Selecting your courses
To successfully complete the Open Foundation program you must enrol for a course load of 40 units.
There is a range of courses which provide preparation for entry across all faculties of the University. Start preparing for your new career while gaining your University entrance qualification.
The aims of Open Foundation are to help you to gain admission to an undergraduate degree program of your choice, and to best prepare you for undergraduate studies. Hence, we advise you to select your courses for Open Foundation based on two things:
- Courses that you think you will enjoy, are good at, or are interested in, and;
- Faculty recommendations of courses that will help prepare you for the study of specific undergraduate degree programs
To help with your selection, read the course descriptions by clicking the Course Code in the tables on the courses page of your selected program, and check out the Faculty Recommendations below.
Note: The Open Foundation courses recommended for study by Faculties are recommendations only. There are no prerequisites for entry into undergraduate degree programs at the University of Newcastle.
Faculty Recommendations
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Education and Arts
- Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science and Information Technology
NOTE:
CAL = Available at Callaghan Campus
OUR = Available at Ourimbah Campus
PM = Available at Port Macquarie Campus
DIST = Available through Distance Education
Humantities Courses include courses in the Arts and Social Sciences: Aboriginal Studies, Australian History, Business Organisation and Management, Classical Studies, English Literature & Film, Linguistics, Philosophy, Social Enquiry, Studies in Law.
Faculty of Business and Law
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Business (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Commerce (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce (CAL/OUR) |
Basic Quantitative Methodology plus Studies in Law or Business Organisation and Management or 20 units of Humanities courses. |
| Combined Law degree programs (CAL): Admission is competitive. A year of study in a single degree program may be required prior to gaining a place in Combined Law. Bachelor of Aboriginal Studies/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws |
For the Bachelor of Laws degree - Studies in Law or 20 units of Humanities courses |
Faculty of Education and Arts
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Students should undertake courses which will provide preliminary knowledge in the curriculum areas of the degree program. | |
| Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice (CAL) Bachelor of Arts (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Social Science (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Theology (CAL)Diploma in Languages (CAL)Diploma in Theology CAL) |
At least 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Fine Art (CAL) | Visual Art or Design and 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Social Work(CAL) | Core Mathematics and 20 units of Humanities courses |
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Computer Science (CAL) Bachelor of Engineering (all specialisations except Chemical and Environmental Engineering) (CAL) Bachelor of Surveying (CAL) |
Strongly recommend Science Mathematics and Physics |
|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (CAL) Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) (CAL) |
Strongly recommend Science Mathematics and Chemistry |
|
| Bachelor of Design (Architecture) (CAL) | At least 20 units of Design, Visual Arts, Mathematics or Physics courses | |
| Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) (CAL/DIST) | 20 units of Humanities courses (e.g. Business Organisation and Management, Studies in Law, Social Enquiry) and 20 units of Mathematics or Science courses (e.g. Core Mathematics, Earth Science, Chemistry) |
Faculty of Health
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| It is recommended that students intending to apply for admission to Faculty of Health programs to enrol in health and/or science related courses. This will provide you and the University with a good indication of your ability to undertake tertiary study in a scientific/health environment and, at the same time, assist in your preparedness to commence this study should your application be successful. | |
|
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (CAL) |
Basic Quantitative Methodology or Science Mathematics, and either Chemistry and the Life Sciences, or Physics (only if you are studying Science Mathematics) |
| Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAL) Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (CAL) Bachelor of Oral Health (OUR) Bachelor of Podiatry (OUR) |
Chemistry and the Life Sciences and Basic Quantitative Methodology |
| Bachelor of Midwifery (CAL/PM) Bachelor of Nursing (CAL/OUR/PM) |
Chemistry and the Life Sciences, and 20 units of Humanities courses or Core Mathematics |
| Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (CAL) | Strongly recommend Science Mathematics, and Physics |
| Bachelor of Medicine(CAL) | Open Foundation not accepted for entry |
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Computer Science (CAL) Bachelor of Mathematics (CAL) Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science (CAL) |
Science Mathematics and 20 units of Science courses |
| Bachelor of Biotechnology (CAL) | Science Mathematics and Chemistry and Life Sciences |
| Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (CAL) Bachelor of Science (CAL/OUR) |
Basic Quantitative Methodology, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Conservation and Sustainability or Earth Science |
| Bachelor of Communication (CAL) | At least 20 units of Humanities or Design courses relevant to the degree major |
| Bachelor of Visual Communication Design (CAL) Bachelor of Natural History Illustration (CAL) |
20 units of Visual Art or Design courses |
| Bachelor of Development Studies (CAL) | Conservation and Sustainability and/or Social Enquiry |
| Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition (OUR) | Chemistry and Life Sciences and Basic Quantitative Methodology |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Psychology (CAL/OUR) |
Basic Quantitative Methodology plus 20 units of Science or Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Informative Technology/Bachelor of Business (CAL/OUR) | Basic Quantitative Methodology plus Business Organisation Management or 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Science with a major in Photonics (CAL) | Science Mathematics and Physics |
| Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science (OUR) | Basic Quantitative methodology and Chemistry and Life Sciences |
