Bridging Courses

Many courses in science have assumed knowledge which are subjects we expect you to have studied before you begin this course. If you don't have the assumed knowledge you won't be excluded from the course but you might find it difficult to manage the work, as your lecturer will assume you have this knowledge.

Our bridging courses run during February, just before the beginning of Semester one.

We recommend you take a bridging course if you’re about to start studying a course and you do not have the assumed knowledge you need for it. It is also an excellent refresher if you are returning to study.

We will offer the following bridging courses in 2012:

* Health Science students should refer to the Health Sciences Bridging course. For more information refer to the Health Sciences Chemistry Bridging Course website.

Registration

Before you register you should check which bridging course is right for you. There is a $25 administration fee for changing your mind.

Registrations are currently closed.

Bridging course scholarships

Twenty-five equity-based bridging course scholarships are available for undergraduate students who will enrol at the University in 2012. When awarding these scholarships we will be looking at the following criteria:

• You are currently financially disadvantaged
• You have financial difficulties due to a disability or rural disadvantage, or
• You expect to be financially disadvantaged whilst at university

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Biology Bridging Course

The biology bridging course is strongly recommended if you are starting university and have not completed HSC Biology. It is also a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge after a break from study, or if you found biology difficult at school.

Topics Include:

• cell biology
• cellular reactions (respiration, photosynthesis and protein synthesis)
• diversity of organisms
• reproduction and genetics
• evolution
• ecology
• scientific writing, numeracy, biological drawing and microscopy

Course delivery
The course includes lectures and small group classes. Workshops and practical classes will consolidate the material presented in lectures and focus on developing skills required for the study of biology. You attend a one hour lecture followed by a two hour workshop or practical session each morning and afternoon, with a one hour lunch break. Morning tea is provided after the morning lecture. A website accompanying the course allows you to download lecture material and revision questions each day. A formative assessment task will be made available on the website at the end of the course but there is no formal examination.

Note that practical sessions will take place in a teaching laboratory so students are required to wear appropriate footwear that covers the toe, heel and top of the foot.

Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Dates: 1-7 February 2012
Fee: $310.00

Biology Bridging Course contact:
Dr Elizabeth May
phone: 9351 4482
email:

Chemistry Bridging Course

This course is for you if you are entering a tertiary institution and intend to take a first year chemistry unit without having completed HSC Chemistry. Those who have completed HSC Chemistry earlier are also welcome to come along and refresh their memory.

Topics Include:

• elements, compounds and mixtures
• the structure of atoms
• ionic compounds
• covalent bonding, valency, molecular shapes
• chemical equations, precipitation reactions
• reactions involving acids
• chemical calculations
• the periodic table
• acids and bases

Course Delivery
You will attend two sessions a day, 9:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-4:30pm which will consist of a one hour lecture followed by a two hour small-group tutorial with about nine students per tutor. In all, the course covers 13 topics. View complete course notes.

Times: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Dates: 8-16 February 2012
Fee: $310.00

Chemistry Bridging Course contact:

Dr Donald Radford
Phone: 02 9351 2743
Email:

Mathematics Bridging Course

Many tertiary courses require a certain level of mathematics. Almost all courses in the Faculty of Science require at least HSC Mathematics (2-Unit). If you intend majoring in mathematics, computer science or physics; or an engineering course you require a good understanding of HSC Mathematics Extension 1.

Mathematics offer two bridging courses:

The Extension 1 course is for you if you have done Mathematics (2-Unit) in the HSC and wish to enrol in a course which has an assumed knowledge of Extension 1 Mathematics (3-Unit).

The 2-Unit course is for you if you have not done Mathematics (2-Unit) and want to study a subject for which 2-Unit Mathematics is assumed knowledge. The main content of this course will be an introduction to the differential calculus together with revision of the necessary algebra and coordinate geometry. Knowledge of Year 10 Mathematics will be assumed.

Course delivery
Courses are offered during the day and in the evening. The classes are small so that you receive the maximum amount of individual attention, and consist of 12 two-hour classes which will begin on Monday 13 February 2012. You are expected to spend at least two hours per day on private study and homework during the bridging course, however there are no examinations.

Dates and Times:
The following table gives the dates and times for both the 2-Unit and Extension 1 courses.

Contact for Course Information and Enrolment:
The Mathematics Learning Centre
Phone: 02 9351 4061
Email:

Physics Bridging Course

The physics bridging course is strongly recommended if you are starting university and are about to take physics for the first time, need to refresh your knowledge after a break from study, or have tried physics and found it difficult.

The purpose of the course is not to cover the entire HSC Physics syllabus, but instead to provide a good general introduction to the subject so that students can understand the lecture and laboratory material from the beginning of the year. It is not about the coverage of content but rather the development of skills.

Topics include:

• measurement and units
• motion along a straight line
• vectors and motion in two and three
• dimensions
• force and motion
• work and energy
• conservation of energy
• systems of particles
• collisions
• oscillations

Course Delivery
The course comprises lectures and tutorials to consolidate the information presented. A typical day consists of a 1.5 hour lecture followed by a 2.5 hour tutorial in both the morning and the afternoon. There is a one hour lunch break during the middle of the day.

Lectures are interactive with participation in large classroom activities. The tutorials are group based where you examine what you have learnt by practising problems and exploring demonstrations more closely.

Times: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Dates: 23 February - 2 March 2012
Fee: $350.00

Physics Bridging Course Contact:
Tom Gordon
Phone: 02 9351 3201
Email: