Be(Geomatics) + Dip(Informatics) - The University of Melbourne

[Yendall]

Hey guys,
I am seriously considering applying for a Bachelor of Environments(Geomatics), whilst studying a Diploma in Informatics. I am hoping to achieve my masters in either Information Technology or Engineering(Software). Do you think this is a possibility? If so, is this the appropriate selection of courses in order to achieve this?
Just as a note, I do not reach the PreReqs for a Bsc(Computer Science) unfortunately, that would've been much better, but hey what can you do.

I would love to hear your thoughts, as you can all imagine i'm stressing out about this.

[Soul_Khan]

I'm guessing you can't get into Computer Science because you haven't done Methods or Spec. Well you can still do subjects which are similar to Methods/Spec and are credited for and once completed will give you the skills needed for the course (thus compensating for the fact that you haven't completed Methods/Spec in VCE) and therefore make you eligible to get into the course. You shouldn't give up your dream just because you don't meet the prerequistes.

[Yendall]

I'm guessing you can't get into Computer Science because you haven't done Methods or Spec. Well you can still do subjects which are similar to Methods/Spec and are credited for and once completed will give you the skills needed for the course (thus compensating for the fact that you haven't completed Methods/Spec in VCE) and therefore make you eligible to get into the course. You shouldn't give up your dream just because you don't meet the prerequistes.

Precisely.
I was hoping there would be a way to study a Bsc without fulfilling the prereqs by studying Calculus(1) and Physics as separate subjects. However I'm not sure how it all works.

[sluu001]

You wont able to get into the bsci at melb without Methods. However, you can still get into a b.arts or b.enviro and do introduction to mathematics as a breadth. It is the methods equivelant at melb uni. Also, there is an option for you to do several science breadths in b arts/enviro and transferring to b sci the following yr (as long as you pass intro to mathematics you can apply for a place). This way you can do the course you are interested in without sacrificing a yr. (eho knows, you might like enviro - our architecture patheay is extremely competitive).

However. Keep in mind that you will need to keep a 75 average minimum to be competiive for a transfer from b.arts/enviro to science (which is much harder than it sounds for uni).

[Yendall]

You wont able to get into the bsci at melb without Methods. However, you can still get into a b.arts or b.enviro and do introduction to mathematics as a breadth. It is the methods equivelant at melb uni. Also, there is an option for you to do several science breadths in b arts/enviro and transferring to b sci the following yr (as long as you pass intro to mathematics you can apply for a place). This way you can do the course you are interested in without sacrificing a yr. (eho knows, you might like enviro - our architecture patheay is extremely competitive).

However. Keep in mind that you will need to keep a 75 average minimum to be competiive for a transfer from b.arts/enviro to science (which is much harder than it sounds for uni).

So say I were to do a Be(Geomatics), will I be able to complete my diploma alongside the required science/mathematics breadths? Or does a diploma consume all breadth slots?
Say I didn't achieve marks to transfer, do you think completing my Be(Geomatics) will be worthwhile? I think that extra Diploma is necessary for what I want to do, and if science/mathematics breadths are replacing a diploma, I see this as taking a massive risk.

[sluu001]

I dont think you can do a diploma concurrently with your b.enviro but i may be wrong. Check with both the science and environments student centre to find out your exact course plan. As i am not in b.env or b.sci (b.comm actully) i cannot comment on the courses.

[Yendall]

I dont think you can do a diploma concurrently with your b.enviro but i may be wrong. Check with both the science and environments student centre to find out your exact course plan. As i am not in b.env or b.sci (b.comm actully) i cannot comment on the courses.

The UniMelb website says I can study a Concurrent Diploma alongside my b.Enviro. Choosing from this list of Majors:

• Diploma in Informatics
• Diploma in Languages
• Diploma in Mathematical Sciences
• Diploma in Music (Practical)
• U21 Diploma in Global Issues

I was thinking of structuring my course like this:

• Bachelor of Environments (Geomatics)
• Diploma of Informatics

However, none of the Breadth subjects lead to Software Engineering. And I was wondering whether my breadth subjects could be from another field, say, Mathematics? Because you can't study breadths from Science areas whilst studying B.Enviro right? It has to be completely related to B.Enviro?

