Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major

What are genes? How do hormones work? What goes wrong in a cancer cell? If these questions are of interest, then the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major may be for you. Biochemists and molecular biologists are interested in the molecular functions of all living organisms, from the smallest bacterium to the largest whale. In this major, students study the way molecules are organised and how they interact to achieve the functions of the living cell and that of the organism. Your investigations cover three main areas: the information stored in DNA; molecular interactions; and how organisms gain and use energy.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the theoretical basis of biochemistry and molecular biology; (2) demonstrate critical analysis and the application of scientific method to biochemical problems; (3) demonstrate technical competency in basic laboratory skills including solution preparation, qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, and operation of general laboratory equipment; and (4) effectively communicate biochemical and molecular biological knowledge in both written and oral forms.

Degree-specific major

Biochemistry and Molecular 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

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
  • four Level 1 complementary units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
(Human Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human;
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human;
or
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function)
and
(Chemistry: ATAR
or
equivalent
or
a Level 1 Chemistry unit)
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry, CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry
S2 CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry, WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
equivalent
Complementary units
Take the following complementary units (for students with WACE Chemistry):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
Mathematics Methods ATAR
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
equivalent
or
higher
Incompatibility:
STAT1510 Statistics A, STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Complementary units
Take the following complementary units (for students without WACE Chemistry):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
This unit is not available to students who have a satisfactory performance (scaled score of 50 per cent
or
more) in Chemistry ATAR
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry,
or
equivalent.
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
Mathematics Methods ATAR
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
equivalent
or
higher
Incompatibility:
STAT1510 Statistics A, STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and (CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
or
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell, SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
S2 BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and six points of (CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry; CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry; CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry; CHEM1106 Biological Chemistry; CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics; CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity; CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2250 Biochemistry, BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC3001 Molecular Biology
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
or
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell) and one of MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology, PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development]
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004; SCIE3325 Molecular Biology
S1 BIOC3002 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
or
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell) and one of MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology, PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3352 Cellular and Metabolic Biochemistry; PHYL3300 Mammalian Cell Biology

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 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.

Example 1:
Course Study Plan: CSP004-BCHMB
Example 2:
Course Study Plan: CSP006-BCHMB

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 Biochemistry and Molecular 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-BCHMB-Generic
Example 2:
Course Study Plan: CSP006-BCHMB-Generic

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

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can also be taken as a second major.

Second major

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

The Biochemistry and Molecular 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

Level 1

Second major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
(Human Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human;
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human;
or
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function)
and
(Chemistry: ATAR
or
equivalent
or
a Level 1 Chemistry unit)
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004
Second major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry, CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry
S2 CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry, WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
equivalent

Level 2

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and (CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
or
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell, SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
S2 BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and six points of (CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry; CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry; CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry; CHEM1106 Biological Chemistry; CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics; CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity; CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2250 Biochemistry, BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function

Level 3

Second major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC3001 Molecular Biology
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
or
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell) and one of MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology, PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development]
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004; SCIE3325 Molecular Biology
S1 BIOC3002 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
or
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell) and one of MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology, PATH2201 Introduction to Human Disease, PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology, PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems, ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3352 Cellular and Metabolic Biochemistry; PHYL3300 Mammalian Cell Biology

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 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-BCHMB

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

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can also be taken as a degree-specific major.