Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)

(BBiotech(Hons))

Program of study | Combined degrees program

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time), including the compulsory honours program except where it is being taken as part of an Advanced Entry Program.

The course is offered jointly by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The combined degrees program of Bachelor of Biotechnology/Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice is also available.

COURSE AIMS

evaluation, problem recognition and problem solving in science. There is an emphasis on integrating theory with extensive and specialised practical training.

Graduates will have:

• specialist skills in the science of biotechnology;
• a range of generic skills including teamwork and oral and written presentation;
• an overview of the interrelationships between the fundamental discoveries in modern biology and medicine, their application to developing new products and processes, and the practicalities of solving the accompanying engineering, social and management problems;
• opportunities for employment in any area of biotechnology including agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical, food, beverage and industrial research and production, environmental services and a wide range of public and private research laboratories;
• an awareness of the legal, social, economic and ethical aspects of biotechnology and engineering, management and entrepreneurial activities needed to bring products to the market;
• experience in the requirements for commercialisation of biotechnology including development of science-based business plans.

Learning outcomes

On completion of their degree, students will have developed a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in their science discipline and a range of transferable professional skills.

Subject knowledge

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

• demonstrate specialist skills in the science of biotechnology, including proficiency in carrying out biotechnology laboratory and computational techniques and protocols;
• demonstrate a thorough understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of biotechnology and utilise relevant discipline expertise, where appropriate;
• find employment in any area of biotechnology including agricultural, medical, pharmaceutical, food, beverage and industrial research and production, environmental services and a wide range of public and private research laboratories;
• apply their awareness of the legal, social, economic and ethical aspects of biotechnology and engineering, management and entrepreneurial activities needed to bring products to the market;
• demonstrate familiarity with the requirements for commercialisation of biotechnology; and
• develop science-based business plans.

Transferable professional skills

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

• employ scientific methodologies such as experimental design, and the critical analysis of data;
• communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms;
• interact effectively as part of a team in order to work towards a common outcome;
• work and learn independently;
• reason critically and logically and make independent judgements;
• engage effectively with information and communication technologies;
• demonstrate research skills appropriate for further study and employment; and
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours), a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

No more than 45 units of First Year topics may be included.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Failure to achieve a grade of P, NGP or better in the same topic on two occasions shall constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Students completing CHEM1201 and CHEM1202 are required to complete CHEM1102. This can be done concurrently with CHEM1202. Students undertaking this option will have only 4.5 units of elective topic to complete.

# Recommended elective topic.

	Third Year
	36 units comprising:
BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3132	Protein to Proteome	6
BTEC3620	Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology	6
BTEC3630	Molecular and Medical Biotechnology	6
	Elective Topics	12
STAT2304	Statistics for Biology #	3

# Recommended elective topic.

	Fourth Year
	36 units comprising:
BTEC4620	Advanced Biotechnology Practice §	27
BTEC4630	Enterprise Management	9

§ Students should enrol in a combination of sub-topics chosen from BTEC4620E (13.5/27 units), BTEC4620F (18/27 units) and BTEC4620G (9/27 units), ensuring that they enrol in 27 units overall.

ADVANCED ENTRY PROGRAM

It recognises that such students would benefit from an accelerated program of study which would enable them to complete the program in three years instead of the normal four years.

To be eligible for consideration for entry to the program, students must normally have completed the SACE (or equivalent) and have received grades of 19 or 20 in Biology and Chemistry at Stage 2, or have received grades of 6 or 7 in Biology and Chemistry for the International Baccalaureate (IB).

To qualify for the Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours) under the Advanced Entry Program a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Special Combined First and Second Year

BIOL2141	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	6
BIOL2162	Functional Biology and Experimental Design	6
BIOL2330	Basic Microbiology	3
BTEC1620A	Concepts in Biotechnology Part A	3
BTEC1620B	Concepts in Biotechnology Part B	3
BTEC2620	Legal, Ethical and Social Aspects of Biotechnology	3
BTEC2630	Genetic and Cell Biotechnology	6
BTEC2640	Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology	6

Third Year

36 units comprising:

BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3132	Protein to Proteome	6
BTEC3620	Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology	6
BTEC3630	Molecular and Medical Biotechnology	6
	Elective Topics	12
BTEC2650	Biotechnology Practicum#	3
STAT2304	Statistics for Biology #	3

# Recommended elective topic

Fourth Year

36 units comprising:

BTEC4620	Advanced Biotechnology Practice §	27
BTEC4630	Enterprise Management	9

§ Students should enrol in a combination of sub-topics chosen from BTEC4620E (13.5/27 units), BTEC4620F (18/27 units) and BTEC4620G (9/27 units), ensuring that they enrol in 27 units overall.