1
HES4621 Advanced Biochemistry
HES4641 Practical Biochemistry
Foundation business unit of study #
1st unit of study of Business Major
Semester 2
HES4626 Biotechnology
HES4646 Biotechnology Research Project
Second unit of study of Business Major
Third unit of study of Business Major

Stage 4
Semester 1
Fourth unit of study of Business Major
Fifth unit of study of Business Major 
Sixth unit of study of Business Major 
Seventh unit of study of Business Major
Semester 2
Eigth unit of study of Business Major 
Nineth unit of study of Business Major 
Tenth unit of study of Business Major
Elective 3
 
* May be replaced by HES1490 Introduction to Chemistry for students without Year 12 chemistry.
** May be replaced by HMS111 Engineering Mathematics 1 if student intends to continue studying mathematics at a higher level. 
 
Note that credit cannot be obtained for both HES2541 and HES2510. Nor can credit be gained for both HES2526 and HES2515.

The third elective is a free elective.

IBL*, if undertaken, is generally taken between Stages 2 and 3 and consists of:
HSW050 Industry Based Learning and/or
HSW055 Industry Based Learning
*Please note that the optional IBL program is not available to international students holding a student visa. 
 
Note: In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. 

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

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This double degree provides professional education in biotechnology and business that enables graduates to use scientific research and innovative skills to create new business enterprises or to contribute to existing businesses.

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Graduates may apply for membership of the following professional societies:
  • Australian Biotechnology Association
  • The Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Australian Society for Microbiology
 
The following professional recognition applies to studies in the Bachelor of Business, although in some cases additional units to the minimum required for a major may be needed.
  • Australian Computer Society (ACS)
  • Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)
  • CPA Australia (CPAA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
  • Australian Institute of Banking and Finance
  • Australian Marketing Institute (AMI)
  • Institute of Corporate Managers, Secretaries and Administrators

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Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

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Satisfactory completion of the Swinburne English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Level 2 program with a teacher's recommendation for the required level of study; or obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; or a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); or a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 213 (with Written Writing score of 5); or a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 80 with no band less than 20.

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

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Maths (any).

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Enquire online: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/international/enquiry

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Phone:
+613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia)

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A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

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