Satisfying course requirements
For students in the Bachelor of Science or associated double-degree courses, information on how to plan for studies in mathematics is available on the Managing your studies page on the Faculty of Science website. This includes recommendations on suitable level-one mathematics units that must be taken as part of those courses. This includes information such as:
Some of that information may also assist students in other courses who are planning to take minors and majors in mathematics.
Level of preparation
More generally, the entry-point into any studies in mathematics at Monash depends upon your background knowledge, for example based on your previous studies either from Year 12 or from another course. In relation to previous VCE studies (or their equivalents) this can be summarised as follows:
- For students who have completed VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4, with a study score of 30 or above, the most commonly-recommended level-one sequence in mathematics is MTH1030 Techniques for modelling in first semester and MTH2010 Multivariable calculus in second semester. Students may also choose to take MAT1830 or STA1010 instead of (or in addition to) MTH2010 in their first year. (High achieving students may also be able to take MTH1035 and /or MTH2015 instead of MTH1030 and MTH2010, respectively).
- For students who have completed VCE Mathematical Methods 3 and 4, with a study score of 25 or above, the recommended level-one sequence in mathematics is MTH1020 Analysis of change in first semester and MTH1030 Techniques for modelling in second semester.
- For other students, the recommended level-one mathematics units to be taken in their first year are MTH1010 Functions and their applications in first semester and MTH1020 Analysis of change in second semester, with MTH1030 taken in the second year of study.
Students not intending to take any level-two mathematics units may choose any one of the above recommended sequences or can replace the second unit in any of the sequences with STA1010 Statistical methods for science. For Bachelor of Science students seeking some statistical training, but who have not completed VCE Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4, it is recommended that SCI1020 Introduction to statistical reasoning is completed prior to STA1010.
Other sources of advice
More detailed information and advice on the suitable choices of level-one mathematics and statistics units for science courses can be obtained by consulting staff in the Science Student Services office, or by seeking individual advice from the School by emailing sci-maths-enquiries@monash.edu.
Students planning to leave open an option to complete a minor, major or extended major in an area of mathematics are also advised to read the planning advice and information provided under Planning minors and majors on the left-hand menu.