Science Communication major

Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.

If you are creative, enjoy science, and want to work with people, Science Communication is for you. Science communicators use their knowledge of both science and communication in a range of media to increase engagement with important issues that have science at their core. This major will teach you how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences ranging from school children to scientists, using a range of media and genres from digital media to exhibitions. Science Communication provides you with excellent written, oral and visual communication skills, and you will meet and work with industry experts, enhancing your networking and employment opportunities. This major must be taken in conjunction with another science major, giving you both sound scientific knowledge and highly marketable communication skills.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand how scientific knowledge is made and be able to interpret scientific information; (2) create effective and engaging materials in a range of media to communicate scientific information to diverse audiences using appropriate conventions; (3) create effective strategies that identify and align purpose, key messages, and media with specific audiences; (4) appraise the social context in which both science and science communication occur; (5) demonstrate a capacity for self-reflection and an understanding of ethical issues in both science and science communication; and (6) apply the knowledge and skills required for employment related to science communication.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Science Communication can only be taken as a second major in conjunction with a degree-specific Science major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

The Science Communication second major is a single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • three Level 2 units
  • three Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites:
ATAR Mathematics Applications
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher
Co-requisites:
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (only required if students haven't completed Maths Applications
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher). Please note that there will be a delay in validating your enrollment in SCOM1101 after you have enrolled in MATH 1720.
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 2

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, NS COMM2002 Digital Media
Prerequisites:
24 credit points at Level 1
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
COMM2203 Digital Media
S1 SCOM2208 Science Writing
Prerequisites:
completion of 36 credit points
or
enrolment in the Master of Science Communication (51580)
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
COMM3324 Science Communication—Writing
Second major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 SCIE2205 Science Work Placement
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Bachelor of Science (BP004)
or
the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BP006)
or
the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) (BH005) and completion of 60 points of study at UWA and approval of the unit coordinator.
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 SCIE2206 Science Consultancy Project
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Bachelor of Science (BP004)
or
the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BP006)
or
the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) (BH005), completion of 48 points of study at UWA, WAM of 65%
or
higher and approval of unit coordinator.
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 3

Second major units
Take all units (18 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCOM3205 Science Presentations
Prerequisites:
66 Points
Or
Course Enrolment 51580 Master of Science Communication (ID 189)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit SCOM2205
S1 SCOM3319 Exhibitions and Interpretation
Prerequisites:
any level 2 unit
or
enrolment in Master of Science Communication (51580)
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S1 SCOM3325 Science Communication as an Academic Discipline
Prerequisites:
any Level 2 COMM unit
or
any Level 2 SCOM unit
or
enrolment in Master of Science Communication (51580)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Choosing a second major

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a second major.

General degrees

The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how Science Communication can be included as second major in an undergraduate degree course.

%Second major study plan%

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .