Scientific Computing
UndergraduateMAQ-FOSX10252025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Build data and IT skills that you’ll use throughout your science degree and career. You’ll learn how to collect, prepare, and process data using computers. See how spreadsheets can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your scientific research.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 16 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $1,195
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Scientific Computing
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the role of data, computing and computing tools for science
- Determine the appropriate computing tool for the key stages of data manipulation
- Prepare and clean data so that it can be processed by computer tools
- Communicate the steps performed in the preparation and processing of data so that they can be reproduced
- Explain the ethical implications of the use of computers for gathering, processing, and storing data
- Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This subject introduces essential concepts and techniques of computing for conducting science, with special emphasis on the preparation and manipulation of data. We discuss the role of computers and computing tools in science and focus on the use of spreadsheets and other data manipulation tools. This subject introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to success in future careers.
Quiz/Test: One in-class quiz for each principal module: 1. computing, 2. data preparation, 3. presentation and reproducibility, 4. ethics
Project and Portfolio: Peer assessment of a project in several stages: 1. data preparation, 2. processing, 3. presentation
Reproducibility Project: Peer assessment of the reproducibility of a project- Quiz/Test (60%)
- Project (20%)
- Reproducibility Project (10%)
- Foundation activities (0%)
- SGTA assessed activities (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
Others
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
FOSE1025 Scientific Computing
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA subjects offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in subjects through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-BSC-DEG
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