Keyword Index
This index directs you to relevant Degrees and Areas of Specialisation at UNSW. You can then use this information to search the UNSW Online Handbook for further information.
Anatomy
The study of the structure of the human body.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Area of Specialisation: ANATOMY
Animal Behaviour
See Biological Science.
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics for real world problems.
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics)
Area of Specialisation: MATHEMATICS
Astronomy
Investigates the nature and behaviour of planets. stars, galaxies and the Universe itself.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
Area of Specialisation: PHYSICAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS
Aviation
The theory and practice of flying and its management.
Degree: Bachelor of Aviation
Area of Specialisation: AVIATION
Behavioural Sciences
See Psychology.
Biochemistry
Looks at the chemical processes that occur within living systems.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Area of Specialisation: BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Bioinformatics
An area of study that deals with the mass of data emerging from the Human Genome project - a combination of molecular biology and computing.
Degree: BE (Bioinformatics)
Areas of Specialisation: BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, GENETICS
Biological Science
Plants, animals, algae, fungi - their function and behaviour as well as relation to each other and to the environment.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Environmental Science
Area of Specialisation: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY
Biomedical Science
See Medical Science.
Biotechnology
Encompasses all of the applications of biology, from developing and manufacturing healthier foods, through to design and production of new drugs using genetic engineering.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology), Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: BIOTECHNOLOGY
Botany
Plants! All aspects of the structure and function of both green and non-green plants and the relation of plants to their environments. See Biological Science.
Ceramics
Structure and properties of ceramic materials, their manufacture and design principles and use. See Materials Science.
Chemistry
Involves all types of materials, their preparation and properties, their reactions, and their uses and applications.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced ), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry, Bachelor of Environmental Science
Area of Specialisation: CHEMISTRY
Climate Science
Studies the past, present and future climate systems and the impact on the physical, biological and human environments
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
Areas of Specialisation: CLIMATE DYNAMICS, CLIMATE SYSTEMS SCIENCE
Clinical Psychology
The prevention, diagnosis or treatment of serious personal and family problems. See Psychology.
Cloning
Making a copy of an organism (e.g. bacteria or mammals) from one cell. See Molecular Biology and Genetics.
Coastal Management
See Environmental Science, Geography and Marine Science.
Cognition
Mental processes. See Psychology.
Computer Science
Study of methods for the representation, storage, manipulation and retrieval of information within a computing system. See the School of Computer Science and Engineering.
DNA fingerprinting
Looking for patterns in DNA that identify an individual. See Molecular Biology.
Earth Science
The science of Planet Earth.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Environmental Science
Area of Specialisation: EARTH SCIENCE
Education
Training for secondary science and mathematics education.
Degree: Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education
Ecology
How organisms react with each other and the environment. Ecologists study the behaviour of populations of organisms.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced ), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Environmental Science
Area of Specialisation: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY
Engineering Physics
Experimental physics, electronics, computing and instrumentation, optoelectronics and communications, combined with engineering.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced ), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: PHYSICAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS
Entomology
A field of zoology which studies animals of the 6-legged variety - insects. See Biological Science.
Environmental Science
Earth systems and the management of those systems and also related legislation and policy making.
Degree: Bachelor of Environmental Science
Financial Mathematics
Mathematical techniques used in the finance industry.
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics)
Area of Specialisation: QUANTITATIVE RISK
Food Science
Involves the understanding and application of the basic sciences to the management of foods from the time of production right through to their use by the consumer.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (Food Science and Technology), Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: FOOD SCIENCE
Forensic Science
The application of science in legal contexts. See Psychology, Genetics, Chemistry and Materials Science.
Genetics
Study of the way in which biological information is transferred from one generation to the next.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: GENETICS & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY
Genetic Engineering
Using molecular biology to alter genetic function, for research or to make useful products. See Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics.
Geochemistry
The study of the chemical characteristics and processes associated with minerals, rocks, ores, soils, water and the atmosphere.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
Areas of Specialisation: GEOCHEMISTRY
Geography
Geography is about variation from one place to another, in people, economics, land and the environment.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: GEOGRAPHY, HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Geology
See Earth Science.
Geosciences
The study of the Earth's physical properties and processes using high technology equipment.
See Earth Science.
GIS
Geographical Information Systems, a spatial information tool. See Geography.
