Anatomy and Human Biology major

What is it that makes us human? The Anatomy and Human Biology major allows you to explore the fascinating concept of what it means to be human in an integrative way, combining studies of the education, behaviour and biology of human beings with current social and ethical issues. The units offered within this major cover topics as diverse as human functional anatomy; genetics, variation and evolution; reproduction, embryology and growth; microscopic structures of cells and tissues; structure and function of the nervous system; ecology, behaviour and biosocial interactions. Students explore all of these from the molecular to the population level and beyond.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand the structural, functional and genetic biology of humans to be able to (a) proceed to further studies in postgraduate professional biomedical courses (e.g. medicine, dentistry, sleep science); (b) make meaningful comparisons with other species; and (c) think about evolutionary processes in concrete, testable terms; (2) demonstrate familiarity with the current state of knowledge in a range of areas of human biology including genetics, functional morphology, histology and cell biology, evolutioniary ecology, biological anthropology, embryology, reproductive biology and neurobiology; (3) appreciate the relationships between human biology and other areas of science; (4) engage in the type of holistic, interconnected thinking required of human biologists; (5) demonstrate the possession of the generic scientific skills of library research, critical scientific reading, clear written and verbal communication, and effective data collection, analysis and interpretation; (6) demonstrate comfort in the use of electronic media; (7) demonstrate familiarity with the basic techniques and tools of both social and structural aspects of investigations in human biology; (8) engage in rigorous and critical approaches to experimental design and the validation, manipulation and interpretation of data; (9) communicate scientific ideas clearly and engagingly to a range of audiences; (10) work effectively as part of a team; (11) demonstrate faith in the experimental approach to furthering knowledge; (12) demonstrate an open and imaginative approach to problem solving; (13) appreciate the need to communicate openly and to share skills and knowledge; (14) appreciate the value of creative criticism, both offered and received; and (15) appreciate the value of human diversity for its own sake and for the way in which it informs the discipline of human biology.

Degree-specific major

Anatomy and Human Biology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

BP004 Bachelor of Science
BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Overview of unit sequence

Anatomy and Human Biology is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
  • one Level 1 complementary unit
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2020

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2021 or 2022.

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
S2 ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
Complementary units
Take the following complementary unit only for students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Methods, WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or eqivalaent or higher:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50)
or
equivalent .
Incompatibility:
WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B; MATH1038 Calculus and its Applications; MATH1045 Intermediate Calculus; Mathematics Specialist ATAR; MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1; MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2; MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus; MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods;
or
STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics.

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Group A:

Take units in Group A, B, C or D to the value of 12 points.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
Prerequisites:
six points of ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human; ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human; BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology: BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology; SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell; SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement; SSEH1102 Human Structure and Athletic Performance;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function. A recommended reading list will be made available on the LMS for students who have not done both ANHB1101
and
ANHB1102.
S2 ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
Degree-specific major units
Group B:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
Prerequisites:
6 points of any of the following units: ANHB1101Human Biology I: Becoming Human, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human, BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology, SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
S2 ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
Degree-specific major units
Group C:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
Prerequisites:
six points of ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human; ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human; BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology: BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology; SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell; SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement; SSEH1102 Human Structure and Athletic Performance;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function. A recommended reading list will be made available on the LMS for students who have not done both ANHB1101
and
ANHB1102.
S1 ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation
Degree-specific major units
Group D:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
Prerequisites:
6 points of any of the following units: ANHB1101Human Biology I: Becoming Human, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human, BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology, SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
S1 ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology
Prerequisites:
at least 66 points of credit
S2 ANHB3316 Human Reproduction
Prerequisites:
ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
or
two of (ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development, ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems, ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation)
or
[ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development and two of (PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PATH2220 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology)]
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
Incompatibility:
ANHB3311 Biological Anthropology
S2 ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation
Prerequisites:
at least 66 points of credit in a bachelor's degree
S1 ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Prerequisites:
ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
or
ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
or
equivalent
Incompatibility:
ANHB3313 Cell and Tissue Organisation
S2 ANHB3324 Human Structure and Function
Prerequisites:
ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
or
(SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement and either ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human after completion of 96 points)
Incompatibility:
ANHB3304 Human Functional Morphology
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB3310 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations I
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Anatomy and Human Biology major
Co-requisites:
one of ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology, Genes and Society
or
ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Incompatibility:
ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II
S2 ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Anatomy and Human Biology major
Co-requisites:
ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology
or
ANHB3316 Human Reproduction,
or
ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation,
or
ANHB3324 Human Structure and Function
Incompatibility:
ANHB3310 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations I

Choosing your degree-specific major

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Anatomy and Human Biology degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSP004-ANHBY

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. or Bachelor of Science course, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Anatomy and Human Biology degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.

Example 1:
Course Study Plan: CSP004-ANHBY-Generic

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .

Anatomy and Human Biology can also be taken as a second major.

Second major

Anatomy and Human Biology can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

The Anatomy and Human Biology second major is a single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2020

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2021 or 2022.

Level 1

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
S2 ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human

Level 2

Second major units
Group A:

Take units in Group A, B, C or D to the value of 12 points.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
Prerequisites:
six points of ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human; ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human; BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology: BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology; SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell; SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement; SSEH1102 Human Structure and Athletic Performance;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function. A recommended reading list will be made available on the LMS for students who have not done both ANHB1101
and
ANHB1102.
S2 ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
Second major units
Group B:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
Prerequisites:
6 points of any of the following units: ANHB1101Human Biology I: Becoming Human, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human, BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology, SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
S2 ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
Second major units
Group C:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
Prerequisites:
six points of ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human; ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human; BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology: BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology; SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell; SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement; SSEH1102 Human Structure and Athletic Performance;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function. A recommended reading list will be made available on the LMS for students who have not done both ANHB1101
and
ANHB1102.
S1 ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation
Second major units
Group D:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
Prerequisites:
6 points of any of the following units: ANHB1101Human Biology I: Becoming Human, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human, BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology, SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
S1 ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation

Level 3

Second major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology
Prerequisites:
at least 66 points of credit
S2 ANHB3316 Human Reproduction
Prerequisites:
ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
or
two of (ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development, ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems, ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation)
or
[ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development and two of (PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PATH2220 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology)]
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
Incompatibility:
ANHB3311 Biological Anthropology
S2 ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation
Prerequisites:
at least 66 points of credit in a bachelor's degree
S1 ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Prerequisites:
ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
or
ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
or
equivalent
Incompatibility:
ANHB3313 Cell and Tissue Organisation
S2 ANHB3324 Human Structure and Function
Prerequisites:
ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
or
(SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement and either ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human after completion of 96 points)
Incompatibility:
ANHB3304 Human Functional Morphology
Second major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB3310 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations I
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Anatomy and Human Biology major
Co-requisites:
one of ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology, Genes and Society
or
ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Incompatibility:
ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II
S2 ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II
Prerequisites:
enrolment in the Anatomy and Human Biology major
Co-requisites:
ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology
or
ANHB3316 Human Reproduction,
or
ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation,
or
ANHB3324 Human Structure and Function
Incompatibility:
ANHB3310 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations I

Choosing a second major

The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how Anatomy and Human Biology can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-ANHBY

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .

Anatomy and Human Biology can also be taken as a degree-specific major.