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Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) (BSPH) - BSpSc(Hons)

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Surveying (Springfield campus: 927221); Unspecified (Toowoomba campus: 907222; External: 907225)

CRICOS code (International applicants): 079520A

 On-campus^External*
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Campus:Springfield, Toowoomba -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration:4 years full-time, 8 years part-time 
Program articulation:

From: Associate Degree of Spatial Science ; Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology

To: Master of Spatial Science Research; Master of Spatial Science Technology

Footnotes
^Surveying is the only major available on-campus at Springfield.
*Students enrolled in the external mode of study should note that there are mandatory on-campus residential schools held at USQ Springfield for some courses in this program.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) (Surveying) is fully accredited by the Surveyors Board of Queensland and is recognised in every Australian state and in New Zealand through reciprocal arrangements. The degree, together with relevant industry experience, enables registration and/or licensing as a professional surveyor with the Boards of Surveyors in Australia and New Zealand.

Graduates from the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) are eligible to apply for membership with the .

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Program aims

The Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) program provides students with the educational requirements to become a professional spatial scientist and the ability to undertake postgraduate studies. The program equips students with a core of theoretical, scientific, analytical, managerial, professional, research and communication skills that will permit them to undertake an in-depth study of the fundamental science and practice of spatial science in one of two fields: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Surveying. The program provides students with sufficient knowledge of surveying and spatial information systems to be eligible to gain employment, certification and, where appropriate, registration as a Professional Surveyor or Spatial Scientist.

In addition, students obtain knowledge of the natural, legal, commercial, industrial and social environments in which they will function as professionals. The program instils in students the need for continuing professional development and is designed to identify, and award honours to, students who have the capacity to undertake study at an advanced level and to make an original contribution to the fundamental science and practice of spatial science. The class of honours will be determined by academic performance. Refer to the Honours section of this entry for further details.

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Program objectives

A student who successfully completes the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) should be able to apply:

  • advanced knowledge in the theories, concepts, methods and technologies in the areas of surveying and spatial science

  • skills and knowledge in the analysis, synthesis and evaluation of appropriate technologies, methods and processes to solve and complete a range of surveying and spatial science

  • development of advanced technical and cognitive skills to create innovative and sustainable solutions utilising cutting-edge technologies, supported by research to collect, store and manipulate spatial data

  • knowledge and skills to accept responsibility and autonomously apply well-informed judgements regarding professional practices, theories and processes

  • advanced oral and written communication skills to transmit and convey the necessary information and ideas to relevant stakeholders

  • consistent adaptation and application of academic norms and ethical standards in decision making when working collaboratively in a professional capacity

  • knowledge of surveying and spatial information systems of sufficient depth to be eligible for employment, certification and, where appropriate, registration as a Professional Surveyor or Spatial Scientist.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Program Information Set

View USQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Have achieved a minimum Overall Position (OP) 11, tertiary entrance rank 77 or equivalent qualification.^
  • Subject Pre-requisites: English (4,SA) and Mathematics B (4,SA) or equivalent.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 2.


Applicants are advised to also address the following:

  • Recommended Prior ¾«¶«´«Ã½app: Physics (4,SA) or equivalent.


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

^

These are determined by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app for specific programs each Semester. The 2019 OP and tertiary entrance ranks are based on agreed QTAC schedules which assess formal study at Year 12 or , tertiary, preparatory, professional or vocational qualifications or work experience, as detailed in the QTAC Assessment of Qualifications Manual and QTAC Assessor Guidelines.

Special admissions may help you get into the program of your choice by increasing your Selection Rank. The additional points don't apply to all applicants or all programs. Please read the information about USQ's carefully to find out what you may be eligible for.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) is a 32-unit program comprising Academic courses plus Practice courses.

Academic courses are normally one-unit courses and involve approximately 155 hours of student workload per unit.

Practice courses are zero unit courses and each involves approximately 50 hours of student workload.

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 10 years to complete this program.

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Electives/Approved courses

Approved courses are part of the Academic program and students must select approved courses from a specified list.

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Practice courses

The majority of the practical and professional experience requirements for the program are contained within the major recommended enrolment pattern in the following table. These are zero unit courses, which are a compulsory part of the program, however they do not attract a student contribution charge for Australian Residents or a tuition fee for international students.

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Practical experience

Work experience is desirable and encouraged but is not required for the completion of the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) program. Students are encouraged to obtain work experience during vacation periods.

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IT requirements

Access to an up-to-date computer is necessary. On-campus students can access appropriately equipped laboratories, but should consider acquisition of their own computer. External students should be able to access a computer with the following as advised by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. All students should have access to email and the Internet via a computer running the latest versions of Internet web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The ¾«¶«´«Ã½app has a wireless network for on-campus students' computers. In order to take advantage of this facility and further enhance their on-campus learning environment, students should consider purchasing a notebook/laptop computer with wireless connectivity. Specialist software is required for some courses.

