Elective Subjects

This subject introduces you to fundamental accounting tools to provide a basis for analysing and interpreting financial statements and internal management documents throughout your career. The educational philosophy used is based on the ‘building blocks’ approach (the accounting cycle), a sequence of steps or procedures related to a firm’s accounts and account entries, which culminates in the ultimate objective of financial reports.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Understanding basic accounting concepts
• Summarising and reporting accounting information
• The measurement of profit
• Special aspects and application of decision-making Semester 2
• Accounting for accounts receivable and bad debts
• Alternative inventory valuation models
• Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Valuation of non-current assets and making financing decisions
• Accounting for partnerships and companies
• Ethics and its relevance to business
• Financial statement and ratio analysis
• Management and manufacturing; application of costing the cash-flow statement

Assessment

• Attendance and participation: 10%
• Reports: 10%
• Assignment: 10%
• Exams: 70%

Subject Leader

Ms Mary Zafirakis BEc, PostGradDip(Acc) Monash

While the Accounting subject is not a prerequisite for a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne, the skills and knowledge you'll learn in this elective will greatly assist in future commerce studies.

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Biology aims to foster an understanding of major biological concepts, an awareness of how such concepts are connected within the biological sciences and an appreciation and interest in biological science as an integral part of society and everyday life. The subject provides a strong foundation for further study of the biological sciences and related disciplines.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Cell structure and function – biological molecules, prokaryotes, eukaryotes and organelles, and energy systems
• Plants – plant cells, tissues and the plant body
• Animals – organ systems, tissues and organs

Semester 2

• Genetics – cell division, inheritance, gene expression, genetic engineering, human genetics, reproduction and development
• Evolution and diversity – evidence and mechanisms for evolution, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists

Assessment

• Exams: 70%
• Assignment: 10%
• Practical classes: 20%

Subject Leader

Dr Kerry Higgins BSc(Hons), PhD Melb

This subject is a valuable pathway into further studies in medicine, biomedicine, dentistry, optometry, food science, pharmacy, veterinary science and agriculture. It can also be used as a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne.

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This subject provides a foundation for further study in chemistry and related disciplines. The focus is on understanding chemical concepts and calculations, development of laboratory and reporting skills, awareness of safety protocols, fluency in terminology, and an appreciation of the role of chemistry in our world.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Nomenclature and stoichiometry
• Atomic structure and bonding
• Liquids, gases and solids
• Chemistry of main group elements, transition metals and coordination chemistry

Semester 2

• Organic chemistry and spectroscopy
• Food chemistry
• Sustainable chemistry
• Fundamentals of chemical reactions – thermochemistry, kinetics and chemical equilibria
• Acid-base equilibria
• Redox chemistry, electrolysis and extraction of metals

Assessment

• Exams: 65%
• Assignment: 10%
• Attendance and participation: 5%
• Practical classes: 20%

Subject Leader

Dr Kerry Higgins BSc(Hons), PhD Melb

To study Chemistry at Trinity, you need to also study Mathematics 1, as well as having studied chemistry at high school. It is a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne.

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This subject covers major issues and institutions related to the Australian economy. It aims to help you: • gain an understanding of economics as a field of study, and consider issues from an economic perspective • learn the basic concepts and principles of economics • obtain knowledge of major aspects of the Australian economic system • develop a capacity to think analytically, and discuss and write effectively about economics.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Microeconomics
• The nature and method of economics
• Supply and demand analysis in the competitive market
• Applications of the competitive model
• The concept of market structure
• Perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly and monopolistically competitive markets
• Market failure

Semester 2

• Macroeconomics Monitoring and understanding the macroeconomy
• GDP as a measure of total production, income and economic growth
• Unemployment rate, labor force participation rate and types of unemployment
• CPI and inflation rate 
• Exchange rate
• Aggregate expenditure multiplier
• Demand and supply side policies – fiscal, monetary, microeconomic reforms and income

Assessment

• ESQ quiz: 20%
• Mid-Semester 2 test: 20%
• Final exam: 50%
• Attendance and participation: 10%

Subject Leader

Ms Vandana Wadhwa BA(Eco)(Hons), MA(Eco)DSE, Med Melb, GradDipSecEd Monash

Economics will provide a foundational knowledge for studying the Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne.

