Memorandum | Manatu
To | Ki a:
Stakeholders of the BAppSc
From | Nā:
Professor Richard Barker, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences)
Date | Te rā:
7 November 2022
Re | Te kaupapa:
BAppSc and BAppSc (Hons) into the BSc
The Applied Sciences Academic Advisory Group and Division of Sciences Academic Board have endorsed a
proposal to investigate the potential discontinuation of both the BAppSc and BAppSc (Hons). These would fold
into the BSc instead. Guiding my thinking is:
1. Originally launched as a four-year interdisciplinary degree in 2001 it changed to a three-year degree in
2011 with the addition of a compulsory minor. Some of the underlying motivation has been taken up by
the conjoint BASc and BComSc
2. It is not wel understood by potential students as highlighted in recent Sciences market research
3. It creates complexity of offering and pathway, and I believe we underestimate the cost of this complexity
4. It creates confusion when we have majors that are not well-differentiated from majors in the BSc
As a counterpoint, a number of people have spoken about the benefits associated with minors from Commerce
that the BAppSc brings in regard to the common core.
A fact (neither for or against) is that many of the majors have small numbers of enrolments (see attached
Completion headcounts for selected BAppSc Majors 2017-2022 document) although there are several that have
a relatively healthy number who have graduated with a BAppSc.
I see the value in potentially retaining Software Engineering but rebranding as part of a Bachelor of Engineering
which we are investigating at the moment.
If folowing consultation, the decision is made to proceed with the discontinuation of the BAppSc and BAppSc
(Hons), the Specialist, Academic Committees & Services (Mark Wilesmith) will provide an outline of steps and
timing which would include the CUAP process and identifying any support required.
Division of Sciences – Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 479 7978 – Emai
l [email address] – Web
: www.otago.ac.nz/sciences
Completion headcounts for selected BAppSc Majors 2017-2022
prepared by Strategy, Analytics and Reporting 23 June 2022
Email:
[email address]
Specialisation
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total
Environmental Management
15
16
23
33
31
2
120
Consumer Food Science
22
22
16
12
27
1
100
Physical Education, Activity and Health - 1
14
24
27
- 66
Forensic Analytical Science
13
13
9
6
21
- 62
Sport and Exercise Nutrition
5
4
20
16
7
- 52
Aquaculture and Fisheries
8
11
8
6
7
- 40
Software Engineering
3
5
8
12
6
1
35
Molecular Biotechnology
8
4
3
1
12
- 28
Geographic Information Systems
5
3
8
2
2
1
21
Sports Technology
1
8
5
3
2
- 19
Data Science
- - - 1
7
- 8
Energy Management
1
1
1
2
2
- 7
Applied Geology
1
- 3
2
- - 6
Computational Modelling
- - - 1
1
- 2
Total
82
87
117
120
152
5 563
Qualification Specialisation
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Total
Bachelor of Applied Science
82
86
116
117
143
5 549
Environmental Management
15
16
22
30
30
2
115
Consumer Food Science
22
22
16
12
21
1
94
Physical Education, Activity and Health - - 14
24
26
- 64
Forensic Analytical Science
13
13
9
6
20
- 61
Sport and Exercise Nutrition
5
4
20
16
7
- 52
Aquaculture and Fisheries
8
11
8
6
7
- 40
Software Engineering
3
5
8
12
6
1
35
Molecular Biotechnology
8
4
3
1
12
- 28
Geographic Information Systems
5
3
8
2
2
1
21
Sports Technology
1
8
5
3
2
- 19
Data Science
- - - 1
7
- 8
Energy Management
1
1
1
2
2
- 7
Applied Geology
1
- 3
2
- - 6
Computational Modelling
- - - 1
1
- 2
Bachelor of Arts and Science
- - 1 3 3 - 7
Environmental Management
- - 1
3
1
- 5
Forensic Analytical Science
- - - - 1
- 1
Consumer Food Science
- - - - 1
- 1
Bachelor of Commerce and Science
- - - - 5 - 5
Consumer Food Science
- - - - 5
- 5
Bachelor of Physical Education
- 1 - - 1 - 2
Physical Education, Activity and Health - 1
- - 1
- 2
Total
82
87
117
120
152
5 563
