In many areas of scientific endeavour, knowledge across multiple disciplines has provided innovative solutions to major problems. This course provides a well-rounded and diverse skill set, preparing you for a career that can span science, technology and mathematics.

Multidisciplinary science is a flexible course that allows you to design a major that suits your background and career goals. You have the freedom to personalise your study plan, in consultation with Curtin staff, while meeting the requirements for a degree in science.

You can combine science disciplines from areas such as agriculture, astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computing, environmental, geology, geographic information science, mathematics or physics. This will open the door for you to undertake further study or to embark on a career in one of many areas of STEM.

Alternatively, you can combine study of a science discipline with study from another faculty for careers in biomedical science, bioinformatics, genetics, food science, digital design, visualisation, management, professional writing or languages.

Multidisciplinary Science can be used as a pathway into other courses, including those listed below, if you do not currently have the prerequisites for entry to those courses.

Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics

If you lack one or more prerequisites for entry into Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Physics, you can undertake them in Multidisciplinary Science along with other units from your desired course.

If you need to improve your ATAR score, you will complete a minimum of 100 credit points in one semester, including the prerequisite subject(s) you lack, and achieve a semester weighted average of more than 65 per cent.

Medical Radiation Science

If you do not currently have the mathematics or physics prerequisites for entry into Medical Radiation Science, you can undertake these in Multidisciplinary Science, along with other units from Medical Radiation Science.

If you need to improve your ATAR score, you will complete a minimum of 75 credit points in the semester preceding the application, including the prerequisite subjects you lack, and achieve a course weighted average of more than 80 per cent to be considered. Entry is competitive, so you may require a higher average in a given enrolment period.

This major sits within the Bachelor of Science (Science) degree. To apply for this major, you will apply for the Bachelor of Science (Science). 

Why study

• The Multidisciplinary Science major allows for the greatest flexibility in course design. It combines an individualised combination of units that may not be possible through any other route.
• This course allows for a primary science discipline supported by a secondary or combination of science disciplines. Final-year students may conduct a significant research project in their chosen area of study, in conjunction with research groups involved in world-class research.
• Opportunities exist across the broad science spectrum, depending on the choice of subjects. For example, you could embark on a careers as a professional science writer by combining science units with journalism; or you may be able to model complex environmental systems by combining mathematics units with environmental biology.
• Graduates are ideally placed to pursue a career in teaching, through developing a very broad science background from which to teach and the flexibility to meet the requirements for Education Major and Minor Teaching Specialisations.
• This course can be used as an alternative pathway into other courses. You can undertake mathematics and science bridging units to meet the prerequisite requirements of your desired course, including in engineering and in health sciences.

How this course will make you industry ready

Final-year students may undertake a practical research project in their chosen area of study, in conjunction with research groups involved in world-class research.

Complementary skills allow you to compete effectively in industrial or government occupations, or develop a very broad science background that can enrich a teaching career. Opportunities exist across a wide spectrum, depending on your choice of units. For example, you could aim to become a professional science writer by combining science units with journalism.

You could also be ideally placed to pursue a career in secondary science education, through the development of a very broad science or mathematics background and the flexibility to include an education minor for a teaching specialisation. You may also choose to undertake postgraduate study to expand your career options.