A woman doing experiment in a lab

Majors, minors and specialisations

Details on recently approved amendments of all undergraduate majors, minors and specialisations within the College of Science.

Majors, minors and specialisations offered by the College of Science can contribute towards satisfying the study requirements of the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) degrees. All students should follow the study requirements of majors, minors and specialsiations from the year of commencement in the degree, this also applies to commencement in a degree after an internal transfer. 

Study requirements for majors, minors and specialisations for each year are published in the official online handbook for the ANU: the Programs and Courses catalogue. To check the specific rules for your year of commencement please select the appropriate year from the drop-down menu in PC.

Summary of key changes to take effect from 2025:

Majors

With the exception of the Psychology (PSYC-MAJ) and the Biological Anthropology (BIAN-MAJ) majors, 1000-level courses do not count towards the eight courses required for completion of a major. The 1000-level courses that are prerequisites for 2000-3000 level courses in majors are listed below. These courses can be used to satisfy other requirements in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours).

Minors and specialisations

Minors and specialisations are optional for students commencing in a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) degree from 2025.

 

General advice for majors, minors and specialisations offered by the College of Science to take effect from 2025: 

1000-level courses for majors

Information provided below is general advice only, see programs and courses entry for details

 CompulsoryOptional or dependent on later year course selection
 Semester 1Semester 2Semester 1Semester 2
Agricultural Innovation ENVS1003 and ENVS1004EMSC1006, ENGN1211, ENVS1001, STAT1003 or STAT1008 
Astronomy and AstrophysicsPHYS1101 (S1S2) and
MATH1013 (S1S2) or MATH1115		PHYS1201 and
MATH1014 (S1S2) or MATH1116		STAT1003, ASTR1001 (S1S2)COMP1730 (S1S2)
BiochemistryBIOL1003 and CHEM1101BIOL1004 and CHEM1201  
Biodiversity ConservationBIOL1003ENVS1003 and
ENVS1004 or BIOL1009		  
Biological AnthropologyBIOL1003 or BIOL1008 or ANTH1002* or ARCH1111* or ANTH1003* (S2) or 
ARCH1112* (S2)		BIAN1001CHEM1101, PSYC1003BIOL1004, CHEM1201, PSYC1004
Cell & Molecular BiologyBIOL1003 and CHEM1101BIOL1004 and CHEM1201  
ChemistryCHEM1101CHEM1201 BIOL1004
Climate ScienceMATH1003 or MATH1013 (S1S2), or MATH1115, and
CHEM1101 or PHYS1001 or PHYS1101 (S1S2)		 EMSC1006 
Computer ScienceCOMP1100 (S1S2) or COMP1130 or COMP1730 (S1S2), and
Any 1000 level MATH course		 COMP1600, and
COMP1140 or COMP1110 (S1S2)		 
Earth ScienceCHEM1101 or 

MATH1003 or MATH1013 (S1S2) or MATH1115		EMSC1008EMSC1006, and
PHYS1101 (S1S2) or PHYS1001		 
Environmental ScienceEMSC1006ENVS1003 and ENVS1004EMSC1008 or BIOL1003 or BIOL1009 or any 1000 level CHEM, MATH, PHYS or SCOM course 
Evolution, Ecology and Organismal BiologyBIOL1003BIOL1004 and BIOL1009CHEM1101CHEM1201
Human BiologyBIOL1003 and CHEM1101BIOL1004BIOL1008CHEM1201
Mathematical FinanceMATH1115 or MATH1113 (S2), and
STAT1003 or STAT1008 (S1S2), and
COMP1110 (S1S2)		MATH1116 or MATH1014 (S1S2), and
FINM1001 (S1S2), and
COMP1110 (S1S2) or COMP1140		  
Mathematical ModellingMATH1013 (S1S2) or MATH1115 or MATH1113 (S2), andMATH1014 (S1S2)  or MATH1116STAT1003 or STAT1008 (S1S2), or
COMP1100 (S1S2) or 
COMP1130 or COMP1730 (S1S2)		 
MathematicsMATH1013 (S1S2)  or MATH1115MATH1014 (S1S2)  or MATH1116  
PhysicsMATH1013 (S1S2)  or MATH1115, and
PHYS1101 (S1S2)		MATH1014 (S1S2) or MATH1116, 
and PHYS1201		  
PsychologyPSYC1003PSYC1004  
Quantitative BiologyMATH1013 (S1S2)  or MATH1115, 
and BIOL1003		MATH1014 (S1S2) or MATH1116STAT1003 or STAT1008 (S1S2)BIOL1004
Science Communication  SCOM1001SCOM1001
StatisticsMATH1013 (S1S2) or MATH1115, and 
STAT1003 or STAT1008 (S1S2)		MATH1014 (S1S2) or MATH1116 or MATH1113  

Minors that can contribute towards the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Adv) (Hons)

Code in P&CNAME
APST-MINApplied Statistics
BCAM-MINBiodiversity Conservation and Management
BIOL-MINBiology
CHEM-MINChemistry
CSAP-MINClimate Science and Policy
CSCI-MINComputer Science
DEPS-MINDevelopmental Psychology
EMSC-MINEarth and Marine Sciences
ENVP-MINEnvironmental Policy
FSAP-MINForest Science and Policy
GEOG-MINGeography
HECL-MINHuman Ecology
MATH-MINMathematics
NCSC-MINNuclear Science
PHYS-MINPhysics
SCOM-MINScience Communication
SOPS-MINSocial Psychology
LAND-MINSoil and Land Management
SUSD-MINSustainable Development
WSAP-MINWater Science and Policy

