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Study science online with University of New England through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

This degree is designed to provide students with basic skills and knowledge in a range of disciplines in science through a coherent program of study. Graduates will have a broad scientific background to assist with future employment or to pursue further study.

Engage your curiosity about the natural world with this online science course. Build a solid and broad foundation of scientific knowledge, starting with core subjects including physics and chemistry. Focus on a specialisation such as maths or biology.

Diploma in Science

Introductory Physics

Fundamentals in Forensic Science

Our Blue Planet

Science in Practice

Introductory Chemistry

Introduction to Quantitative Skills

Dinosaurs!

Introduction to Human Development

Quantitative Skills with Applications

Do you need a background understanding of physics to progress in your studies or career but did not study this subject at high school? This subject will equip you with a foundation in physics that will allow you to pursue further study in applied physics. You can also use this subject as a &quot;stand-alone&quot; physics subject. You will explore the basics of scientific methods and learn to interpret and analyse physical systems. You will examine topics including kinematics, dynamics, electricity and magnetism, wave motion, atomic and nuclear physics. You will gain the skills to describe the relationship between quantities and solve numerical problems in the areas of linear and rotational mechanics, fluids, electricity and magnetism, waves (sound and light), atomic and nuclear physics.

Get up to speed with the base level of physics you’ll need for science at university. Topics include electricity, atomic physics, and waves. Explore scientific methods. You’ll use formulas and equations to solve physics problems. 

If you have never studied chemistry before, the background knowledge required for science-based degree programs can be intimidating. This is a foundation level subject, designed to help you to develop basic knowledge of key chemistry concepts for further university study. Studying with our supportive academic team, you will be introduced to the important role played by chemistry in society today. You will explore the core principles of the discipline, equipping you to understand fundamental concepts relating to matter, elements, ions, molecules and compounds, measurements, chemical reactions and bonding. With practical exercises that provide you with an experience in a range of lab techniques, our aim in this subject is to give you an appreciation of chemistry, and the confidence to become a flexible, independent scientific thinker.

An introduction to fundamental chemical principles and concepts. You’ll cover chemical reactions, elements, lab techniques, and more. Learn to write up experiments. Build a foundation of chemistry skills to support you through further science study. 

This subject presents a general introduction to dinosaurs, their position in the history of life, along with their rise, fall and survival.Through a “dinosaur lens”, you will learn about major transitions in the history of life and their relationship to Earth Systems, such as plate tectonics and environmental changes.Completing this subject will provide you with a basic understanding of evolution as interpreted from the fossil record, where you will learn to explain the geological and biological importance of fossils. You will explore the life and times of dinosaurs throughout the Mesozoic Era, after which you will be able to distinguish between major groups of dinosaurs and use their anatomy to evaluate dinosaur growth, behaviour and evolution.This subject assumes no previous scientific studies and is suitable for commencing science students and those with a general interest in palaeontology, geology and/or biology.

If you’re new to science, studying dinosaurs is a great way to uncover key concepts in biology and geology. You’ll explore evolution and find out about fossils. Chart the rise and fall of the dinosaurs against the history of life on Earth.

In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in forensic science as new crime solving characters have emerged in fiction and tv. In practice, forensic science is a fascinating field that goes well beyond its depictions in pop culture. This subject explores the application of scientific investigations to the criminal justice system. With insights into the roles of the forensic scientist, you will learn about the principles of crime scene investigations. Forensic scientists are required to integrate their knowledge of core physical and biological science concepts. You will be introduced to these concepts and explore contemporary methods for forensic investigations and the analysis of physical evidence. Using case studies to understand why and how examinations are performed you will cover topics such as crime-scene investigation, physical evidence and its analysis, arson and explosions, bloodstain pattern analysis, drugs, toxicology, and DNA analysis.There is a non-mandatory intensive school available for this subject held at UNE Sydney Campus. Dates for this intensive school to be advised.

Learn about collecting and preserving evidence from a crime scene. From analysing bloodstain patterns to using DNA profiles, you’ll explore the role of a forensic scientist. Value accuracy. Work reliably. Investigate crimes and assist in legal proceedings.

As the applications of science and technology become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, this flexibly delivered unit offers you insights into how science is carried out in practice. Learn to ask the important questions that help us to differentiate good, poor and questionable science, as you explore how scientific findings are achieved and communicated, and the complex relationship between science and society. In this subject, you will build foundational knowledge and skills that are transferrable to all scientific disciplines and are invaluable in non-science settings as well. While developing your scientific literacy and numeracy, you will examine ethics, information management techniques, effective communication techniques, graphical representations of data, and research design.