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The concept of environmentally sustainable development is at the heart of this subject, and is increasingly becoming the focus of government policy, business and educational institutions. You will become familiar with environmentally sustainable development and its application globally and will come to understand how different environments and societies interact. We investigate design solutions to many current global challenges. This subject is recommended for students wishing to study a Bachelor of Design at the University of Melbourne.

Course outline

Semester 1 and 2

• Ecological history of humanity
• Population growth and resource consumption
• What is sustainability?
• Economic sustainability and globalisation
• Sustainable business
• Social sustainability and gender
• What is climate change?
• Climate change and related hazards
• Who is affected most by climate change?
• Consequences of climate change
• Responses to climate change
• Renewable energy as a solution
• Sustainable water use
• What is a city?
• Sustainable city design
• Megacities
• Slums
• Resilient and liveable cities
• Sustainable building design
• Melbourne: a sustainable, liveable, resilient city?
• Urban agriculture

Assessment

• Quiz: 5%
• Exam: 30%
• Fieldwork report: 25%
• Research essay: 25%
• Group research presentation: 15%

Subject Leader

Ms Jane Sykes BA, DipEd, GradDipEPA, Med Monash

This subject is recommended for students wishing to study the Bachelor of Design at the University of Melbourne.

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This subject develops mathematical knowledge and skills in pre-calculus, calculus, matrices, statistics and probability, as preparation for a wide variety of university courses.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Review of algebra and trigonometry
• Functions and graphs
• Limits, continuity, differentiability, differentiation from first principles and differentiation formulae
• Implicit differentiation
• Related rates of change
• Applications of differentiation and optimisation

Semester 2

• Anti-differentiation, fundamental theorem of calculus and evaluation of areas
• Indefinite integrals and further applications of integration• Permutations and combinations
• Introduction to probability, probability distributions, expected values and standard deviation
• Binomial, hypergeometric and geometric distributions
• Continuous probability density functions, mean, median, variance and applications
• Normal distributions and confidence intervals for a population proportion

Assessment

• Quizzes: 10%
• Assignments: 10%
• Tests and exams: 80%

Subject Leader

Dr Leigh HumphriesBSc, PGDipSci, PhD Melb

This subject is a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Biomedicine.

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This subject is a specialised mathematics subject that aims to provide you with the skills to succeed in university courses requiring a high level of analytical and logical thought, such as mathematics, statistics, data science, computer science and actuarial studies.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Logic
• Complex numbers
• Matrices and transformations
• Ellipses and hyperbolas
• Vectors
• Computer programming

Semester 2

• Statistical inference
• Techniques of anti-differentiation
• Volumes of solids of revolution
• Approximation of definite integrals
• Differential equations
• Computer programming

Assessment

• Term 1 assessment: 25%
• Term 2 assessment: 25%
• Term 3 assessment: 25%
• Term 4 assessment: 25%

Subject Leader

Dr Sasha Cyganowski BSc(Hons), PhD Deakin

Mathematics 2 is strongly recommended if you're wishing to study engineering at the University of Melbourne. It can also be used as a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science and for courses with actuarial majors.

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In this subject, you will be introduced to the dynamic world of the media and associated industries, and their influence on society and the individual. Through a combination of theory, application and practice, you will emerge with a greater understanding of how the media works and an ability to design and produce a range of media products.

