BlogSciencePros and Cons of a Bachelor of Science at WSU

Pros and Cons of a Bachelor of Science at WSU

Now that you’ve had a read of What It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Science at WSU, we can only assume that you’re looking for some opinion about what the course is really like. 

Luckily, we got to have a chat with Macy, a third year science student at WSU, who had all of the answers to all of our questions. 

If you’re keen on knowing more about the pros and cons, the ups and downs and the ins and outs of a Bachelor of Science at WSU, then keep scrolling!

Why should you study a Science degree at WSU?
Top 3 Pros of a Science Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Science Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting WSU Science
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying WSU Science
Potential Career Paths

Why should you study a Science degree at WSU?

A Bachelor of Science is the main science degree that WSU offers undergraduate students. It’s a program that teaches the importance of our scientific environment, how the natural world works and how humans have impacted it.

A great feature of WSU’s science degree is the huge range of majors on offer. This means that not only will WSU students gain the fundamental scientific skills to hypothesise, test theories, observe experiments and communicate their findings but they’ll also be able to personalise their course by specialising in a major!

The majors that WSU offers Bachelor of Science students include:

    • Animal Science 
    • Applied Physics 
    • Biology 
    • Chemistry 
    • Data Science 
    • Environmental Health 
    • Forensic Biology 
    • Forensic Chemistry 
    • Forensic Science 
    • Mathematics 
    • Microbiology 
    • Nutrition and Food Science 
    • Sustainable Environmental Futures 
    • Zoology 

WSU’s science degree is perfect for students who want to develop a broad understanding of the scientific discipline while specialising in a particular area of their interest. 

Macy, who spoke to us about the course, is undergoing her studies through a double degree. She studies Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology in conjunction with a Bachelor of Natural Science majoring in Animal Science — you can check out this double degree option here!

If you want to take a deeper look at WSU’s Science course click here!  

WSU Science - Student Quote

Top 3 Pros of a Science degree

#1: Practical experience

Macy told us that one of her favourite aspects of the science course at WSU has been their practical and hands-on approach. At WSU you’re encouraged to learn through experience by partaking in science excursions, field trips and practical experiments. 

In this degree you get the opportunity to go on field trips and be in different locations such as paddocks and bushes which allow you to further develop your understanding of what you are learning about and also provides you with first hand experience of possible career paths,” Macy said.

#2: Variety of subjects

“Another positive would be the broad variety of units offered in the degree. Within the degree you get to take a wide variety of topics that allow you to have an extensive knowledge on a lot of different disciplines such as Chemistry, Evolution, Animal Behaviour and Marine and Aquatic Ecology to name a few.”

Alongside the broad science subjects that introduce the fundamentals of scientific studies and literacy, you’ll have the option to complete 80 credit points of electives or undertake a sub-major in another discipline! 

The great thing about the Bachelor of Science at WSU is that not only will you be developing the knowledge that covers scientific foundations but you’re also given ample opportunities to tailor the degree to your own interest through particular majors or electives. 

This degree is perfect for students who want to learn more about the general science realm and also want to be given plenty of chances to branch out and experiment. 

#3: Great resources 

Another major positive of the course is the valuable and relevant resources provided by WSU.

Macy explained, “The quality of everything being taught such as the lecture materials, readings and presentations are all thought out and picked thoroughly to provide students with the highest quality learning material.”

 

Top 3 Cons of a Science degree

#1: Difficulty studying online 

As we’ve all found out, adapting to online learning and study has been hard to get used to. Macy noted that she’s found it especially difficult because, as we mentioned, a Science degree at WSU involves a lot of practical lessons and experiences. 

“This degree is an extremely hands-on and practical degree therefore it’s been exceptionally hard to adapt to online classes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Macy explained.  

She added, “During the last year it has been a massive challenge to try and adapt to doing not only lectures but also practicals online. Therefore, it’s required more time put into classes and the workload to fully understand the content.”

#2: High school prerequisites 

Macy told us that something she had found difficult during her studies is the strong connection between Year 12 material and university content. 

“It’s heavily based on previous high school knowledge. The first two years, in my experience, I’ve noticed a heavy weight on your previous understanding throughout high school especially in topics such as Biology, Maths and Chemistry,” Macy said. 

Luckily, Macy did take Biology in Year 12 but she said that she wishes she had taken up more Science subjects.

“I did study Biology in high school which helped and continues to help in different units but I didn’t study either Maths or Chemistry and I did struggle more with those units,” Macy added. 