[sluu001]

No that's not correct. The whole objective of breadths is to force students to study subjects completely OUTSIDE of your faculty. It is unique to Melbourne Uni and the reason is to broaden student's skills in areas other than their specialist fields. As such, you will be encouraged (no, forced) to do subjects outside of the Environments faculty. Therefore, you can pick up all your breadths in whatever you feel like, provided you meet the requirements to get into the subject (ie, VCE methods or another university subject - look in the handbook and it will tell you which subjects are pre-requisites). I have friends who are doing COmmerce with me pick up Accelerated Mathematics in the Science faculty just because they were interested in Maths (plus they wanted to move into honours in Finance and advanced maths would help them in their eventual honours thesis).

[Yendall]

No that's not correct. The whole objective of breadths is to force students to study subjects completely OUTSIDE of your faculty. It is unique to Melbourne Uni and the reason is to broaden student's skills in areas other than their specialist fields. As such, you will be encouraged (no, forced) to do subjects outside of the Environments faculty. Therefore, you can pick up all your breadths in whatever you feel like, provided you meet the requirements to get into the subject (ie, VCE methods or another university subject - look in the handbook and it will tell you which subjects are pre-requisites). I have friends who are doing COmmerce with me pick up Accelerated Mathematics in the Science faculty just because they were interested in Maths (plus they wanted to move into honours in Finance and advanced maths would help them in their eventual honours thesis).

Oh okay awesome I never thought it was like that! I would definitely pick science/maths breadths as they are fundamental for coding (algorithms, formulas etc.) to an extent. Say I completed the mathematics breadth (scoring highly), would that heighten my chances of obtaining a transfer into b.Sci

[sluu001]

Won't hurt your chances BUT these subjects (because of the mathematical components incorporated within) are traditionally quite difficult to score highly in. To be honest, if you really wanted to apply for a transfer - your best option is to pick subjects that are fairly easy to score highly in - (ie. fundementals of mathematics (which is basically a VCE subject) etc.). THis is because the faculty will look at your WAM (initially at least) as a way to thin out the applicants. You will probably need at least a 75 to be considered for a transfer from B.Enviro to B.Science (80 to be safe).

I will always strongly advise you NOT to pick any design subjects should you choose to do a B.Enviro as they are some of the HARDEST subjects you can complete (they predominately are designed for aspiring Architecture students looking to do a major in Architecture). Do not be fooled by the fact that it contains no exams, the workload needed through the semester is up there with any Medicine or 2nd year+ law subjects.

[Yendall]

Won't hurt your chances BUT these subjects (because of the mathematical components incorporated within) are traditionally quite difficult to score highly in. To be honest, if you really wanted to apply for a transfer - your best option is to pick subjects that are fairly easy to score highly in - (ie. fundementals of mathematics (which is basically a VCE subject) etc.). THis is because the faculty will look at your WAM (initially at least) as a way to thin out the applicants. You will probably need at least a 75 to be considered for a transfer from B.Enviro to B.Science (80 to be safe).

I will always strongly advise you NOT to pick any design subjects should you choose to do a B.Enviro as they are some of the HARDEST subjects you can complete (they predominately are designed for aspiring Architecture students looking to do a major in Architecture). Do not be fooled by the fact that it contains no exams, the workload needed through the semester is up there with any Medicine or 2nd year+ law subjects.

Okay well i'll talk to my careers advisory to identify all breadth subjects which appeal to me and won't be too heavy on my first year.
Trust me I understand the difficulty of design-based subjects, I'm studying Studio this year and I can imagine it would be 100x worse than that at University (especially Architecture as it's so competitive).

Thank you for all your help I'll check back in once i've talked all this through. You've helped me immensely.

[berryy]

Im currently studying geomatics/surveying via b.sci - it is almost TOTALLY different to informatics/Comp sci

your best option if you cant get into science is to do the prereq subjects for comp sci but it may take longer

Won't hurt your chances BUT these subjects (because of the mathematical components incorporated within) are traditionally quite difficult to score highly in. To be honest, if you really wanted to apply for a transfer - your best option is to pick subjects that are fairly easy to score highly in - (ie. fundementals of mathematics (which is basically a VCE subject) etc.). THis is because the faculty will look at your WAM (initially at least) as a way to thin out the applicants. You will probably need at least a 75 to be considered for a transfer from B.Enviro to B.Science (80 to be safe).

I will always strongly advise you NOT to pick any design subjects should you choose to do a B.Enviro as they are some of the HARDEST subjects you can complete (they predominately are designed for aspiring Architecture students looking to do a major in Architecture). Do not be fooled by the fact that it contains no exams, the workload needed through the semester is up there with any Medicine or 2nd year+ law subjects.

I 2nd this. You need to plan it out smartly cos uni can be a bitch

[Yendall]

Im currently studying geomatics/surveying via b.sci - it is almost TOTALLY different to informatics/Comp sci

your best option if you cant get into science is to do the prereq subjects for comp sci but it may take longer

Won't hurt your chances BUT these subjects (because of the mathematical components incorporated within) are traditionally quite difficult to score highly in. To be honest, if you really wanted to apply for a transfer - your best option is to pick subjects that are fairly easy to score highly in - (ie. fundementals of mathematics (which is basically a VCE subject) etc.). THis is because the faculty will look at your WAM (initially at least) as a way to thin out the applicants. You will probably need at least a 75 to be considered for a transfer from B.Enviro to B.Science (80 to be safe).

I will always strongly advise you NOT to pick any design subjects should you choose to do a B.Enviro as they are some of the HARDEST subjects you can complete (they predominately are designed for aspiring Architecture students looking to do a major in Architecture). Do not be fooled by the fact that it contains no exams, the workload needed through the semester is up there with any Medicine or 2nd year+ law subjects.

I 2nd this. You need to plan it out smartly cos uni can be a bitch

That's what I was thinking. Because Geomatics and Informatics are both going to be different to Computing and Computer Science. I'd say Informatics is a lot closer to CompSci. If I studied a Ba whilst completing prereqs for CompSci, how long do you think that would take? Would I have to complete my entire Bachelor course before being eligible for a transfer?

I'm trying to plan now so i'm not in a mess when it comes time to choose my preferences. It is killing me haha

[berryy]

lets not use the geomatics word again since your interested in infomatics/comp sci

Essentially with the B.env, you have 75points (6 subjects)  to do whatever you want (double check this)

    50 points of breadth including:

        At least 12.5 points at Level 2 or 3 (and no more than 37.5 points at Level 1)

    25 points of free subjects at Levels 1 to 3

according to http://www.msi.unimelb.edu.au/study/undergraduate/informatics/

you need to complete 10 core subjects (including calc2 and lin <--- double check this) but since you havent done meth/spesh then youll have to do calc1 which needs intro to maths

so that could be 8-12 subjects that you need given that you only have space of 6 to finish the degree witihn 3 years.

So your options arnt that great unless you overload or do an extra year or something. You need to check all of this up as ive gathered this from the uni site + handbook and not sure how much of it is accurate lol


it would be another story if you transferred into sci so work that out or call the uni


maybe studying at another uni is an option - http://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/information-systems i think you meet the prereqs with further

[sluu001]

You can also think about doing Introduction to Mathematics through the CAP program offered by Melbourne Uni. It means you essentially do a single subject outside a CSP offer. THis means you can then move on to Calc One without Intro Maths taking up one of your (limited) slots.

However, CAP programs are outside HECs funding and therefore (I am pretty sure that) it will not be covered by HECs and you will need to pay the full amount up front (which is approximately 4 grand). What about finishing your B.Sci without completing all the necessary subjects then doing a post grad diploma and/or degree to make up for the remaining subjects?