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This course enables you to better tailor your study to suit your specific interests in science and gives you access to advanced-level units relevant to an honours degree.

You will learn core science units and choose a science major in which to specialise. From your second year you’ll benefit from work-integrated learning opportunities that give you practical experience and skills before you graduate – an attribute that is highly valued by employers.

You’ll also undertake internal and external research experiences, and in your final year you may conduct a self-directed honours project that adds to the scientific knowledge of your field.

This science degree is unique in Western Australia in that you will also study scientific professional practice, entrepreneurship and leadership. It is designed to ensure you graduate as a resourceful and creative professional who can respond innovatively to changing industry and employment landscapes.

What you'll learn

Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the nature of science, its methods and processes, and an advanced knowledge in one or more disciplinary areas enabling the ability to contribute new knowledge to a field of study.

Critically analyse challenging and multi-faceted problems, address them by applying practical and theoretical tools and critically evaluate findings within the current body of disciplinary knowledge.

Access and make judgements on the value of available knowledge using a variety of tools, and incorporate them into the planning, conduct and communication of their own work.

Communicate approaches and solutions, ideas and findings to informed professional scientific and industry audiences.

Use established and emerging technologies in their chosen discipline and apply them within the context of their profession.

The major culminates in a capstone experience in which students will have the opportunity to pursue Chemistry projects that may be based anywhere from pure research right through to translational (entrepreneurial) science.

This major trains you to become a skilled chemist. It also teaches you problem solving, teamwork and critical analysis skills, which may open the door for many careers within and outside science. You will study theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry, including synthesis, analysis and molecular modelling. Your learning will be largely laboratory-based, in Curtin’s Resources and Chemistry Precinct.

You can take units to develop a specialisation in:

Analytical and Forensic Chemistry

You will learn how to use sophisticated scientific instrumentation in combination with chemical knowledge to solve complex, real-world analytical problems.

Biological Chemistry

You will study the essential processes of life on the molecular level. You will use complex equipment and procedures to understand the bio-molecular world, explore applications in biosensors and drug design, and monitor what effects new substances like food additives and medicines have on living organisms.

Biological chemists, play a part in diagnosing diseases and investigating potential cures for illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, through to the design and synthesis of new and improved medicines.

Geochemistry

You will study the chemical make-up of the Earth and other planets. You will focus on the chemical reactions and processes that show how various soils and rocks are created.

Materials Science

Materials scientists examine materials from a unified point of view; they look for connections between the underlying structure of a material, its properties, how processing changes it and what the material can do.

Careers

Environmental chemist
Forensic scientist
Medicinal chemist
Synthetic chemist