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Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: V = Voluntary; O = Optional; C = Compulsory; R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. To find out more about , visit the to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the .

Students are required to undertake practical and professional activities relevant to their program through enrolment in a series of Practice courses in the program. Practice courses are zero unit courses that may be undertaken in either on-campus or external mode and the final grades available are Pass (P)/Fail (F) only. They are a compulsory part of the program and do not attract a student contribution charge for Australian residents or a tuition fee for international students. The recommended enrolment schedule for Practice courses is shown in the Recommended Enrolment Pattern for the program in this Handbook.

External students must attend a number of during their program to obtain experience in practical and professional activities appropriate to the program. The residential schools are included in Practice courses which are conducted in Semester 3 or during the recess periods. The dates for each residential school Practice course are shown in the in this Handbook and external students should ensure they are able to attend the residential school prior to enrolling in a Practice course. Personal protective equipment is compulsory in many engineering, construction and spatial science laboratories, students should confirm the requirements before attending residential schools for Practice courses.

Students who enrol in on-campus mode for Practice courses normally undertake a series of weekly activities and/or attend a compulsory residential school.

** and are to be studied in the student's penultimate year. After completing , students must study the following courses; and and ** in the same academic year.

**The for and will be held at the Springfield Campus.

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Exit points

Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) and who satisfy all of the requirements of either the Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology, the Associate Degree of Spatial Science or the may be permitted to exit with that award.

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

Work Experience

Work and industrial experience that has not been formally assessed, does not normally qualify for course credit in the Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours) program.

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Honours

The level of honours awarded will be determined based on the USQ procedure. Please refer to the , using Schedule B for overall GPA and EITHER: the average grade across both and ; OR the grade in alone (whichever is the higher) to satisfy the ‘Performance in honours project component’.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Geographic Information Systems major recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students for our Toowoomba campus. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.

Full-time recommended enrolment pattern


Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app: Geographic Information Systems (Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Code: 15407)
CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1, Semester 1

Academic Courses

11,21,2
111,3
111
11,21,2

Year 1, Semester 2

122
11,21,2
122
122

Practice Course Year 1

1111M

Year 2, Semester 1

Academic Courses

211
211
211Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSST or GCST or MENS or MSPT
21,21,2,3

Year 2, Semester 2

222
Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)222
222
222

Practice Courses Year 2

23MPre-requisite: ( and ) or () or (Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GDNS or MENS)
23MPre-requisite: ( or ) Pre-requisite or Co-requisite:

Year 3, Semester 1

Academic Courses

311,3
Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)311
311
311

Year 3, Semester 2

Academic Courses

322Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
322
322
322Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSST or MSPT or GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Practice Courses Year 3

~32MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP

Year 4, Semester 1

Academic Courses

Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)411
411Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN
^+41Pre-requisite: ( or ) and and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.
*411Co-requisite: LAW1101 or or or or (Students enrolled in BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW & Co-requisite LAW1201 or ) or (Students enrolled in DJUR & Co-requisite LAW5501 or )

Year 4, Semester 2

Academic Courses

Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)422
Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)422
422Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN or BSED
^++1,2Pre-requisite: and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.

Practice Courses Year 4

~42MPre-requisite: ( or ) and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students cannot enrol in and in the same semester.

Approved Courses (Select 5 courses from the following)

11
22
#11Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSPT or GCNS or GDNS or MENS or GCBU or MPPM
11
22Pre-requisite:
11
1,21,2,3Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
11,2,3
1,21,2,3
11Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MENS or GDNS or MEPR or MSCN
1,21,2,3
22
11
22
22Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT

Footnotes
~The for and will be held at the Springfield Campus.
^It is recommended that these courses are undertaken in the same academic year.
+It is recommended that students should have completed prior to undertaking this course.
*On-campus mode at Springfield only.
++ It is recommended that students should also be enrolled in while undertaking this course.
#Not available in on-campus mode in 2020

Notes

For students transferring from one program to another a complete list of enrolment requirements are available in the .
Other courses may be admissible as an approved course. However students must obtain approval from the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences prior to enrolling in the course. Students may undertake only one appropriate level five or level eight course from this program or another program in the area of Engineering and Built Environment as an approved course with the approval of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.

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Geographic Information Systems major recommended enrolment pattern (part-time)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1, Semester 1

Academic Courses

11,21,2
111,3

Year 1, Semester 2

122
122

Year 2, Semester 1

211
21 1, 2

Year 2, Semester 2

222
21,21,2

Practice Course Year 2

2121M

Year 3, Semester 1

311
311

Year 3, Semester 2

322
Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)322

Year 4, Semester 1

411Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSST or GCST or MENS or MSPT
41,21,2,3

Year 4, Semester 2

422
422

Practice Courses Year 4

43MPre-requisite: ( and ) or () or (Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GDNS or MENS)
43MPre-requisite: ( or ) Pre-requisite or Co-requisite:

Year 5, Semester 1

511,3
Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)511

Year 5, Semester 2

522Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
522

Year 6, Semester 1

611
611

Year 6, Semester 2

622
622Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSST or MSPT or GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Practice Courses Year 6

~2MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP

Year 7, Semester 1

Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)711
711Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN

Year 7, Semester 2

Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)722
722Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN or BSED

Year 8, Semester 1

^+1Pre-requisite: ( or ) and and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.
*811Co-requisite: LAW1101 or or or or (Students enrolled in BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW & Co-requisite LAW1201 or ) or (Students enrolled in DJUR & Co-requisite LAW5501 or )

Year 8, Semester 2

Approved course (Select from the approved courses list)822
^++1,2Pre-requisite: and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.

