Bridging Courses 2010

Many degrees in Science have assumed knowledge which are subjects we expect you to have studied before you begin this course. If you don't have the assumed knowledge you won't be excluded from the course but you might find it difficult to manage the work as your lecturer will assume you have this knowledge.

Bridging courses are designed to assist students who do not meet the assumed knowledge for the degree that they want to do and are typically run during February, just before the beginning of Semester 1.

Bridging courses are strongly recommended for commencing students who do not have the assumed knowledge they need for a degree. We offer the following bridging courses:

Biology Bridging Course
Chemistry Bridging Course
Mathematics Bridging Course
Physics Bridging Course

Biology Bridging Course

Enrol here.

The Biology bridging course is strongly recommended for students starting university who have not completed HSC Biology, need to refresh their knowledge after a break from study, or who have tried Biology and found it difficult.

Topics Include:

• cell biology
• cellular reactions (respiration, photosynthesis and protein synthesis)
• diversity of organisms
• reproduction and genetics
• evolution
• ecology
• scientific writing, numeracy, biological drawing, and microscopy

The course comprises lectures, practical and workshop sessions. Students must be prepared to study out of class time.

Times: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Duration: 5 days (Wed, Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue)
Dates: Wednesday 3 February, 2010 to Tuesday 9 February, 2010
Fee: $300.00

The course is held at the University of Sydney, in the Carslaw Building and Eastern Ave Complex, and is taught by recognised experts in the field.

Registrations are now online. To register, visit the Bridging Courses Registration page

Biology Bridging Course contact:
Dr Elizabeth May
phone: 9351 4482
fax: 9351 2175
email:

Biology Bridging course registration contact:
Dr Katie Jakes
phone: 9351 4262
fax: 9351 2175
location: Room 518, Level 5, Carslaw Building, F07
email: or
Website

Chemistry Bridging Course

Enrol here.

This course is for students who are entering a tertiary institution and intend to take a first year Chemistry course without having completed HSC-level Chemistry. Students who have done HSC-level Chemistry are also welcome to come along and refresh their memory.

Topics Include:

• Elements, compounds and mixtures
• The structure of atoms
• Ionic compounds: formation, formulae and naming
• Covalent bonding, valency, molecular shapes
• Chemical equations, precipitation reactions
• Reactions involving acids
• Chemical calculations: atomic and formula weights, % composition, empirical formulae, stoichiometry, solution stoichiometry
• The Periodic Table
• Acids and Bases

Course Delivery

Times: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Duration: 7 days
Dates: Weekdays from Wednesday 10 February to Thursday 18 February, 2010
Fee: $300.00

Chemistry Bridging Course contact:

Dr Jeanette Hurst
Phone: 02 9351 3105
Fax: 02 9351 7098
Email:

Enrolment information
Further information.

Registrations are now online. To register, visit the Bridging Courses Registration page

Mathematics Bridging Course

Enrol here.

All Science students must study Mathematics.

Many first-year units assume a certain level of mathematical knowledge. Students without the assumed knowledge are permitted to enrol but are likely to experience difficulties unless they undertake additional study in preparation.

The University runs the following courses in February:

The Extension 1 Course is for people who have done Mathematics (2-Unit) in the HSC and wish to enrol in a course which has an assumed knowledge of Extension 1 Mathematics (3-Unit).

The 2 Unit Course is for people who have not done Mathematics (2-Unit) and want to study a subject for which 2-Unit Mathematics is assumed knowledge. The main content of this course will be an introduction to the differential calculus together with revision of the necessary algebra and coordinate geometry. Knowledge of Year 10 Mathematics will be assumed.

Course delivery
Courses are offered during the day and in the evening. The classes are small, so that students can receive the maximum amount of individual attention, and consist of 12 two-hour classes which will begin on Monday 8 February 2010. Students are expected to spend at least 2 hours per day on private study and homework during the Bridging Course, however there are no examinations.

Dates and Times:
The following table gives the dates and times for both the 2-Unit and Extension 1 courses.

Fee: The fee for each course is $340. Payment can be made on-line when you enrol, and will guarantee you a place in the course.
(The fee covers 24 hours of tuition, notes and the opportunity to spend two additional hours each day in the Mathematics Learning Centre, where individual help is available.)

Contact for Course Information and Enrolment:
The Mathematics Learning Centre
Phone: 02 9351 4061
Email:
Enrol online: www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/BC/

Physics Bridging Course 2010

Enrol here.

The Physics Bridging Course is designed for students who are about to take Physics for the first time, need to refresh their knowledge after a break from study, or who have tried Physics and found it difficult.

The purpose of the course is not to cover the entire HSC Physics syllabus, but instead to provide a good general introduction to the subject so that students can understand the lecture and laboratory material from the beginning of the year. It is not about the coverage of content but rather the development of skills.

Course Objectives

• To become familiar with problem-solving techniques
• To start to learn to think in the way a Physics student needs to
• To cover some basic content from mechanics and other preliminary topics in Physics

Topics Include

• Measurement and Units
• Motion along a straight line
• Vectors and Motion in 2 and 3 dimensions
• Force and Motion
• Work and Energy
• Conservation of Energy
• Systems of Particles
• Collisions
• Oscillations and Waves
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Atomic Theory and Electromagnetism

Course Delivery

The course comprises lectures and tutorials to consolidate the information presented. A typical day consists of a 1.5 hour lecture followed by a 2.5 hour tutorial in both the morning and the afternoon. There is a 1 hour lunch break during the middle of the day.

Lectures are interactive with the students participating in large classroom activities. The tutorials are group based with students examining what they have learnt by practising problems and exploring demonstrations more closely.

Times: 9:30am - 4:30pm weekdays
Duration: 7 weekdays
Dates: Wednesday 3 February to Thursday 11 February, 2010
Fee: $340
Venue: The course is held at the University of Sydney's Camperdown Campus

Physics Bridging Course Contact:
Dr Phil Dooley on 02 9351 3201

Registrations are now online. To register, visit the Bridging Courses Registration page