Engineering and Science

This course is being refreshed for 2019.

Engineers have unique problem solving skills, which when combined with a Science specialisation can create a valuable qualification for many industries and for government and research careers.
Additional information

Engineering

Studying Engineering at JCU offers unique opportunities for you to gain expertise in the particular challenges and demands of engineering in the tropics.

Students have access to well-equipped, modern laboratories, highly qualified teaching staff and best-practice course content that is reviewed by an industry advisory board. The course incorporates design, project management, team work and effective communication skills.

You will gain valuable industry experience and contacts with 12 weeks of paid, industry-based placements throughout the course.

The capstone to your study is the final year project, which gives you the opportunity to carry out a significant research or design task under the leadership of a supervising member of academic staff.

Science

The Bachelor of Science is a broad and flexible degree that gives you a deeper understanding of scientific principles while focusing on a key area of interest through your choice of major. Single and double majors are available after your first year.

Our proximity to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics regions, plus ready access to a broad range of other unique environments makes JCU the ideal place to study Science.

You can choose from five different Engineering majors. The electronic systems and internet of things major is only available at the Cairns campus while all other majors are only available at the Townsville campus.

Chemical Engineering

Create, manipulate and design products using raw materials, and chemistry and physics principles. Become an expert in the intricacies of reactor design and modelling, and learn how to comprehend the concepts of instrumental analysis. Build an in-depth understanding of advanced chemical technologies such as minerals processing, extractive metallurgy and bioprocessing.

Civil Engineering

Benefit from JCU’s expert lecturers and explore various civil engineering disciplines such as structural, hydraulic, geotechnical, transport and environmental engineering. Develop the skills required to assess the environmental impact of large projects and understand how to build community engagement. JCU graduates have a thorough understanding of how to make cities better places to live.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Learn how to design and maintain electrical energy infrastructure through the application of the electrical principles. You will integrate theory with practice and visit telecommunications companies, power utilities and mines. Build a comprehensive knowledge of electrical materials, circuit theory, single phase and three phase power system modelling and signal processing.

Electronic Systems and Internet of Things (IoT) Engineering

Develop sensor technologies, analyse big data and design smart technology that relates to various industries. Work with cloud computing and wireless communication utilising a state-of-the-art Internet of Things research lab. Become innovative technology leaders, accessing world-class lecturers and their strong industry partnerships.

Mechanical Engineering

Understand the principles of mechanics and thermodynamics to analyse, design, manufacture and maintain machines across almost all industries. Learn the foundations of thermofluid mechanics and the dynamics of machine elements. Through experiential learning, apply your understanding of heat exchange, momentum and strength of materials to design machines.

There are nine Science majors to choose from. You can choose to study one or two majors. Not all majors are available at all campuses.

Aquaculture Science and Technology

With lecturers who are world-leaders in tropical aquaculture research and development, discover the sustainable practices of aquaculture. Access to the JCU Marine and Aquaculture Research Facility will enhance your knowledge and provide current practical skills.

Throughout this major, you will explore the scientific and practical applications of breeding, rearing and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments. You will understand the biodiversity of species and how they are farmed, the design of aquaculture systems, and the basics of nutrition.

With a focus on tropical species, our researchers’ strong links to industry will give you a sound professional network when you graduate. Career opportunities include jobs in hatcheries, stock nutrition programs and management, fresh water and marine farming, or aquaculture research.

Chemistry

Study in award-winning laboratories and gain an insight into the industry with excursions to local companies in the chemistry industry. You will benefit from small class sizes and the personalised approach of our lecturers.

Gain current skills and explore the many areas of chemistry including analytical chemistry, synthetic, organic and inorganic chemistry, and kinetics and mechanisms of chemical reactions. In your third year, you will learn a number of instrumental techniques widely used in the industry.

Accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), this chemistry major will open up career opportunities both nationally and internationally. Working across a number of industries, job prospects could include analytical chemists, research chemists, clinical diagnosticians, forensic scientists or environmental scientists.

Please note: mid-year entry is not available for the Chemistry major.

Data Science

Data and analytics capabilities have made a leap forward in recent years. The volume of available data has grown exponentially, more sophisticated algorithms have been developed, and computational power and storage have steadily improved.

Career opportunities in data science, big data and analytics are growing dramatically. Data scientists work in every industry – from defence departments to internet start-ups and financial institutions – and tackle big data projects on every level. They are among the most sought-after jobs in the tech world today.

The Data Science major packages existing data science subjects together with new subjects on Data Visualisation, Big Data and Machine Learning.

