Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation

(BSc(BiodivCon))

Program of study | Honours program

INTRODUCTION

Enrolment in the honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the school/ department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to produce graduates who will have critical abilities, communication and professional skills and an understanding of the science that underpins the areas of biodiversity and conservation.

It aims to produce graduates with:

• an understanding of the extent of the world's biodiversity;
• an appreciation of the threat to biodiversity posed by human activities, including an understanding of the nature and levels of current rates of extinction;
• an understanding of the scientific bases of biological conservation;
• an appreciation of the nature of the scientific method and of its strengths and limitations;
• an ability to assess critically current and future developments relevant to the conservation of biological diversity;
• an appreciation of the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, of human impacts on biodiversity and of the professional practice of biologists;
• an ability to work effectively and cooperatively as a member of small teams;
• an ability to communicate effectively using a variety of media;
• an ability and a motivation to pursue their education throughout their careers and a capacity to deal flexibly and effectively with changes in the scientific and social contexts of their careers; and
• exposure to, and training in, the field skills that form the basis of professional practice by biologists working in the field of biodiversity conservation.

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 a thorough understanding of the extent of the world's biodiversity and the threat posed to it by human activities;
• employ knowledge, skills and scientific techniques to identify threats to biological diversity and to implement conservation actions to mitigate these threats;
• explain the scientific bases of biological conservation and recognise the strengths and weaknesses;
• assess critically current and future developments relevant to the conservation of biological diversity; recognise and explain the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, of human impacts on biodiversity and of the professional practice of biologists;

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.

There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation, but a knowledge of Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry to Year 11 is desirable.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation, 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:

First Year

*COMP1102 is assumed knowledge for all later year COMP topics. Students who do not wish to continue with any later year computing topics may select COMP1120 Information Communication Technology IB instead of COMP1102.

** Students wishing to enter the Organismal and Molecular Biodiversity stream must choose a pair of Chemistry topics.

Organismal Biodiversity (Plants/Animals/Fungi/Microbiology) stream

	Second Year Core
BIOD2100	Biodiversity and Conservation 2	6
BIOL2121	Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity	6
BIOL2162	Functional Biology and Experimental Design	6
BIOL2171	Behaviour and Ecology	6
BIOL2172	Animal Diversity	6
GEOG3013	Geographical Information Systems*	6

* GEOG3013 may be taken in either Second or Third Year.

Students not doing GEOG3013 in Second Year must take a further 6 units from the list below.

BIOL2141	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	6
BIOL2142	Disease and Immunology	6
BIOL2161	Plant and Algal Biology: From Environment to Biotechnology	6
BIOL2201	Introduction to Ecotourism	3
BIOL2232	Foundations in Microbiology	6
BIOL2272	Marine Biology and Ecology	3
BIOL2330	Basic Microbiology	3
BIOL2341	Animal Disease and Defence	3
CPES2032	Physical Basis of Biological Systems A	3
CPES2033	Physical Basis of Biological Systems B	3
CPES2131	Coasts and Oceans	6
ENVS2704	Environmental Systems	6
GEOG2006	Australian Environmental Change	6
GLOB2002	Globalisation and Environmental Issues	6

Third Year Core

BIOD3001	Biodiversity and Conservation 3	6
BIOD3002	Biodiversity and Conservation Practicum	3
BIOL3151	Plant Ecology and Evolution	6
BIOL3152	Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology	6
GEOG3013	Geographical Information Systems (if not taken in Second Year)	6

plus at least 15 units from the list below (or 9 units if GEOG3013 is taken in Third Year).

BIOL2112	Aquatic Life Histories	3
BIOL2122	Comparative Physiology	6
BIOL2424	Physiological Systems	3
BIOL3003	Research Project in Biology A	3
BIOL3004	Research Project in Biology B	3
BIOL3005	Extended Research Project in Biology	6
BIOL3101	Marine Ecological Processes	6
BIOL3102	Marine Vertebrates	6
BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3132	Protein to Proteome	6
BIOL3141	Advanced Microbiology: Microbial Ecology and Infectious Disease	6
BIOL3142	Microbiology Theory	3
BIOL3380	Animal Behaviour	3
BIOL3390	Vertebrate Palaeontology	6
BIOL3992	Biological Essays	3
ENVS3006	Environmental Weeds	3
ENVS3708	Coastal Studies	6
ENVS3721	Issues in Environmental Management	6
ENVS3722	Environmental Impact Assessment	6
GEOG3014	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
GEOG3017	Advanced GIS	6
GEOG3020	GIS Modelling	6
STAT2304	Statistics for Biology	3

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Bioinformatics/GIS stream

	Second Year Core
BIOD2100	Biodiversity and Conservation 2	6
BIOL2121	Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity	6
BIOL2162	Functional Biology and Experimental Design	6
BIOL2171	Behaviour and Ecology	6
BIOL2172	Animal Diversity*	6
GEOG3013	Geographical Information Systems	6

*May be taken in either Second or Third Year.