Course outline 

Semester 1

• Media literacy, media representation, film language, genre theory and audiences
• The story of film – from silent movies to blockbusters and beyond• Film marketing and advertising – the trailer and film poster Semester 2
• Journalism and the newsroom – from newspapers to podcasts and citizen journalism
• Marketing and communications – traditional and new media advertising forms, brands and brand identity and public relations and public service campaigns

Assessment

• Assignments: 30%
• Major project: 20%
• Mid-year exam: 20%
• Final exam: 20%
• In-class tasks and participation: 10%

Subject Leader

Ms Joanne Boyle BA Monash, GradDipEd Deakin

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This subject provides a foundation for further studies in physics and related analytical-type disciplines, such as science and engineering. You will learn to develop problem-solving strategies and laboratory skills, as well as quantitative physical models, and will become aware of the assumptions upon which these models are based. You will also learn to apply electronic, mechanical and optical techniques of measurement in the laboratory, and record quantitative data with associated uncertainties. The laboratory measurement techniques also include computer-interfaced experiments for collecting and analysing data.

Course outline

Semester 1

• Physical quantities and units
• Vectors
• Motion in 1D and 2D
• Forces and Newton’s laws
• Statics and torque
• Energy and work, conservation of energy
• Momentum, conservation of momentum principles
• String waves and sound waves

Semester 2

• Electric circuits, electric fields and Gauss’s law
• Magnetic fields, electromagnetic forces and Ampere’s law
• Electromagnetic induction
• Wave-particle duality
• Energy-mass relationship
• Relativity
• Bohr’s model of a hydrogen atom
• Nuclear reactions, fusion and fission, binding energy
• Particle decays, half-life and nuclear activit

Assessment

• Assignments: 5%
• Exams: 70%
• Practical classes: 20%
• Quizzes: 5%

Subject Leader

Dr Fun Lai BSc, MSc RMIT, PhD Melb

To study Physics at Trinity, you need to also study Mathematics 1, as well as having studied physics at high school. This subject is a prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. It's strongly recommended for those studying engineering or biomedicine.

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This subject will introduce you to a broad range of psychological theories and principles that explain human behaviour, as well as the diversity of human experience. Practical demonstrations and experiments, both in and out of the classroom, are designed to help you understand and explore the theoretical concepts underlying human cognition (thinking) and behaviour.

Course outline

• Scientific theory and critical thinking
• Biology of mind
• Development through the lifespan – infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood
• Social psychology
• Personality
• Psychological disorders
• Therapy
• Stress and health
• Emotion
• Learning
• Intelligence

Assessment

• In-class quiz: 10%
• Written task and presentation: 20%
• Exams: 70%
• Hurdle requirement: Attendance and participation

Subject Leader

Dr Maureen Vincent BA, GradDipEd(Psych) Monash, BSW Melb, GradDipEd(Sec) ACU, MclinPsych, PhD Deakin

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This subject is available to students who wish to prepare for university study in either the Bachelor of Music or Diploma in Music. It is designed to enable you to reach an advanced level of skill and mastery of a particular musical instrument, and to give you a broad understanding of music performance. The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) at the University of Melbourne allocates the teachers for this subject.

Course outline

You will attend 24 individual 45-minute practical lessons with your teacher across the course of one year. Lessons include a study of selected repertoire on your instrument, principles of interpretation, style and technical work. In addition to these lessons, students are required to undertake extensive individual practice.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to have a minimum of Grade 6 practical in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), or Trinity College London exams, or Grade 6 (Grade 5 for singers) in the exams of the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) or to perform at a minimum equivalent level. Students intending to take this subject must pass an audition before enrolling in TCFS.

Assessment

End of year 15–20 minute practical examination consisting of a solo repertoire studied throughout the year. The performance exam is graded out of 100, as both a TCFS subject and simultaneously as an audition for the University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Music.

Note: You can only select Music if your University of Melbourne chosen degree is the Bachelor of Music. Results in this subject cannot be used in the calculation of entrance scores for other faculties of the University of Melbourne. This subject is only offered in Standard intakes.

This elective is compulsory if you wish to study in the Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne.

Students intending to take this subject must pass an audition before enrolling in TCFS.

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