Future Students

Physical Sciences - foundation package

A foundation package in the physical sciences includes all four of the above sciences, or any three of them (plus an elective subject).  It leads on to major sequences in any of the following:

• biophysics
• chemistry (including materials chemistry or environmental chemistry)
• chemical physics, which combines physics, chemistry and mathematics 
• earth sciences (soil science, land & water management, marine & coastal management)
• geology
• mathematics (including pure or applied mathematics, mathematical statistics, or a more general mathematical major)
• physics

This package is the obvious choice if you have broad interests in the physical sciences and wish to keep plenty of options open.  It also gives you the opportunity to combine a major in one of the physical sciences with something from another field altogether, e.g. a social science such as psychology, or with a non-science degree (such as Arts, Commerce, Economics or Law) in a combined course.

Bachelor of Science Level 1
Foundation package in the physical sciences:  Four pairs of units, including at least three of the following: physics, chemistry, earth science (geology), mathematics.  If only three are selected, the fourth pair of units can be chosen from other areas of science or even from non-science subjects (with approval).

Levels 2 and 3
At level 2 you will start to specialise in two of your possible majors from (see list above) — or, perhaps, one from the list plus another arising from your level 1 elective.  At level 3 you will complete at least one major sequence.  You may make up the rest of your enrolment at level 3 with further specialised units in your major area, or with a second major, or with units from other areas that support your major.  To give just a few examples, a physics major is often combined with a major in pure or applied mathematics; students majoring in chemistry can pair it with environmental chemistry, or with a biological major such as biochemistry or pharmacology; students majoring in geology often choose useful supporting units in subjects such as geographic information systems.

The University of Western Australia also offers a number of specialised programs in the physical sciences:

• Bachelor of Science (Physical Science)
• Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology)
• Bachelor of Science (Biophysical Science)
• Bachelor of Science (Green Chemistry)
• Bachelor of Science (Geochemistry)
• Bachelor of Science (Science Education)

Career opportunities

Physical scientists enjoy a wide range of career options, including — to give just a few examples —computational science, remote sensing, medical physics, radiation physics, telecommunications, space science, the chemical industries, materials science, mineral exploration, the petroleum industry, nanotechnology, environmental monitoring, teaching, or research and development in industry or government institutes.