Idk whether to specialise in science or maths. Does anyone study or know someone who's doing this course, and if they could give me a brief outline of what the course is like? Also, would I have needed to studied specific subjects or get a particular band in a subject related to the course besides getting a band 4 or higher in English e.g. 3unit/4unit maths if I was to specialise in maths? If I do get a reply, thanks in advance!
B Science/B Education(sec) @ UNSW (1 Viewer)
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wilsondw
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This might help if you havent checked it
http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/programs/bachelor-of-science-bachelor-of-education-40.html
http://education.arts.unsw.edu.au/programs/bachelor-of-science-bachelor-of-education-40.html
Kittikhun
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My sister is doing that course and is majoring in maths; she's going to graduate in 2014.
She has told me that she regrets doing the B Education bit, and that if she could go back in time she would have done a double degree in science and arts instead with a diploma of education from TAFE after graduating from uni. She has said regretfully whilst shaking her head that doing B Education is a bit of a waste.
If you're doing just a B Science in maths, I think you would be barred from enrolling in 'higher maths' courses (only those doing a B Science (Advanced) can do so, I think). She has told me that, apparently, if you're in the normal stream for maths, you can't get a HD due to scaling (only those doing the 'higher maths' course do). Also, every one in her maths courses have studied at least 3 unit at school. And I don't think there are any prerequisites to enroll in a maths course except for higher maths as she did recount to me this one time when a lecturer said, 'If you have done 3 unit maths or higher, this course is just right for you, but you have to work hard; if you have done 2 unit maths, the course is still possible to get good marks in, but you have to work really hard for it; if you did general mathematics, (points his right index finger to the EXIT door of lecture theatre solemnly) get the hell out of my lecture theatre NOW.' So, yeah...
Oh, and before I forget. My sister has gone ape a few times whilst studying for a maths exam, so I would say you must really enjoy maths if you want to major in it! It would be quite annoying though to have learnt all that higher mathematics, only to not be able to teach it in high school, but meh.
She has told me that she regrets doing the B Education bit, and that if she could go back in time she would have done a double degree in science and arts instead with a diploma of education from TAFE after graduating from uni. She has said regretfully whilst shaking her head that doing B Education is a bit of a waste.
If you're doing just a B Science in maths, I think you would be barred from enrolling in 'higher maths' courses (only those doing a B Science (Advanced) can do so, I think). She has told me that, apparently, if you're in the normal stream for maths, you can't get a HD due to scaling (only those doing the 'higher maths' course do). Also, every one in her maths courses have studied at least 3 unit at school. And I don't think there are any prerequisites to enroll in a maths course except for higher maths as she did recount to me this one time when a lecturer said, 'If you have done 3 unit maths or higher, this course is just right for you, but you have to work hard; if you have done 2 unit maths, the course is still possible to get good marks in, but you have to work really hard for it; if you did general mathematics, (points his right index finger to the EXIT door of lecture theatre solemnly) get the hell out of my lecture theatre NOW.' So, yeah...
Oh, and before I forget. My sister has gone ape a few times whilst studying for a maths exam, so I would say you must really enjoy maths if you want to major in it! It would be quite annoying though to have learnt all that higher mathematics, only to not be able to teach it in high school, but meh.
This is not correct. I did a BSc BEd majoring in maths at UNSW and did the higher stream courses the whole way through. Any student can enroll in the higher stream provided their maths WAM is high enough, it doesn't matter if you are in advanced science or not.
D94
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No, this is incorrect. B Science (Mathematics) and Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours) can both do higher maths. They can both achieve HDs.
Why is doing B Education a waste? In the end wouldn't you receive the qualifications to be called a teacher?
And I must REALLY enjoy maths? I got a band 5 for Mathematics and an E2 for Extension 1 (34/50 - I just missed an E3 I think but one of the reasons why I did Extension was because my parents wanted me to/my cousins also did it #asianfamilies.); do these results seem like I enjoy maths to that extent because I like maths but idk if I like maths THAT much. I thought I disliked Extension but now it doesn’t seem that bad.
Could you briefly describe the course to me? Is the maths basically high school maths and what are the exams like? Do I really have to enjoy maths like what Kittikhun said? Sorry for bombarding you with questions, it’s just that I’m still not sure what I want to do and scared I’ll make the wrong course decision.
Timothy.Siu
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No it's not like high school maths, not to scare you but its quite harder than 2unit + 3unit, especially as you get into 2nd year + 3rd year maths. Yes you should enjoy maths to major in maths otherwise you'll find it very hard to study/learn/get motivated/do well.
