Section Title

Recommended Study Sequence

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Advanced Standing

Appropriately qualified TAFE applicants may be given up to 80 credit points worth of specified advanced Standing.

Admission

UAI or mature-age entry through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). International applicants should contact UWS International for details on admission. Contact information for the International Office is available via the UWS website.

Normal UWS UAI score with HSC 2 unit Mathematics, Physics and English for entry into first year.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below. Students should have no more than 100 credit points of Level 1 units and no fewer than 60 credit points of Level 3 Units. Electives within the sequence may be used towards obtaining an approved major or sub-major for this award.

In some instances due to resource and demand considerations, there may be a need to rearrange the pattern set down below.

Electives within the sequence may be used towards obtaining an approved major or sub-major for this award.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

Building 1

This unit is being replaced by 300706 Building 1 from 2010. Aims: To provide students with an overview of building regulations and construction techniques with an emphasis on low rise residential buildings; techniques of surveying land and buildings. Content: General process, local council, building regulations, permits, professions, players and makers, constraints (environmental and regulation), construction process (foundations, footings, framing, structure, cladding, services), history (architectural styles, economy), structural elements (bracing systems), envelope, surveying.

Graphic Communication and Design (V1)

This unit is being replaced by 300729 Graphic Communication & Design from 2010. Aims: This unit is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop graphic communication, basic CAD skills and elementary design skills suitable for application within the building industry. Content: This unit provides students with an introduction to elements of graphic communication skills necessary to comprehend various building types in plan, section, elevation, isometric and perspective views. The unit also introduces students to basic CAD (Computer Aided Design and Drafting) concepts and skills. Students will also be required to develop appropriate analytical and problem solving skills in dealing with a real life design problem.

Engineering, Design and Construction Practice

This unit encourages students to explore the professional responsibilities and challenges faced by Engineers, Designers and Building professionals. Students are introduced to emerging issues and approaches to sustainability and the complex nature of the design problems they will encounter in professional practice. Students engage in a semester-long research and problem solving task that addresses environmental and social sustainability imperatives and fosters fundamental research, design and communication skills. Special emphasis is placed on lifelong learning, academic literacy and professional skills including information literacy, project management, and teamwork which equip students for subsequent academic and professional contexts.

Design Science

An understanding of how the built environment works is essential to designers and construction professionals. This unit provides an introduction to physical units of measure, tolerance, statics, dynamics and optics. It also introduces students to electricity and magnetism as well as the concepts of momentum, energy, work, power and the operation of motors and machine. Students engage with these concepts through a hands-on learning experience including practical projects and live demonstrations.

Spring session

Introduction to Business Law

This is an introductory law unit designed to introduce the fundamentals of law in a commercial context. The unit introduces students to the basic principles of law and the legal system as well as examining some of the major areas of law that impact on commercial dealings. This unit examines the structure of the legal system, the way law is made and legal problem solving. The main areas of law covered include contracts, torts, consumer protection and agency

Accounting Information for Managers

This unit provides exposure to financial and management accounting information from a user of accounting information viewpoint. The unit aims to provide breadth of awareness and knowledge in relevant fields of accounting essential to decision making for managers.

Building 2

This unit is being replaced by 300707 Building 2 from Spring 2009. The aim of this unit is to provide students with an overview of the design, classification, applicable Australian Standards, structural systems, construction techniques, materials handling systems, building services, fit-out and finishes for larger scale buildings.

Management Foundations

This is an entry-level management unit that focuses on the development of an understanding of managing in an organisational context. The objectives of the unit are: to acquire knowledge of management processes, to analyse classical and contemporary management theories and to describe the dynamic nature of managerial practice in changing social and economic environments. This unit will explain how management theory is evolving and owes much to modern and post-modern thinking as well as economic planning principles and the behavioural, social and political sciences. This unit is a foundation unit for students of management and allied degrees and can be taken as an elective by students from other courses wishing to learn more about management policies and practice.

Year 2

Autumn session

Construction Technology 1 (Civil)

This unit is being replaced by 300720 Construction Technology 1 (Civil) from 2010. Aims: The development of the students' knowledge and skills in appraising the site requirements for construction purposes both at the pre tendering and construction phase of a project. Content: Soil classification, site investigation, retaining walls, trenches, detention/retention pits and basins, temporary structures, settlements, demolition, site dewatering, surveying.

