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S6@Uni

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Programme Details

The Flexible Science Programme converts current on-campus undergraduate science courses into online courses. These courses are ideal for S6 pupils looking for further academic challenge. They can complement existing Advanced Higher choices or, when no Advanced Higher is offered, replace this provision with study at the same SCQF level, gaining UCAS accreditation which is recognised by all UK Universities.

In the current highly competitive Higher Education market this Programme aims to give school pupils a chance to increase their qualifications and prove their academic commitment prior to University entrance. The pupils gain a valuable insight into University life and study whilst benefitting from the double support of their School and the University. Pupils can combine these courses with their Advanced Highers to gain advanced entry into the second year of a degree program.

Course Delivery and Assessment

These 12 week courses follow the programme undertaken by full-time undergraduate science students. Lectures are recorded and made available through the internet allowing students to review them at a time and place to suit them. Course material and additional course guides are also accessed through the course website. Some courses require attendance at practical laboratory sessions held in Aberdeen. These will be held at times mutually convenient to both schools and the University Courses are assessed through marked assignments, laboratory reports and an end of course exam.

Courses Available

We have tailored our course offering to match pupils degree aims. This means different combinations depending on whether a pupil is intending to apply for entry into the 1^st or 2^nd year of a Degree Programme. The following tables have suggested course combinations for pupils on our most popular degree programmes entering at different stages. These are only examples, staff will be available to advise pupils further in this choice. Please note in the case of Medicine at the University of Aberdeen only Highers and Advanced Highers count towards degree entry although study of these courses may assist pupils with their Advanced Higher curriculum.

1^st Year entry

Probable Entry Requirements for 2012: A minimum of 4H at BBBB (C at AH may substitute for B at H), including BB from two Science or Mathematics subjects or two University courses agreed with the Admissions Selector.

Degree Intention	Course Choice 1 (Sept-Jan)	Course Choice 2 (Feb-June)
Chemistry	Essentials of Chemistry	Free choice from all courses offered
Computing Science	Web Application Development	Free choice from all courses offered
Engineering	Essentials of Chemistry	Portrait of a Planet
Geology	Dynamic Planet	Global Worlds, Local Challenges
Medicine	Essentials of Chemistry	Chemistry: Applications in the Real World
Physics	The Physical Universe A	Astronomy & Meteorology

2^nd Year entry

Probable Entry Requirements for 2012: Advanced Highers ABB including two AH at AB from two Science or Mathematics subjects (including the subject(s) nominated for Honours) or, were an Advanced Higher is not possible, 2 University courses in an alternative subject, as agreed with the Admissions Selector.

Degree Intention	Course Choice 1 (Sept-Jan)	Course Choice 2 (Feb-June)
Chemistry	Essentials of Chemistry	Chemistry: Applications in the Real World
Computing Science	Web Application Development	Web Technology
Geology	Dynamic Planet	Portrait of a Planet
Physics	The Physical Universe A	The Physical Universe B

Course Descriptions

Essentials of Chemistry

This course is intended to provide a grounding in the foundations of chemical science, with emphasis on the applications of chemistry in the life sciences. The course assumes no prior knowledge and includes a description of the basic concepts and language of chemistry, introduction to quantitative chemical calculations, atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical bonding. The section on organic chemistry describes structural and stereochemical aspects and simple functional groups, and

the section on physical chemistry includes study of the gas laws, heats of reaction and the energetics of chemical processes.

Chemistry: Applications in the Real World

This course develops the foundations of chemical science, with emphasis on the applications of chemistry in the "real world". The course includes a development of chemical bonding theory as applied to multi-atom molecules, and an introduction to entropy, free energy and chemical equilibria. The properties of solutions (phase equilibria) are discussed and elementary mechanistic organic chemistry is introduced. The Lab component provides appropriate experiments to reinforce the materials learned in the lectures.

Web Application Development

Topics will include

programming using a scripting language, including objects, methods, control structures, data types and collections
programming for the internet, including forms, application logic, database programming, and interaction with other applications using Web 2.0 technology such as Google Maps

Web Technology

This course aims to provide students with a thorough introduction to Web design, covering aspects including producing graphics for websites, creating HTML and CSS, and adding interactivity to Web pages with JavaScript and PHP. Students will also be introduced to exploring and integrating social networking into Web pages with the use of the Facebook, YouTube and Twitter APIs.

Global Worlds/Local Challenges

Working with the theme of 'Scotland in Transition' this course examines how global processes produce and reflect local-scale changes. Related study blocks will address

Environmental change and landscape response
Landscape and society
Globalisation - the economics and politics of urban industrial change
New social and cultural spaces

Dynamic Planet

This course introduces student to the concepts of geological timescale, relative and absolute dating and uniformitarianism. Students then apply this knowledge in the fields of Palaeontology and Geohazards.

Portrait of a Planet

The rocks, of which the rigid, outer shell of the Earth is made, are themselves composed of a range of different minerals. Igneous rocks, which crystallise from rock melts (magma), contain minerals that reflect the processes operating within and at the margins of the plates that form the rigid shell. Metamorphic rocks are formed in respond to the forces associated with the movement of the plates and/or to changes in temperatures. The weathering and erosion of pre-existing rock formations and the transport and deposition of this debris by ice, wind, water and gravity form most sedimentary rocks. However, some sedimentary rocks are mainly of biological of chemical origin (eg chalk, rock salt). The composition of, and the mineral association in rocks are therefore directly related to the processes that formed them. The identification and classification of rocks is therefore a crucial skill in studies relating to the evolution of the Earth.

Physical Universe A

The Physical Universe A is an introduction to some of the most fundamental areas in Physics and provides a foundation for later years of study. There will be lectures on kinematics and dynamics, covering the equations of motion and Newton's Three Laws; there's an introduction to Special Relativity, including the twin paradox; energy and power are covered, as well as considerations for generating electricity in the modern world; gravitation is studied in some depth, including the Law of Universal Gravitation, Kepler's laws governing the orbits of planets, and the behaviour of satellites; the course concludes with discussions of fluids, momentum and centres of mass.

Physical Universe B

The course will continue from the Physical Universe A and develop ideas of rotational mechanics including moments of inertia, before going on to explore radiation, types of radiation and radioactivity. Some discussion of topical related issues will also be included. The Electricity and Magnetism component of the course will follow conventional lines for this level, exploring the laws of how charges interact through electrostatic and magnetic forces, how emf may be induced, the operation of capacitors and inductors. Practical sessions will mirror the theoretical content.

Astronomy and Meteorology

A course of general interest providing an introduction to Astronomy. There will be an emphasis on the current knowledge of the solar system but the course will also look at astronomy on a larger scale. Whilst the meteorology component will discuss the atmosphere and how its dynamics are driven by the sun, special interest issues such as ozone depletion, climate change and El Nino will be highlighted.

Students with Disabilities

The University welcomes applications from students with disabilities and has a dedicated support structure in place. Please feel free to contact us at the Centre for confidential advice or if you want course information in another format.

For further information: Tel: +44 (0)1224 27 3935

Email: student.disability@abdn.ac.uk

Web: www.abdn.ac.uk/disability

Qualifications and Credit Transfer

All courses carry credits at undergraduate level 1, SCQF level 7. They count towards an Undergraduate Degree and are accepted by other UK Universities.