Third Year Core

BIOD3001	Biodiversity and Conservation 3	6
BIOD3002	Biodiversity and Conservation Practicum	3
BIOL3151	Plant Ecology and Evolution	6
BIOL3152	Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology	6
GEOG3014	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3

plus another 12 units from the list below.

BIOL2112	Aquatic Life Histories	3
BIOL2122	Comparative Physiology	6
BIOL2424	Physiological Systems	3
BIOL3003	Research Project in Biology A	3
BIOL3004	Research Project in Biology B	3
BIOL3005	Extended Research Project in Biology	6
BIOL3101	Marine Ecological Processes	6
BIOL3102	Marine Vertebrates	6
BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3132	Protein to Proteome	6
BIOL3141	Advanced Microbiology: Microbial Ecology and Infectious Disease	6
BIOL3142	Microbiology Theory	3
BIOL3380	Animal Behaviour	3
BIOL3390	Vertebrate Palaeontology	6
BIOL3992	Biological Essays	3
COMP2221	Computer Programming 2	6
COMP2231	Data Modelling	6
ENVS3006	Environmental Weeds	3
ENVS3708	Coastal Studies	6
ENVS3721	Issues in Environmental Management	6
ENVS3722	Environmental Impact Assessment	6
GEOG3017	Advanced GIS	6
GEOG3020	GIS Modelling	6
STAT2304	Statistics for Biology	3

Organismal and Molecular Biodiversity stream

	Second Year Core
BIOD2100	Biodiversity and Conservation 2	6
BIOL2121	Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity	6
BIOL2141	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	6
BIOL2162	Functional Biology and Experimental Design	6
BIOL2172	Animal Biodiversity, or	6
BIOL2271	Marine and Terrestrial Animal Diversity	3

Students must take an additional 9 units (or 6 units if they take BIOL2172 Animal Diversity, instead of BIOL2271 Marine and Terrestrial Animal Diversity).

BIOL2201	Introduction to Ecotourism	3
BIOL2272	Marine Biology and Ecology	3
BIOL2232	Foundations in Microbiology	6
BIOL2330	Basic Microbiology	3
BIOL2161	Plant and Algal Biology: From Environment to Biotechnology	6
BIOL2341	Animal Disease and Defence	3
BIOL2142	Disease and Immunology	6
CPES2032	Physical Basis of Biological Systems A	3
CPES2033	Physical Basis of Biological Systems B	3
CPES2131	Coasts and Oceans	6
GLOB2002	Globalisation and Environmental Issues	6
GEOG2006	Australian Environmental Change	6
ENVS2704	Environmental Systems	6

Third Year Core

BIOD3001	Biodiversity and Conservation 3	6
BIOD3002	Biodiversity and Conservation Practicum	3
BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3151	Plant Ecology and Evolution	6
BIOL3152	Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology	6

Students then need to take 9 units of selective topics from the list below:

BIOL2112	Aquatic Life Histories	3
BIOL2122	Comparative Physiology	6
BIOL2424	Physiological Systems	3
BIOL3003	Research Project in Biology A	3
BIOL3004	Research Project in Biology B	3
BIOL3005	Extended Research Project in Biology	6
BIOL3102	Marine Vertebrates	6
BIOL3101	Marine Ecological Processes	6
BIOL3131	DNA to Genomics	6
BIOL3132	Protein to Proteome	6
BIOL3141	Advanced Microbiology: Microbial Ecology and Infectious Disease	6
BIOL3142	Microbiology Theory	3
BIOL3380	Animal Behaviour	3
BIOL3390	Vertebrate Palaeontology	6
BIOL3992	Biological Essays	3
ENVS3006	Environmental Weeds	3
ENVS3708	Coastal Studies	6
ENVS3721	Issues in Environmental Management	6
ENVS3722	Environmental Impact Assessment	6
GEOG3014	Introduction to Remote Sensing	3
GEOG3017	Advanced GIS	6
GEOG3020	GIS Modelling	6
STAT2304	Statistics for Biology	3

HONOURS PROGRAM

A student who has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation, or another qualification which the Faculty Board agrees is equivalent, may be accepted as a candidate for the honours degree providing a sufficiently high standard has been achieved in fulfilling the requirements for the bachelors degree.

To qualify for the honours degree, a student must complete satisfactorily 36 units of study in an approved program.

36 units comprising:

BIOD7001 Biodiversity Honours Research Project (24 units). Students should enrol in a combination of sub-topics chosen from the following, ensuring that they enrol in 24 units overall.

BIOD7001A	Biodiversity Honours Research Project (6/24 units)	6
BIOD7001B	Biodiversity Honours Research Project (9/24 units)	9
BIOD7001C	Biodiversity Honours Research Project (18/24 units)	18
BIOD7001D	Biodiversity Honours Research Project (12/24 units)	12
BIOD7001E	Biodiversity Honours Research Project (15/24 units)	15

plus 12 units selected from the following:

BIOD7002	Biodiversity and Conservation Honours Essay	3
BIOD8003	Advanced Skills in Field Ecology	6
BIOL7005	Critical Readings in Biology	3

or other topics approved by the Honours assessment panel, appropriate to a student's program.