Ah okay. Well when it's orientation day (I think that's what it's called?) do they give you briefings of the different majors and is first year purely education? Sorry, once again, for bombarding you guys with questions. This will be the last, I swear (hopefully).
4025808
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First year maths is somewhat harder than 4U maths, also with the increased workload. So it's basically 4U maths. Add algebra in and BAM, that's where it gets hard.
Second year maths as I heard, is a killa. The courses get harder in intellectual difficulty, so you'll need to rely on smart ppl a lot in order to do well (if you're not smart like me).
Third year maths.... well... even harder, by a mile :S
Second year maths as I heard, is a killa. The courses get harder in intellectual difficulty, so you'll need to rely on smart ppl a lot in order to do well (if you're not smart like me).
Third year maths.... well... even harder, by a mile :S
4025808
Well-Known Member
Same deal here, they will get harder and harder. You may as well suck it up and study up imo. Plus, you really only need passes for your science subs (teaching experience matters far more than grades).
You make studying maths as a major seem scary and extremely difficult to the point where I don't think I'd be able to scrape a pass. Is the level of difficulty of maths you described based on your experience/what you've heard about your course or? Btw are we on the same topic? I'm just referring to B Science/B Education, majoring in maths, not 'higher maths/stream'? courses. Sorry once again for the annoying/stupid questions.
4025808
Well-Known Member
This is just my personal experience. (3rd year is just what I have heard)
I'll admit that university mathematics is hard, but if you want to do well in anything, you have to put in the effort no matter how hard things can be. Who knows, things may change for you in uni. You might do better, in fact.
Simply doing normal stream courses is hard too, but not as hard as higher stream. In the normal stream, I hear that a lot of questions in the final exam are similar to the ones you do in the tutorial exercises, so it would be doable after all.
I cannot give you a definite answer, but I have tried my best so far. The real answer for you is to actually try it out and see for yourself.
Besides, you don't choose a major stream until the end of first year anyway, so first year is all open for options anyway. You may find out that maths may not be for you and that biology could be a better option.
Ahhhh, thank you thank you thank you! Your last comment really helped since I know close to nothing about university.This is just my personal experience. (3rd year is just what I have heard)
I'll admit that university mathematics is hard, but if you want to do well in anything, you have to put in the effort no matter how hard things can be. Who knows, things may change for you in uni. You might do better, in fact.
Simply doing normal stream courses is hard too, but not as hard as higher stream. In the normal stream, I hear that a lot of questions in the final exam are similar to the ones you do in the tutorial exercises, so it would be doable after all.
I cannot give you a definite answer, but I have tried my best so far. The real answer for you is to actually try it out and see for yourself.
Besides, you don't choose a major stream until the end of first year anyway, so first year is all open for options anyway. You may find out that maths may not be for you and that biology could be a better option.
Kittikhun
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My bad; I stand corrected.
Here's info on the graduate diploma that will allow you to teach at high school-
http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/courses/education/graduate-diploma-in-education/
Yes, but doing a graduate diploma of education from TAFE or some other place would also allow her to teach as well at high school and would only take one and a half years to do full time after earning her degree. So, she could have done a major in maths for her Bachelor of Science and a major in Psych or Spanish or some other language for her Bachelor of Arts. Afterwards, she could have done a graduate diploma in education, so that after five and a half years of studying she would be qualified as a maths/psych or language high school teacher instead of just a high school maths teacher, which she will become by completing the BSc and BEd course that she's doing now. This is why she thinks that B Ed is a waste--why does she have to do a four year course when she could have done a one year and a half one instead?
Here's info on the graduate diploma that will allow you to teach at high school-
http://www.careerfaqs.com.au/courses/education/graduate-diploma-in-education/
Though you have been dissuaded from majoring in maths, I have to tell you at least that my sister did get roughly the same marks as you did in the HSC for 2 unit and 3 unit maths (she just scraped an E3 though for 3 unit, just). Also, throughout her whole time at uni (she'll be in fourth year this year), she has only failed one maths course and that was Maths 1B.
Why don't you just do a Bachelor of Science or Advance Science and then major in whatever field you want to major in. Do honours if you think you might want to go into research. Later if you realise that you want to do teaching then just do a diploma at say UWS or Master of teaching which would allow you to teach in NSW. This way, if you find you dislike teaching later on, you have your science background.
This way you can focus solely on your science subjects minus the education subjects during your undergrads year.