Course planning
Information for prospective and current undergraduate students about subject selection and course optionsFirst year students
Your subject choices in first year will depend on your background. Students with VCE Chemistry (or equivalent) will normally undertake mainstream first year Chemistry. This involves subjects 610-101: Chemistry 1 which may be taken either semester 1 or semester 2 and 610-102: Chemistry 2 which may be taken in semester 2 or during the Summer semester.
A special semester 1 bridging subject has been designed for students who have not completed year 12 Chemistry: Chemistry 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry. If you pass Chemistry 171, you will be able to move on to mainstream Chemistry and study Chemistry 101 in second semester and Chemistry 102 in summer semester.
610-150 Chemistry for Biomedicine is a semester 1 subject available only to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.
Second and third year students
After first year, many options are open for the study of Chemistry in second and third years. Theory, practical and combined theory/practical courses may be tailored to provide advanced training in specific inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary areas. Discipline specific and generic skills are extended and refined, and health, safety and environmental perspectives are developed.
How to choose your subjects
Specific course advice will be available towards the end of Second Semester. Special sessions will cover prerequisites for courses. Any student that has completed a full first year level course (either 610-101/2) will have the prerequisites to enrol in any second year course.
General information about second and third year subjects is also available.
Undertake a major in Chemistry
Find out more about the requirements for a major in Chemistry and how to choose subjects in second and third year.
Course structure for third year students in 2009
Most chemistry units consist of "short courses": a combined lecture and practical unit, and "long courses": separate lecture and practical units. While the "long course" units are be enrolled in separately, it is highly recommended that they be co-enrolled.
Short course (12.5 pts)
610-310, 320, 340 24 lectures + 32 h lab
Long course (12.5 + 6.25 = 18.75 pts)
610-311, 321, 341 36 lectures
610-315, 325, 345 48 h lab
Special subjects
The School of Chemistry offers several special third year subjects that have rather different prerequisites for enrolment.
610-332 Bioorganic chemistry (first semester)
This is a 36 lecture only course.
Prerequisites: At least one of the following: chemistry 610-220, chemistry 610-221 or 25 points of 200-level (second year) biochemistry subjects
610-332 Molecular Technology (second semester)
This is a 36 lecture only course.
Prerequisites: At least two of chemistry (610-210 or 610-211); (610-220 or 610-221); (610-240 or 610-241); 610-260; 610-280.
610-399 Chemical Research Project (second semester or summer semester)
This is a research-based course with no lectures.
Prerequisites: Students must be enrolled in at least 50 points of 300-level (third year) chemistry subjects, and have completed (or be concurrently enrolled in) at least one of the four 300-level (third year) core subjects - as defined in the chemistry major - prior to commencement of this subject.
BBiomedSc students are required to enroll in at least 37.5 points of 300-level (third year) chemistry and have completed (or be concurrently enrolled in) at least one of the four 300-level (third year) core subjects - as defined in the chemistry major - prior to commencement of this subject.
Please see the handbook and Chemistry's specific course & subject web pages for further information:
Course handbook: www.unimelb.edu.au/HB/
Chemistry course & subject web pages: www.chemistry.unimelb.edu.au/courses/
Honours and beyond
Increasingly, an Honours degree is becoming the minimum pre-requisite for rapid career advancement. The Honours program in Chemistry involves a combination of advanced coursework and research work leading to the production of a thesis. Find out more about the honours program.
Postgraduate study is normally required for a career in research; M.Sc and Ph.D. research by thesis programs are available with internationally recognized investigators within the School. Find out more about postgraduate study at the School of Chemistry. Starting salaries and promotion opportunities for graduates increase with the level of graduate training. As students study chemistry and progress to higher years, they increase their breadth of knowledge, and also their depth of knowledge of the subject. This increased specialization and the skills it develops provides greater employment and remuneration opportunities.