Bridging Course Subject Information
There are three main streams for the Bridging Course: Arts, Commerce and Science.
Arts
If you study Arts you will take Academic English, Economics, Computing, Otago History and Study Skills.
Commerce
If you study Commerce you will take Academic English, Mathematics, Economics, Computing, Accounting and Study Skills.
Science
If you study Science you will study Academic English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
These streams will help you develop the skills needed for success at Foundation Year. Subjects will begin with a pre-test and end with a post-test.
Sporting or cultural activities will be arranged through Foundation Year for you to enjoy.
Academic English includes
- Grammar, concentrating on passives, relatives, conditionals, the perfect tenses, present and past modals.
- Listening comprehension based on understanding a lecture.
- Reading Comprehension, specifically for skimming and scanning skills.
- Vocabulary development based on the University word list.
- Writing focusing on basic paragraph construction and connectors.
Mathematics includes:
- Algebraic Manipulation
- Basic Numeracy
- Problem Solving Techniques
- Terms in Geometry
- Terms in Mathematics
- Use of the Calculator
More information about Mathematics in the Bridging Course is available elsewhere on this website.
Economics includes:
- Circular Flow of Income
- The Economic Problem
- GDP and Economic Growth
- The Market Structure
- Supply and Demand Model
Biology includes:
- Biological classification
- Characteristics of living things
- Introduction to Mendelian and molecular genetics
- Introduction to NZ ecology
- Selected topics in plant and animal biology with an emphasis on familiar examples and biology vocabulary
Chemistry includes:
- Chemistry laboratory practical skills
- Elements and compounds as examples of pure substances
- The language of Chemistry - symbols, formulas and equations
- Pure substances and mixtures
- Simple chemical reactions and vocabulary of chemistry
Physics includes:
- Electricity and magnetism
- Light and the electromagnetic spectrum/transmission of energy by waves
- Mathematical, graphing and physics laboratory skills
- Measurement and units in physics
- Types of energy and inter-conversion of energy
Study Skills in New Zealand includes:
- Familairisation with university resources
- New Zealand teaching styles
- Research Skills
- Study organisation and time management skills
Accounting includes:
- The Accounting Equation
- The Balance Sheet
- Capital and Revenue Transactions
- Introduction to Accounting
- The Profit and Loss Statement
Computing includes:
- Collecting information from the World Wide Web
- How to download images and use in documents
- Powerpoint presentations
- Spreadsheets
- University email system
- Word Processing
Otago History includes:
- Chinese and the Gold era
- Early European history
- Otago today
- Pre-European history
- Reading and writing skills
- Related field trips