Hydrology
Water and its properties. See Geography and Earth Science.
Immunology
How the body fights and protects itself from disease.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY
Information Systems
Concerns the provision of computer-based services to business. See the School of Information Systems.
Marine Science
Study of all aspects of the marine environment from ocean currents and seabed properties to dolphin communication.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Environmental Science
Area of Specialisation: MARINE SCIENCE, MARINE & COASTAL SCIENCE
Materials Chemistry
The fundamental chemistry, synthesis and characterisation of materials and the development of new materials for advanced technologies.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS SCIENCE
Materials Science
Explores the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of materials and their applications.
Degrees: Bachelor of Engineering (Ceramics, Materials, Metallurgical), Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: MATERIALS SCIENCE
Mathematics
The basic language of the physical and quantitative sciences, providing the vocabulary with which to formulate and analyse problems.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: MATHEMATICS
Medical Chemistry
Studies involving a combination of synthetic and analytical chemistry with aspects of biochemistry and pharmacology.
Degree: Bachelor of Science , Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry
Areas of Specialisation: CHEMISTRY, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY
Medical Physics
The application of physics to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease and disability.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: PHYSICAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS
Medical Science
The application of science to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease and disability. Provides an understanding of the different fields of science behind current medical practice.
Degrees: Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Areas of Specialisation: ANATOMY, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS, MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, PHARMACOLOGY
Metallurgy
The science and engineering of advanced metals and alloys. See Materials Science.
Meteorology
The science of understanding and predicting weather conditions. See Physical Oceanography and Climate Science.
Microbiology
The smallest forms of life - bacteria, viruses, archae, fungi and protozoa; how they live and function.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: MICROBIOLOGY, MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY & IMMUNOLOGY
Mineralogy
Examines the formation, occurrence, properties and uses of minerals. See Earth Science.
Molecular Biology
Understanding how biological molecules function and interact to determine the properties of living things.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: GENETICS, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY
Molecular Genetics
Study of how genes work at the molecular level.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: GENETICS, BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY
Nanotechnology
Development of the next generation of electronic devices, smaller than microchips.
Degree: Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology)
Areas of Specialisation: NANOTECHNOLOGY
Neuroscience
The biological and behavioural aspects of the nervous system.
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced ), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: NEUROSCIENCE
Nutrition
The role of nutrients in human growth and function. See Food Science.
Occupational Health
The health and safety of people in the workplace, including cause of disease. See Psychology.
Optometry
Health care profession concerned with the art and science of vision and the visual welfare of the community.
Degree: Bachelor of Optometry/Bachelor of Science
Area of Specialisation: OPTOMETRY
Palaeontology
The study of fossils and ancient life.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
Areas of Specialisation: ARCHAEOLOGY PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
Pathology
Study of the nature and progression of disease.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Area of Specialisation: PATHOLOGY
Pharmacology
Examines drugs and their actions on living tissue.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Area of Specialisation: PHARMACOLOGY
Physical Oceanography
A branch of science dealing with the chemical, physical, geological and biological features of the oceans.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Areas of Specialisation: PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, ADVANCED PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Physics
Investigation and application of the laws of nature that govern the behaviour of the universe.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: PHYSICAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS
Physiology
The structure and normal functioning of animals.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced), Bachelor of Science (International), Bachelor of Medical Science
Areas of Specialisation: PHYSIOLOGY
Psychology
Behaviour and its underlying mental and neural processes.
Degrees: Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced ), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Pure Mathematics
The study of structures underlying and interrelating mathematical knowledge.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics)
Area of Specialisation: MATHEMATICS
Remote Sensing
Spatial information technology. See Geography.
Seismology
Earthquakes and the internal structure of the Earth. See Earth Science.
Soil Science
A close up look at soils. See Geography and Earth Science.
Spatial Information Systems
Describing, analysing and monitoring the changes taking place on the Earth's surface. See Geography.
Statistics
The science and art of using factual material for inference and modelling.
Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (AdvancedMathematics), Bachelor of Science (International)
Area of Specialisation: STATISTICS, ADVANCED STATISTICS
Teaching
Training for secondary science and mathematics education.
Degree: Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education
Zoology
The science of animals - their structure, behaviour, how they function, evolution of different species and adaptation to their environment. See Biological Science.