Earth Science

Offered on both the Cairns and Townsville campuses, access the biodiverse region of North Queensland. Gain relevant practical skills by studying and assessing the surrounding environments such as both the Wet and Dry Tropics, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Experience field trips where you will collect, analyse and interpret data. You will gain a thorough understanding of the effect of humans on the natural environment and build skills to develop solutions to lessen the impact. With access to the JCU Fletcherview Research Station, you will learn about resource and environmental impact assessment, mine site rehabilitation, and soil and water science.

With an understanding of how to develop cost-effective and innovative techniques for environmental management, job opportunities exist in many sectors. You can work as a consultant, in government or industry. Potential career options could include geologist, geographer, hydrologist, soil scientist, climatologist, environmental scientist or oceanographer.

Marine Biology

Learn from lecturers who are world-leaders and be equipped to address critical challenges facing marine and coastal ecosystems. You will study in a location that gives you access to one of the most diverse and fragile marine ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef.

By studying the surrounding habitats of the Great Barrier Reef, you will discover the impact that humans have on the marine environment and how the oceans and atmosphere interact. You will gain valuable employability skills through practical experiments and opportunities to visit the JCU Orpheus Island Research Station.

Benefit from our researchers’ strong links with industry including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), TropWater and CSIRO Townsville. As a marine biologist, you could work in conservation biology and policy, environmental and resource management, fisheries biology, ecosystem restoration and marine impact assessments.

Mathematics

Develop the problem-solving, analytical and quantitative reasoning skills that are highly sought-after by employers worldwide. With small class sizes, you will get the one-on-one support required to excel as a mathematician.

Understand a number of mathematical techniques, data analysis, and multivariate statistical methods. You will learn how to formulate mathematical models to illustrate science and engineering problems, and use various techniques to help find solutions.

To enhance your employability skills, you have the flexibility to combine this major with another science major. As a mathematician, you can work in many sectors such as information technology, animated films, business and finance, astronomy and space exploration, climate study or meteorology, cryptography, and applied research.

Molecular and Cell Biology

Learn how to amplify and edit DNA sequences and conduct laboratory-based and field-based projects. Throughout your degree, you will study the basis of health and disease at a molecular level and analyse the functions of a whole cell.

Gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge equipment and techniques. Study biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics, and have an in-depth understanding of molecular genetics. These structures and processes form the basis of all living matter and provide insights into complex biological interactions.

Develop the foundations needed to work towards developments of modern medicine and biotechnology. You will have the knowledge to work across a breadth of industries — job opportunities include working in research laboratories, hospital and diagnostic departments, and biotech or pharmaceutical companies.

Physics

Explore some of the universe’s most challenging questions. Accredited by the Australian Institute of Physics, this major will give you a broad range of practical and theoretical skills across various physics disciplines.

Physicists study the laws of nature; you will learn the fundamentals of energy, quantum mechanics, relativity, antimatter, weather and climate. Develop your ability to think critically and be experimental by exploring biophysics, molecular electronics, and organic solar cells. You will study the structure of matter, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum physics, oceanography and meteorology, and thermodynamics.

As a physicist, your skills are relevant to a diverse number of careers. Job opportunities exist in industrial, scientific and educational occupations in fields such as health, meteorology, mining, environmental monitoring, energy production, telecommunications, and aerospace.

Please note: mid-year entry is not available for the Physics major.

Zoology and Ecology

Have the opportunity to learn from lecturers with global standing, study amazing rainforests and diverse species, and go on field trips to Borneo or the Galapagos Islands. Offered at both our Townsville and Cairns campuses, you will study in one of the most biodiverse regions in Australia.

Study the science of the biology of plants and animals and the natural world that they live in. Discover many of the environmental threats to the Tropics by studying the effects of deforestation, infrastructure expansion, habitat fragmentation, over-hunting, and invasive species.

You will access the various environments of the Wet Tropics and our Daintree Rainforest Observatory to learn about biosecurity, behavioural ecology, conservation biology and ecological modelling. Potential job opportunities include wildlife or environmental consultant or zoologist or ecologist for a conservation, quarantine or biosecurity organisation.

Refer to the handbook for a detailed overview of each major and minor available.

The Handbook provides detail about the subjects you can study within each major.

Honours

An Honours degree supports entry into a Higher Degree by Research. High-achieving graduates of this course can enrol in this extra year and further develop critical thinking skills through completion of a research project and thesis. Refer to the Course Handbook for eligibility information.

Annual Tuition Fee: $9,527. (Estimate only)