Specialisations that can contribute towards the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Adv) (Hons)

Code in P&C NAMECo-requisite major(s)
CHEM-SPECAdvanced ChemistryChemistry
ADMA-SPECAdvanced MathematicsMathematics or 
Mathematical Finance or 
Mathematical Modelling or 
Quantitative Biology
ADPH-SPECAdvanced PhysicsPhysics or
Astronomy and Astrophysics
ASAP-SPECAstronomy and AstrophysicsMathematics or 
Physics
BCHM-SPECBiochemistryCell and Molecular Biology or 
Chemistry or
Human Biology
BMSC-SPECBiomedical ScienceBiochemistry or 
Cell and Molecular Biology or 
Human Biology 
CLSC-SPECClimate ScienceEarth Science
EVEC-SPECEvolution and EcologyEvolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology or 
Biodiversity Conservation
GENE-SPECGeneticsBiochemistry or 
Cell and Molecular Biology or 
Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology or 
Human Biology
GOPT-SPECGeochemistry and PetrologyEarth Science 
MARS-SPECMarine Science SpecialisationClimate Science or
Earth Science
MBIM-SPECMicrobiology and ImmunologyBiochemistry or 
Cell and Molecular Biology or 
Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology or 
Human Biology
NEUR-SPECNeuroscience and PhysiologyBiochemistry or 
Cell & Molecular Biology or 
Human Biology or 
Psychology
PLNT-SPECPlant ScienceCell & Molecular Biology or 
Biochemistry or
Biodiversity Conservation or
Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology
PSYC-SPECPsychologyPsychology

Disestablished majors, minors and specialisations

Disestablished majors, minor and specialisations are only available to students active in programs that list the major, minor or specialisations in the program requirements prior to the disestablishment.

Code in P&CNAMEDisestablishedTeach out advice
AQBI-SPECAdvanced Quantitative Biology and BioinformaticsDisestablished from 2025
The courses listed in the specialisation prior to disestablishment will continue to be offered in the immediate future.
BION-MINBiological NeuropsychologyDisestablished from 2025
The courses listed in the minor prior to disestablishment will continue to be offered in the immediate future.
COPS-MINCognitive PsychologyDisestablished from 2025
The courses listed in the minor prior to disestablishment will continue to be offered in the immediate future.
EARP-SPECEarth PhysicsDisestablished from 2025All courses offered in the specialisation will continue to be available. There are no plans to disestablish the compulsory course PHYS3070 Physics of the Earth, but should this come to pass, the school will offer impacted students the opportunity to take a Special Topic course through EMSC3050 with similar learning outcomes.
ENGE-SPECEnvironmental GeologyDisestablished from 2025All courses offered in the specialisation will continue to be available. There are no plans to disestablish the compulsory courses EMSC3023 or EMSC3025, but should this come to pass, the school will offer impacted students alternative course options, including the opportunity to take a Special Topic courses through EMSC3050 with similar learning outcomes.
FSCI-MINFoundational ScienceDisestablished from 2025This minor did not contain any specific compulsory courses.
GEOG-MAJGeographyDisestablished from 2025This major comprises nearly all courses offered by the Fenner School of Environment and Society. The vast majority of these courses will continue to be delivered for the next 5 years therefore students active in program prior to its disestablishment should be able to complete the major without impediment. Should an essential course (eg a course is a short list) be disestablished students will have the opportunity to seek academic advice and negotiate a suitable alternative that will satisfy the subplan learning outcomes.
GEGE-SPECGeophysics and GeologyDisestablished from 2025
The courses listed in the specialisation prior to disestablishment will continue to be offered in the immediate future.
ISCK-MAJIndigenous Science and KnowledgesNot available in BSC/ASCAD from 2025This major is under review. Not available for students commencing a Bachelor of Science degree from 2025.
INSC-MINInterdisciplinary ScienceDisestablished from 2025This minor did not contain any specific compulsory courses.
MECO-MAJMathematical EconomicsNot available in BSC/ASCAD from 2025This major is under review. Not available for students commencing a Bachelor of Science degree from 2025.
MPHY-SPECMathematical PhysicsDisestablished from 2025All courses listed in the study requirements are predicted to be taught for the next few years however, in the event of disestablishment, any student needing a specific course to satisfy the subplan requirements will be offered a special topic or an appropriate course substitution with equivalent learning outcomes.
PSCE-SPECProfessional Science EngagementDisestablished from 2025
All courses listed in the study requirements are predicted to be taught for the next few years however, in the event of disestablishment, any student needing a specific course to satisfy the subplan requirements will be offered a special topic or an appropriate course substitution with equivalent learning outcomes.
QUEM-MAJQuantitative Environmental ModellingNot available in BSC/ASCAD from 2025This major is under review. Not available for students commencing a Bachelor of Science degree from 2025.
REEN-MAJResource and Environmental ManagementDisestablished from 2025
This major comprises nearly all courses offered by the Fenner School of Environment and Society. The vast majority of these courses will continue to be delivered for the next 5 years therefore students active in program prior to its disestablishment should be able to complete the major without impediment. Should an essential course (eg a course is a short list) be disestablished students will have the opportunity to seek academic advice and negotiate a suitable alternative that will satisfy the subplan learning outcomes.
SUST-MAJSustainability StudiesNot available in BSC/ASCAD from 2025This major is under review. Not available for students commencing a Bachelor of Science degree from 2025.
WASC-MAJWater ScienceNot available in BSC/ASCAD from 2025This major is under review. Not available for students commencing a Bachelor of Science degree from 2025.