Understand how science is used in the real world. You’ll cover what makes good science and poor science, as well as ethics. Consider how findings are communicated, and how this impacts what can be analysed and interpreted.

In an increasingly data-driven world, the importance of quantitative skills has never been greater. This subject is ideal if you do not have a strong mathematical background or you would like a refresher in foundational topics. Developing your mathematical understanding of core quantitative skills and the importance of mathematics to science, this subject will empower you to confidently apply basic mathematics as a scientist, and ensures you have the knowledge needed for beginner-level university maths. Building on topics from NSW’s HSC General Mathematics (or equivalent), we start with a solid foundation in algebraic concepts and functions before moving on to more advanced subject. You will learn to graph functions and solve a range of equations (e.g. linear, quadratic, polynomial and rational, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic), and find and apply inverse functions. Other topics include working with fractions and percentages, and rules for indices/powers.

Learn the basics of maths in relation to science – or refresh your knowledge – allowing you to become confident in a scientific environment. Cover algebraic concepts, fractions, linear functions, graphs, power and root functions and more.

Without the geologic environment – the rocks, soil, air and water – that surrounds us, there would be no life on Earth. Environmental and geological processes shape human life, while human activity impacts the environment in significant ways. This subject introduces you to current topics and controversies in environmental geology. You will explore geological hazards, and a range of issues related to human impacts on the environment, including land use and resource management. Learning about volcanic hazards, earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, ground water resources, mineral resources and mining, soil resources and aspects of earth’s climate, you will be ready to apply your knowledge to community and industry-based problems. A research project and a forum where you present your findings offers you the opportunity to investigate an environmental geology problem of your choice, in a location that suits you. Fine tune your critical thinking, analytical and scientific communication skills.

Delve deeper into science to explore human interaction with the Earth’s rocks, soil, air and water. You’ll investigate human impacts on the environment, like mining and climate change. Conduct a research project on a real environmental geology problem.

Environmental Geology

Explore our understanding of the life and death of stars, the universe, and the big bang by studying this subject. You will examine how our view of the solar system and wider universe has changed through history, and how we acquired this knowledge. You will examine astronomical instruments and the physics behind methods of astronomical observation. You will study what we know of topics such as the physical processes underlying the formation, lifespan, evolution and death of stars and the big bang and the resulting expansion of the universe. This subject will also provide you with an account and physical explanation of exotic objects in the universe such as neutron stars, quasars, pulsars and black holes.There is a non-mandatory intensive school available for this subject held at UNE Sydney Campus. Dates for this intensive school to be advised.

Gaze back at past views and explore current perspectives of the solar system and wider universe. Investigate astronomical instruments. Follow the life and death of stars. Unpack the big bang. Explore celestial bodies and exotic objects like black holes.

Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics

This subject teaches students the fundamental principles of palaeontology and introduces them to the history of life on Earth. Readings and lectures cover topics such as the origin of life, evolution, extinction and palaeoecology. A series of practical exercises emphasises core concepts in palaeontology, covering both pure and applied aspects of the discipline.There is no intensive school for GEOL202. However, there is a non-mandatory two day face-to-face experience including a workshop and field excursion to a nearby fossil locality to give students an opportunity to see, measure and collect fossils in the field. On campus and online students are encouraged to attend.

Combine elements of biology, geology and chemistry to unearth prehistoric life forms. By studying fossils, you’ll explore the history of life on Earth. Explore theories that cover the progression of life—from origins, to evolution, and extinction.

Introductory Palaeontology

Have you ever wanted to know how our planet came to be? From archaeology to agriculture, geography to biology, an understanding of our planet adds an invaluable dimension to your knowledge across many scientific disciplines. This subject offers you a broad introduction to important questions about how our planet works, what it is made up of, and why. With opportunities to delve into Earth’s life history, you will learn about the geological forces that have shaped life on earth, and the planet, as we know it today. You will build a foundation in the key principles of geology, learning about its influence on life, water, soil and environmental issues in a rapidly changing world. Exploring the solid earth through geological time and space, you will examine Earth’s gross structure, plate tectonics, volcanism, earthquakes, the materials that make up Earth’s crust and the processes by which these materials are formed.

Get a grounding in geology and geography with this broad introduction to the inner workings of our planet. Suitable for anyone looking to understand more about Earth, this subject provides a good basis for further study in the natural sciences. 

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