Back to Find Units Page

Unit of Study SCIN1001 - Nature of Science (2024)

Show me unit information for year

Unit Snapshot

  • Unit type

    UG Coursework Unit

  • Credit points

    12

  • Faculty/College

    SCU College

  • Placement

    No

Unit description

Introduces students to the nature of science through four core scientific disciplines: chemistry, physics, biology and geology. Students analyse and in some instances solve problems in real-world contexts involving scientific observation, measurement and experimentation. 

Unit content

Module 1: The Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry:

  • How Science works
  • The Scientific Experiment
  • The Scientific Report

Module 2: Chemistry:

  • Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
  • Atomic Bonding
  • Chemical Equations and Reactions

Module 3: Biology:

  • Cells
  • Body Systems
  • Classification

Module 4: Geology:

  • Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
  • Rocks and Minerals
  • Land formation

Module 5: Physics:

  • Mass, Weight, Speed, Velocity and Acceleration
  • Newton’s Laws of Motion
  • Work, Energy, Momentum and Power

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Term1
Term1
Online
Term1,3
Term1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Identify key concepts across four broad scientific disciplines

Apply analytical and problem solving skills in defined scientific contexts

Articulate findings of a scientific nature within a written report

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Blackboard Collaborate

    Your unit assessor will use Blackboard Collaborate in this unit, which is like an online virtual classroom. You can find out more by clicking the ‘Blackboard Collaborate Help’ button within your MySCU unit, or go to: https://www.scu.edu.au/collaborate.

  • A non-programmable scientific calculator.

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Blackboard Collaborate

    Your unit assessor will use Blackboard Collaborate in this unit, which is like an online virtual classroom. You can find out more by clicking the ‘Blackboard Collaborate Help’ button within your MySCU unit, or go to: https://www.scu.edu.au/collaborate.

  • A non-programmable scientific calculator.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.