Honours program

Handbook

This document contains all of the information needed to take part in our Honours Program. It includes all details about entry requirements, application procedures, awards and full details of lecture topics, projects and essays. A PDF version can be found here.

Lecture topics

All honours students will need to complete a number of lecture topics (the exact number will depend on which honours program is taken). A complete list of lecture topics can be found here.

Projects and essays

Each honours student will need to complete one project and one essay. A complete list of the available essays and projects can be found here.

The remainder of this web page is a summary of the material contained in the handbook. Students who intend to undertake honours should read the following only as a guide. The handbook is the official source.

Information Session for Prospective Honours students for 2010

The School of Mathematical Sciences will be holding a general information session for all prospective honours in 2010. This session will be held on Tuesday 13 October, 2009 from 4.00pm to 5.00pm in the Access Grid Seminar Room 345, 3rd Floor, Building 28, Clayton Campus.

Honours convenors will present information about honours in their respective area of Mathematics. Staff will be available for you to ask questions about the Honours programme in Mathematics.

Scholarships and subsidies available in the Honours programme for 2010

School of Mathematical Sciences - Honours Scholarships

The School of Mathematical Sciences offers Honours Scholarships for incoming 2010 Honours applicants who have obtained an average of 85% or above in 24 points of relevant 3rd year units as required for honours entry.

In addition to the above requirements students must also have obtained a final mark of 70% in each individual undergraduate unit in mathematical sciences that counted towards completion of their degree.

For students who meet the above requirements and who have received an average of at least 90% in these units, the value of this award is $2,500.

For students who meet the above requirements and who have received an average of 85 - 89% in these units, the value of this award is $2,000.

You do not need to apply for this scholarship: when you submit your honours application you will be registered for this scholarship through Monash Scholarships Unit automatically.

Special Activities in the Honours Programme for 2010

ICE-EM / AMSI Summer School 2010

2010 Honours Students in all disciplines within the School of Mathematical Sciences are able to take one or two of the International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics / Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (ICE-EM/AMSI) Summer courses as credit to their honours degree.

The Summer School will be held at LaTrobe University, Melbourne, from 11 January to 5 February 2010.
To receive more information about the Summer School please visit: http://www.amsi.org.au/index.php/ice-em/higher-education/summer-school

If you plan on taking any of the summer courses, please contact the Honours Coordinator, Maria Athanassenas, PH: 9905 4462, room 419, fourth floor, building 28.

Forecasting training at the Bureau of Meteorology Training Centre

Every year the Bureau of Meteorology holds a weeklong programme during which they demonstrate some of the theory and techniques used in producing weather forecasts. This programme is run at the Bureau of Meteorology usually during the semester break.

2010 Honours Applications

Closing dates at the Science Faculty for Semester 1, 2010 are:

Internal applicants Friday November 20th:

External applicants Friday November 27th.

IMPORTANT

Please note all honours applications must be approved by the School’s Honours Coordinator, Dr Maria Athanassenas. We will keep a copy of your application in the School and we will forward your application on to the Faculty of Science by the above deadlines. It would be advisable that you forward your application to the School’s Honours Coordinator, Dr Maria Athanassenas, by Thursday 12 November, 2009

2010 Entry requirements and enrolment

The normal minimum requirement for honours (fourth year) in mathematics is an average of at least 70 in 24 points of relevant third year units, or equivalent. A list of relevant units that can be counted in this average is available from the Honours Coordinator.

How to apply

1. Obtain an application form from the School Office (Room 406, Building 28) or from the Faculty of Science (Building 19).
2. Discuss your options with the Honours Coordinator and complete Section A and B of the application form.
3. Return the completed application form to either the School of Mathematical Sciences (Room 406, Building 28) by Thursday 12 November 2009 or the Science Faculty Office (Building 19) by Friday 20 November 200 (after consultation with the Honours Coorindator as noted above).
4. Successful applicants will be notified by the Faculty of Science during mid to late December 2009 or early January 2010. Honours applicants will be advised of the exact dates later in the year via a letter from the school. This letter will also outline the procedure for enrolling into your honours units at the Science Faculty. You then need to contact the School's Honours coordinator Maria Athanassenas, Room 419, Building 28, to discuss your choice of lecturing topics, essays, projects etc. You will be posted the School's internal Lecture Topic / Project enrolment form or you can obtain this form directly from Room 406, building 28 (Clayton). This form is for internal school records only.
5. Each honours program, whether full-time or part-time consists of three units:

Honours unit requirements

These vary slightly according to the area of study:

• ASP4210 Astrophysics honours part 1 (12 points): normally 3 lecture topics (33.3%, 4 points each).
• ASP4220 Astrophysics honours part 3 (12 points): normally 3 lecture topics (33.3%, 4 points each).
• ASP4100 Astrophysics honours part 3 (24 points): normally an essay (16.7%, 4 points) and a research project (83.3%, 20 points).

