Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation) - 4 years

To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) – 4 years.

The Biodiversity and Conservation Specialisation is offered as part of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) and requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Specialisation is offered by the School of Biological Sciences, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Specialisations have different admission requirements to other programs of study available in the Bachelor of Science (Honours). In order to undertake a Specialisation students must be admitted to the Specialisation program.

There is an alternative 1 year program for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) for students who have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science.

• Admission requirements
• Aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

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 (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation), but a knowledge of Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry to Year 11 is desirable.

Aims

The program of study aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in biodiversity and conservation biology and allied areas, together with the ability to acquire extensive subject knowledge in the discipline. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

• understand and apply relevant scientific principles in the area of conservation biology
• retrieve and present information about biodiversity and conservation biology effectively, communicate clearly with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
• critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to biodiversity and conservation biology
• appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of studies in biodiversity and conservation biology and engage positively with people and ideas beyond the discipline
• work cooperatively and productively within a team
• work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
• appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, of human impacts on biodiversity and the professional practice of biologists.

The program of studies provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further studies in biodiversity and conservation biology or another science or non-science related discipline, or for a career in this or a related field, or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.

Learning outcomes

Graduates are expected to be able to:

• understand and critically apply the theories, subject content, professional methodologies, ethical frameworks and research procedures relevant to studies of biodiversity and conservation biology
• understand the nature and historical basis of current threats to biological diversity and to understand the nature of conservation actions that can be undertaken to mitigate these threats
• analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and conducting experiments and statistically analysing data
• undertake studies relating to biodiversity and conservation in both laboratory and field contexts
• communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms
• appreciate the relationships between studies in biodiversity and conservation biology and other science and non-science disciplines, and appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of many studies in biodiversity and conservation biology
• have the capacity to work and learn independently, but also to be able to contribute  effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development.

Program of Study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation) specialisation a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) – 4 years program of study.  The program of study for the specialisation is detailed below:

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 1 topics

22.5 units comprising:

 BIOD1102  Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation##  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)

Plus either:

 CHEM1101  Chemistry 1A##  (4.5 units) AND
 CHEM1102  Chemistry 1B##  (4.5 units)
 
or

 CHEM1201  Introduction to Chemistry A##  (4.5 units) AND
 CHEM1202  Introduction to Chemistry B##  (4.5 units)

##Cognate studies

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 2 topics

27 units comprising:

 BIOD2701  Biodiversity and Conservation  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2701  Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2711  Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2712  Animal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 GEOG2700  Geographical Information Systems  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 3 topics

27 units comprising:

 BIOD3701  Human Impacts and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3701  Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3702  Marine and Freshwater Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3711  Plant and Algal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3712  Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3722  Conservation and Ecological Genetics  (4.5 units)

Core - Honours Year topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL4700A  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700B  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700C  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700D  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4700E  Biology Honours Research Project  (4.5/22.5 units)  
 BIOL4710  Honours Critical Readings  (4.5 units)
 BIOL4720  Honours Grant Writing Skills  (4.5 units)
 BIOL4730  Honours Scientific Methods and Data Presentation  (4.5 units)