Quantity Surveying 1

This unit is designed to provide students with the basic skills necessary to measure building works for estimates, variations, construction programs and materials ordering.

Material Science in Construction

This unit deals with the behaviour of building materials within the construction context. An introduction will be given on material behaviour and how properties are affected by the micro-structure and composition. Emphasis will be given to the application of various materials in construction. Physical properties of each material will be discussed in detail and the degradation effect of environment and the effect of use. The impact of the manufacturing processes for these building materials/products on the environment will also be addressed. Materials covered in this unit include concrete, timber, metal, composite and polymer. Emphasis will be given to the application of composite, polymer and ceramics which have not been covered by other units in the course.

Development Control (V2)

This unit is being replaced by 300723 Development Control from 2010. Objectives: Students will be able to: discuss current issues related to development control; relate the law to the development application process; assess applications for approval for development as an integrated process; evaluate impact assessment issues; consider urban design, streetscape, heritage and conservation issues; discuss parking, traffic landscape and services.

Spring session

Construction Technology 2 (Substructure)

This unit is being replaced by 300721 Construction Technology 2 (Substructure) from 2010. Aims: This unit will aim to further develop students' knowledge of substructures. Content: Strip footings, piling, piering, rafts, waffle structures, materials handling, load bearing capacity, impact of structure on surface and sub surface drainage, underpinning and temporary substructures, waterproofing techniques, materials science (concrete and masonry).

Estimating 1

To provide an understanding of factors that affect the cost of buildings; introduce costing techniques for new and existing buildings and provide students with the skills necessary to prepare builder's estimates.

Construction in Practice 1

This unit aims to allow student gain an understanding of the complexity of construction industry by integrating knowledge from earlier units. The unit includes planning and management, regulatory control and client liaison required in initiating and completing a residential construction project.

And one elective

Year 3

Autumn session

Decision Making for Construction Professionals

The unit will examine a range of methods that can be applied to problem solving. The unit will prepare students for independent research work and comprise an introduction to the project based units. Content: Problem definition, option development, investigation planning, information technology, data analysis, critical interpretation.

Project Management

This unit is being replaced by 300727 Project Management from 2010. Aims: This unit is intended to give students an understanding of appropriate methods of managing projects and to develop skills in using these methods on the type of projects the students expect to undertake in their professional careers. Content: Management of time, management of cost, quality, resources and communications.

Construction Planning (V1)

This unit is being replaced by 300728 Construction Planning from 2010. Aims: This unit is intended to give students the ability to organise the resources required for a major construction project, to plan the sequence and timing of construction operations, to assess the risk inherent to achieving a construction schedule, and to evaluate emerging trends in construction planning. Content: resource allocation, probilistics scheduling, systems simulation, multi project scheduling

And one elective

Spring session

Building Regulation Studies

This unit is being replaced by 300722 Building Regulation Studies from 2010. To develop an awareness of the regulatory construction and equipment techniques in the detection, prevention, behaviour and control of fire; an understanding of and an appreciation for buildings; to extend knowledge of the modern built environment for appraisal at Council level in planning and development procedures related to the inspection role, and the legal responsibilities in fire engineering and hazard assessment. Building regulations and fire safety; performance and prescription; fire literature and development; materials in fire, fire resisting construction; detection/alarm systems; egress and human behaviour; spread of fire; work cover; smoke movement and control; fire fighting equipment; essential services and heritage buildings.

Professional Practice

This unit explores the art of managing physical and human resources and the knowledge to plan, deliver and maintain the physical infrastructure for civilisation in an economically sustainable way.

Building Law

This unit is designed to provide students with an awareness of Industrial Relations and Dispute Resolution. Content: Employment Law, unfair dismissal, constitutional law, awards, enterprise agreement, course of disputes, method of dispute resolution, alternate dispute resolution, mock dispute resolution, future trends in dispute resolution.

