Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

All course rules are currently under review and new course rules will apply from 2011.
As a result topic details may change. Further information on the new course structures will be made available by mid-2010.

Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture)

(BTech(Aquaculture))

Program of study

Honours program

Combined degrees program

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture) requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time) and the honours program an additional year (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

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.

The Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture) may also be studied in a combined degrees program with the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology.

A combined degrees program of Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture) / Bachelor of Innovation and Enterprise (Science and Technology) is also offered.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to produce graduates who will have the practical and theoretical skills for a career in the aquaculture industry.

It aims to produce graduates with:

a sound understanding of the biology of aquaculture organisms;
a sound understanding of reproduction, genetics, nutrition and water quality issues relevant to aquaculture;
an understanding of critical scientific issues in aquaculture;
knowledge of construction, engineering and infrastructure issues relevant to aquaculture ventures;
knowledge and experience of practical skills, quantitative methods, and management strategies and techniques in commercial aquaculture ventures;
knowledge of health and safety issues in aquaculture ventures;
a sound understanding and experience of scientific methodologies;
well developed interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

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 sound understanding of the biology of aquaculture organisms and of breeding, genetics, nutrition and water quality issues relevant to aquaculture;
understand and interpret critical scientific issues in aquaculture;
employ scientific techniques, practical skills and management strategies to improve aquatic resource management;
employ knowledge of health and safety issues in aquaculture ventures.

Transferable professional skills

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

employ scientific methodologies such as experimental design, quantitative skills, 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, 2009]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture), 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.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 108 units for the degree.

First Year

36 units comprising:

AQUA1211

Professional Skills for Aquaculturists

4.5

BIOL1102

Molecular Basis of Life

4.5

BIOL1101

Evolution of Biological Diversity

4.5

BIOL1201

Introduction to Aquaculture

4.5

CHEM1201

Introduction to Chemistry A, OR

4.5

CHEM1101

Chemistry 1A

4.5

Electives

13.5

Second Year

36 units comprising:

AQUA2002

Aquaculture 2: Technology and Production Systems

6

AQUA2131

Aquaculture Practicum

3

BIOL2121

Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity

6

BIOL2162

Functional Biology and Experimental Design

6

BIOL2341

Animal Disease and Defence, or

3

BIOL2142

Disease and Immunology

6

Electives (when selecting BIOL2341 Animal Disease and Defence), OR

12

Electives (when selecting BIOL2142 Disease and Immunology)

9

Third Year

36 units comprising:

AQUA3002

Aquaculture 3: Seed Supply and Health Management

6

BIOL3005

Extended Research Project in Biology, OR

6

BIOL3003

Research Project in Biology A, AND

3

BIOL3004

Research Project in Biology B

3

BUSN2006

Enterprise Management

6

Electives

18

SUGGESTED ELECTIVES

While students are able to select elective units from anywhere across the University, these are suggested electives.

First Year

BIOL1112

Biology and Society

4.5

EASC1101

Earth and Environment 1

4.5

ENVS1701

Environmental Studies

4.5

STAT1412

Data Analysis Laboratory*

4.5

CPES1102

Science and Society*

4.5

EASC1102

Marine Sciences 1

4.5

CPES1202

Physics for the Life Sciences B

4.5

CHEM1202

Introduction to Chemistry B, OR

4.5

CHEM1102

Chemistry 1B

4.5

*Highly recommended electives.

Second Year

BIOL2112

Aquatic Life Histories

3

BIOL2161

Plant and Algal Biology: From Environment to Biotechnology

6

BIOL2171

Behaviour and Ecology

6

BIOL2172

Animal Diversity

6

BIOL2232

Foundations in Microbiology

6

BIOL2271

Marine and Terrestrial Animal Diversity

3

BIOL2272

Marine Biology and Ecology

3

BIOL2330

Basic Microbiology

3

BIOL2424

Physiological Systems

3

CPES2131

Coasts and Oceans

6

ENVS2704

Environmental Systems

6

STAT2304

Statistics for Biology

3

Third Year

AQUA3918

Fisheries Science *

3

BIOL2122

Comparative Physiology

6

BIOL3101

Marine Ecological Processes

6

BIOL3102

Marine Vertebrates *

6

BIOL3151

Plant Ecology and Evolution

6

BIOL3152

Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology *

6

ENVS3708

Coastal Studies

6

ENVS3722

Environmental Impact Assessment

6

*Highly recommended electives.

HONOURS PROGRAM

A student who has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Technology (Aquaculture), 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:

AQUA7001 Aquaculture 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.

AQUA7001A

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (6/24 units)

6

AQUA7001F

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (6/24 units) Part 2

6

AQUA7001G

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (6/24 units) Part 3

6

AQUA7001H

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (6/24 units) Part 4

6

AQUA7001B

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (9/24 units)

9

AQUA7001C

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (18/24 units)

18

AQUA7001D

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (12/24 units)

12

AQUA7001J

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (12/24 units) Part 2

12

AQUA7001E

Aquaculture Honours Research Project (15/24 units)

15

plus 12 units selected from the following:

BIOL7002

Biology Honours Research Proposal

3

BIOL7003

Biology Honours Literature Review

3

BIOL7004

Scientific Method & Data Presentation

3

BIOL7005

Critical Readings in Biology

3

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