So, if you’re still in high school considering studying Science at uni, it may be beneficial to look into taking a few Science subjects to help your future studies. 

#3: Heavily weighted assessments

While Macy told us that she loves the content of her course, she is not the biggest fan of how big the assessments are throughout her course. 

Macy explained, “The layout for the majority of units is that the assessment structure will only have 2 to 3 assignments and have a heavy weighing on the final exam.” 

“This can be extremely stressful in the exam period as you’ll roughly have 3 to 4 exams, all with a heavy weighting, putting extra stress on getting a good mark to pass the unit,” Macy added. 

Any regrets? 

No regrets here! 

While there are a few negatives that Macy mentioned above, she told us that the course is perfect for her interests, future goals and professional pathways. 

It provides me with everything I was looking for in a degree to help me achieve my future goals. It also provides me with a lot of hands-on experience which helps me further develop my knowledge and exposure to different possible career paths,” Macy said. 

What do you wish you had known before starting WSU Science? 

I wish I had known about the type of commitment I’d have to give for a Science degree as it turned out to be a lot more than I had initially thought,.” Macy said. 

Macy told us that she hadn’t anticipated the large workload, travel times or the amount of field trips. Since this degree is only taught at the Hawkesbury Campus, Macy had underestimated the time she’d have to commit to getting to and from uni.

WSU actually has 6 campuses across Sydney! So, if you’re planning on studying at WSU make sure you figure out which campus you’ll be on and whether it’s manageable to get there and back for all of your classes. 

What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities? 

#1: Professional facilities 

As we have said, WSU puts a lot of emphasis on the practical elements of their Science courses which Macy believes sets it ahead of other unis. 

“This degree is unique due to the facilities provided to the students, both in and around campus,” Macy said. 

WSU students have access to specialised labs for each of the scientific disciplines that are offered. Depending on your major, students at WSU have access to:

    • Crime Scene House 
    • Animal Research Facilities 
    • Astrophysical Observatory 
    • Specialised Research Labs 

#2: Breadth of units 

The variety of units that WSU provides are directly related to the degree as it doesn’t focus on just a few topics, it explores many and a whole diversity of different subjects,” Macy noted. 

Alongside 80 credit points worth of electives, you’ll be studying subjects like:

    • Forensic and Environmental Analysis 
    • Epidemiology 
    • Biological Adaptation to Climate Change 
    • Functional Proteins and Genes 

There’s a lot to do! 

If you want to have a deeper look at the kinds of subjects you’ll be doing, you can scroll down to the ‘Course Structure’ heading here

What inspired you to choose WSU Science?

Macy told us that she’s always been interested in animals and the conservation of their habitats. She said, “I’ve always had a passion for animals and since a young age I’ve always wanted to work with animals to help conserve and protect their future.”

So, for Macy, it was just a matter of finding where she could study — the WSU campus made the most sense to her. 

She explained, “Due to the variety of units provided in the course and the facilities at Western Sydney University Hawkesbury, I decided that this university would be best suited for my future goals. I also didn’t need to move far away from home to study as a lot of other Animal courses I looked at before deciding, were further away from home,” Macy said. 

So, if you’re searching for a general science course with the option to concentrate in animal studies, WSU may be the perfect uni for you! 

What are the possible career paths?

WSU Science - Careers

Your career opportunities are going to largely depend on the major you choose to pursue and where your interests lie. With a general science degree, you could look into fields like:

    • Hospitals 
    • Government environmental agencies 
    • Scientific equipment companies 
    • IT organisations 
    • Research institutions 
    • Medical research centres 
    • Quality control 
    • Science-based industries 

If you decide to major in Nutrition and Food Science for example, you may want to look into becoming a nutritionist, food scientist or a food safety officer! Likewise, with a major in forensic science, you could look into being a crime scene investigator, an analytical chemist or maybe a biomedical scientist — the options are endless! 

As long as you enjoy your studies and choose a major that interests you, you’ll be set to secure a position almost anywhere! 


Gemma Billington is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and an undergraduate student at the University of Technology Sydney. While studying Journalism and Social and Political Sciences, Gemma enjoys spending her time at the gym or reading about Britain’s medieval monarchy – ideally not at the same time. She currently creates and administers social media posts for Central News and writes for the student publication, The Comma. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to study a Masters of Medieval History and is very excited about the prospect! 

 

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