And one elective

Electives

Students may choose electives from any course at UWS including the following:

Quality and Value Management

Introduces students to the concepts of quality systems value management techniques and their application to the built environment. Students will gain knowledge of quality assurance and value management theories, techniques and principles so that they can apply as they enter into their professional careers

Construction Technology 4 (Steel Construction)

This unit deals with the construction of structural steelwork. Students will gain better understanding of mechanical properties of steel. It covers various components in structural steelwork, and their behaviour under loads. Students will also be introduced to various frame systems in multi-story and high-rise construction and relevant Australian Standards for steel construction. Emphasis will be given to safe erection and assembly of structural steelwork. Due consideration will be given to the requirements of Workcover in relation to site safety and material handling. An introduction will also be given for Steel-concrete composite construction.

Quantity Surveying 2

To enable students to measure complex building works and trades, civil engineering works, building services, demolition and site works for contract documentation, estimates, variation quotations and construction plans. Content: measurement of: multi storey structural trades, precast concrete, structural steel, metal work partitions, suspended ceilings, curtain walls, fitments, elemental quantities, repair and refurbishment, civil engineering works, services, demolition, site works and computer applications for measurement.

Construction Technology 3 (Concrete Construction)

The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the concept of structures, loads and the effect of loads on structures in relation to concrete construction. Students will have an in-depth understanding of concrete as a construction material. It covers the construction technology aspects of concrete structural components and systems, including beams, columns, slabs and frames. Emphasis will be given to formwork design and construction. Students will be introduced to the relevant Australian Standards for concrete construction. The unit also aims at developing students' ability to deal professionally with other building professionals, including architects and structural engineers.

Construction Information Systems

This unit is designed to provide skills and knowledge for information management technology and practice as it relates to the building industry. The unit gives and overview of information management, data collection and storage, information classification systems, communications, specialist computer applications and artificial intelligence.

Bachelor of Housing students planning to transfer into the Bachelor of Construction Management are advised to take the following electives:

Construction Technology 3 (Concrete Construction)

The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the concept of structures, loads and the effect of loads on structures in relation to concrete construction. Students will have an in-depth understanding of concrete as a construction material. It covers the construction technology aspects of concrete structural components and systems, including beams, columns, slabs and frames. Emphasis will be given to formwork design and construction. Students will be introduced to the relevant Australian Standards for concrete construction. The unit also aims at developing students' ability to deal professionally with other building professionals, including architects and structural engineers.

Construction Technology 4 (Steel Construction)

This unit deals with the construction of structural steelwork. Students will gain better understanding of mechanical properties of steel. It covers various components in structural steelwork, and their behaviour under loads. Students will also be introduced to various frame systems in multi-story and high-rise construction and relevant Australian Standards for steel construction. Emphasis will be given to safe erection and assembly of structural steelwork. Due consideration will be given to the requirements of Workcover in relation to site safety and material handling. An introduction will also be given for Steel-concrete composite construction.

Bachelor of Housing

 

The UWS Bachelor of Housing degree is ideal for anyone interested in a practical, professional qualification within the building industry. This degree gives you specialised skills for working in the housing industry with a strong emphasis on the design, construction, maintenance and economics of dwellings for human habitation. A highly practical course, the Bachelor of Housing degree gives you the opportunity to use the University's state-of-the-art, purpose-built laboratory complex to conduct experiments across the range of building sciences including acoustics, heat flow through a building, corrosion of materials, concrete testing, and much more.

Course Details

UAC Code Campus ATAR
705825 Penrith 64.15

Duration

3 years full-time or equivalent part-time.

Note: 'part-time' refers to study load not to timetabling of evening classes.

A Career in Housing

The current shortage of building industry professionals means that graduates of the Housing program can choose from a wide variety of careers including:

  • property developer
  • housing project manager
  • site supervisor
  • building surveyor
  • estimator
  • facilities manager
  • property manager
  • valuer
  • building consultant
  • design and construction manager

Housing lecturers and tutors will actively encourage you to independently gain work experience during your studies in order to enhance practical skills and future employment prospects.

Assumed Knowledge

Mathematics and Physics and any two units of English.

Application Information

To lodge an application for the course of your choice check the Application Information.

Do you need more information?

Request a course and application information pack:
Course Enquiry Form
International Course Enquiry Form

For further assistance contact the UWS Course Information Centre.