Practice Courses Year 8

~2MPre-requisite: ( or ) and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students cannot enrol in and in the same semester.

Approved Courses (Select 5 courses from the following)

11
22
#11Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSPT or GCNS or GDNS or MENS or GCBU or MPPM
11
22Pre-requisite:
11
1,21,2,3Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
11,2,3
1,21,2,3
11Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MENS or GDNS or MEPR or MSCN
1,21,2,3
22
11
22
22Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT

Footnotes
~The for and will be held at the Springfield Campus.
^It is recommended that these courses are undertaken in the same academic year.
+It is recommended that students should have completed prior to undertaking this course.
*On-campus mode at Springfield only.
++ It is recommended that students should also be enrolled in while undertaking this course.
#Not available in on-campus mode in 2020

Notes

For students transferring from one program to another a complete list of enrolment requirements is available in the. Other courses may be admissible as an approved course. However students must obtain approval from the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences prior to enrolling in the course. Students may undertake only one appropriate level five or level eight course from this program or another program in the area of Engineering and Built Environment as an approved course with the approval of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.

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Surveying Major recommended enrolment pattern (Toowoomba and Springfield campus)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

To satisfy the requirements of the program students must complete all of the Academic and Practice courses in the following table that shows the recommended enrolment patterns for on-campus and external students for our Toowoomba campus. Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult the to ascertain if a course is offered in another term.


Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app: Surveying (Major ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Code: 15408)
CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Year 1, Semester 1

Academic Courses

11,21,2
111,3
111
11,21,2

Year 1, Semester 2

122
11,21,2
122Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
122

Practice Courses Year 1

1121M

Year 2, Semester 1

Academic Courses

2121Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or MSPT
211Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MSPT or MENS
211
211Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSPT

Year 2, Semester 2

21,21,2,3
222Pre-requisite:
21,21,2,3

Choose one of the following two courses:

     ^^222Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MSPT or MENS
     ^^2Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS

Practice Courses Year 2

2123MPre-requisite: and and and
2223MPre-requisite: and and and

Year 3, Semester 1

Academic Courses

311Pre-requisite: MAT1500 or ENG1500 or or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCST or GDST or GCEN
311
311
311Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS

Year 3, Semester 2

322Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSPT or MENS
322
322
322Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MSPT or MENS

Practice Courses Year 3

32,3MPre-requisite: or and or and
~2MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP

Year 4, Semester 1

Academic Courses

411
Approved Course (Select from the Approved Course list)411
^+1Pre-requisite: ( or ) and and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.
Approved Course (Select from the Approved Course list)411

Year 4, Semester 2

Approved Course (Select from the Approved Course list)422
422
422
^++1,2Pre-requisite: and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students must complete and in the same year.

Practice Courses Year 4

~42MPre-requisite: ( or ) and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BSPS or BSPH or BURP. Students cannot enrol in and in the same semester.

Approved Courses (Select 3 courses from the following)

     11
     22
     *11Pre-requisite: or or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSPT or GCNS or GDNS or MENS or GCBU or MPPM
     11
     **22Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MSPT or MENS
     **2Pre-requisite: ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCNS or GCST or GDNS or GDST or MSST or MENS
     11Pre-requisite: and or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDST or MSST or GCST or MENS or MSPT
     11,2,3
     1,21,2,3
     11Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MENS or GDNS or MEPR or MSCN
     22
     22,3Pre-requisite: ENG1500 or MAT1500 or or ( and ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MEPR or GCEN or GEPR
     22
     22
     *11Co-requisite: LAW1101 or or or or (Students enrolled in BEDU (Legal Studies) or BLAW or LLBP or BALW or BBLA or BCLA or BCLW & Co-requisite LAW1201 or ) or (Students enrolled in DJUR & Co-requisite LAW5501 or )

Footnotes
^^Students should study the course appropriate to their intended jurisdiction of practice.
~The for and will be held at the Springfield Campus.
^It is recommended that these courses are undertaken in the same academic year.
+It is recommended that students should have completed prior to undertaking this course.
++ It is recommended that students should also be enrolled in while undertaking this course.
*Not available in on-campus mode in 2020
**The alternative to the previously completed Cadastral core course may be taken as an elective/approved course.

Notes

For students transferring from one program to another a complete list of enrolment requirements are available in the .
Students may undertake only one appropriate level five or level eight course from this program or another program in the area of Engineering and Built Environment as an Elective with the approval of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences.