OVERVIEW

Are you interested in studying science and want to explore the topics that interest you? UNE’s Diploma in Science is ideal if you are new to university study and want to get started in science, or if you wish to develop a foundation of skills and knowledge across a broad range of scientific disciplines to supplement your study in another field or add value to your role. Our course is designed to provide you with maximum flexibility, allowing you to tailor your program of study to your individual needs, with guidance and support from our experienced academic staff.

Choose from units across a wide range of scientific disciplines or focus on a specific subject area, and equip yourself with the tools you will need to pursue further study or pivot in your career and thrive in the rapidly changing world of science and technology.

Why study the Diploma in Science with UNE?

Whether you are considering university study for the first time, you are concurrently enrolled in a degree that requires an understanding of scientific concepts, or you are a professional who wishes to future proof or pivot in your career with a basic foundation in the sciences, UNE’s Diploma in Science is a highly flexible course that can be tailored to your interests, strengths and level of background knowledge.

Our accessible Diploma in Science provides you with introductory understanding of the basic sciences. It is ideal if you do not have the traditional educational background for direct admission into a science-based degree, or you are interested in science but are not sure if you would like to commit to a full Bachelor’s degree. You do not need to have studied science at school to do the Diploma, and you can apply for admission to our course without an ATAR.

Hone your skills in critical thinking and communication and develop a broad scientific background that will position you to pursue further study or add value to your professional role.

What makes our course different?

At UNE our hands-on approach sets us apart, and as part of the Diploma in Science we encourage you to consult one-on-one with our friendly staff to design the program of study that best suits your needs. The course provides you with the opportunity to:

• Study flexibly by choosing the program of study most relevant to you. Choose from an extensive list of units and focus your study on a particular discipline or mix units from a range of areas.

• Balance study with your existing commitments. You can commence online, full-time or part-time, in any trimester, with on-campus options for study in Trimesters 1 and 2. As Australia’s longest continuous provider of distance education, we are experts in the provision of online lifelong learning.

• If you choose to study online, some units include mandatory intensive schools on campus, which give you the opportunity to interact and engage face-to-face with your peers and academic staff, and gain essential practical skills.

• Refine your skills to supplement your learning in other fields. Our study pathways offer maximum flexibility and can be tailored to provide the type of science knowledge you need. The general studies program provides additional background knowledge in the disciplines you choose. If, for example, you are concurrently enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education course and wish to pursue science teaching, you can build your skills in chemistry and physics. Our medical sciences option refreshes your fundamental skills in mathematics, statistics and human physiology if you are working towards entry into a medical, paramedical or allied health course.

• Engage with our experienced teaching staff in practical laboratory sessions and lectures and tutorials with small class sizes. Our interactive approach fosters a learning environment that is friendly, collegial and supportive.

Study online

Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus

Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.

The highly flexible nature of UNE’s Diploma in Science ensures that your transferrable skills and knowledge can be applied in a wide range of settings. Our students have gone on to find career opportunities in many sectors, including:

• education and teaching

• science and biomedical science

• medicine

• pharmacy

• agriculture

• health promotion.

To have an understanding that: - Science encompasses both a body of knowledge and a reliable process of discovery. It is founded upon the recognition of fundamental laws that make nature systematic and reproducible. - Scientists observe, measure, classify and perform experiments upon the natural world. They employ scientific methods to test hypotheses and use empirical evidence to support or refute their hypotheses. The natural variability, or uncertainty, inherent in the natural world means that scientific conclusions are reliable but contestable: they may be revised or modified as new evidence emerges. Scientists are curious about the natural world and are creative in formulating hypotheses and in designing approaches to problem solving. - Mathematics is used in science to model real-world systems and scientific data are often analysed using statistical methods. - Science operates within a paradigm of peer review and replication that provides a collective responsibility for the reliability of scientific knowledge. Scientists have a responsibility to communicate the outcomes of their work accurately and without bias to their peers and to society. - Science is embedded within a context that reflects both the history of scientific endeavor and the culture of present society. Scientists generate and build knowledge, develop technologies, investigate and solve problems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• demonstrate current, technical and theoretical knowledge of science, including the creative endeavour involved in acquiring knowledge, and the contestable and testable nature of scientific knowledge

• use and apply recognised methods of science, appropriate practical techniques and tools for processes of discovery and inquiry

• use scientific literacy to demonstrate understanding of, and to explain scientific issues to, peers, scientific non-experts and the general community

• demonstrate personal and social responsibility through an awareness of the ethical frameworks, by working safely and responsibly in individual and team environments; and

• transfer knowledge and specialised skills to others and demonstrate understanding of knowledge.