• ATM4210 Atmospheric science honours part 1 (12 points): normally 3 lecture topics (33.3%, 4 points each).
• ATM4220 Atmospheric science honours part 2 (12 points): normally 2 lecture topics and an essay (33.3%, 4 points each).
• ATM4100 Atmospheric science honours part 3 (24 points): a research project (100%)

• MTH4210 Mathematics honours part 1 (12 points): normally 3 lecture topics (33.3%, 4 points each).
• MTH4220 Mathematics honours part 2 (12 points): normally 2 lecture topics and an essay for both Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, or three lecture topics for Statistics (33.3%, 4 points each).
• MTH4100 Mathematics honours part 3 (24 points): normally a research project (66.7%, 16 points) and two lecture topics (16.7%, 4 points each).

There is a list of honours lecture topics to choose from. For Statistics, the honours lecture topics may be chosen from those available from the Key Centre for Statistical Science. For Astrophysics, one third-year lecture unit may be counted to replace an honours lecture topic. For Atmospheric Science depending on the student's previous experience and interests, one of the honours and masters coursework lecture topics listed may be replaced by a third-year atmospheric science or mathematics lecture unit. Otherwise, up to two third-year mathematics lecture units may be counted, with the permission of the Honours Coordinator. If more than the total required number of honours lecture topics (including third-year lecture units) are taken, then those with the best final results will be used to determine your final overall grade in Honours.

Your choice of lecture topics appears only in the School records; you are allowed to change it in the first few weeks of the semester. The important thing is to make sure you meet the honours unit requirements listed above. If in doubt, check your choice of topics with the Honours Coordinator.

There are additional honours topics offered externally. Further details are available in the 2008 Honours Handbook or from the Honours Coordinator.

Essays and projects

As outlined above, the general requirements for completing the honours year in the School of Mathematical Sciences include an essay, a major project and various lecture topics.

In Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Astrophysics and Atmospheric Science the essays are worth 1 lecture topic (i.e. 4 points), Statistics students are not required to do an essay but do an extra lecture topic in place of this. In Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics the projects are worth 4 lecture topics (i.e. 16 points). In Astrophysics the project is worth 5 lecture topics (i.e. 20 points). In Atmospheric Science the project is worth 6 lecture topics (i.e. 24 points).

The essay must be completed in the first semester, and its recommended length is 15-20 pages, with a maximum of 25. Neat handwritten essays are accepted, but you are encouraged to use LaTeX, because it is easier to backup and revise, and it gives superior presentation. At the end of the semester you will be required to give a 25 minute talk on your essay, which counts 20% towards the overall essay mark.

In Astrophysics, the essay will normally be done in preparation for the research project. It comprises a literature survey as well as discussion of any mathematical and numerical techniques which are necessary to complete the project but which are unfamiliar to the student. The supervisor and co-supervisor will direct both the essay and the project. The project is worth 5 lecture topics (i.e. 20 points).

The project is due at the end of second semester and includes a talk, which counts 10% towards the overall project mark. There is also a short talk given at the beginning of second semester, which is not assessed, the purpose of the non-assessed talk is to help students clarify their goals and obtain feedback before writing up their work. The recommended length of the written project is 40-50 pages.

The time you spend on the essay and project should be similar to the time spent on the equivalent number of lecture topics. It is therefore clear that the project should be commenced at the beginning of your first semester, alongside the essay (which may be on a related topic). You should choose a topic and find a supervisor during January or February. It is also advisable to meet your supervisor regularly, say once a week, as soon as lectures begin.

The School offers some essay and project topics in advance. However, we will also attempt to satisfy your own interests, provided a supervisor with the appropriate expertise is available. Further information may be obtained when you enrol, but it is not necessary to wait that long. You are welcome to consult the Honours Coordinator or Honours Advisors.