Extended Major Overview

Description

The extended major in Biodiversity and Evolution is designed for students interested in understanding the evolution and maintenance of the outstanding biodiversity that exists in Australia, with a special emphasis on Western Australia, a globally recognized hotspot of animal and plant diversity. This major explores the basics of animal and plant biology and how these systems have adapted and diversified in the unique environments found in Australia. It explores how biodiversity arose through the processes of evolution from the molecular genetic to the community levels.

There will be opportunities to study animals and plants living in a diverse range of habitats in Western Australia, from deserts to forests and tropical reefs, and to carry out your studies in both the classroom and in the field. By studying zoology, botany, ecology and molecular biology with leading academics and industry partners, you will gain the discipline-specific expertise and practical skills, along with employability skills in critical and innovative thinking and communication, to undertake employment opportunities in environmental consulting, conservation programs and fauna and flora management, as well as academic research.

This major will also prepare you for entry into Honours in Zoology and the Master of Biological Science.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. describe the major differences in the development, structure and functioning of animals and plants and explain animal and plant diversity in a phylogenetic context
  2. describe broad patterns of global biodiversity and the evolutionary history of Australia's biodiversity
  3. explain how animals and plants diversity and function in different environments using evolutionary, physiological, ecological and molecular genetic concepts
  4. identify timescales and their importance to processes of evolution, environmental change and the dynamics of Australian ecosystems
  5. describe the crucial relationships among animal and plant physiology, behavior, ecology and evolution
  6. demonstrate competence in surveying, sampling and handling wild animals and plants under field conditions
  7. demonstrate competence in dissecting physiological systems at the molecular level
  8. demonstrate high-level analytical, critical and innovative thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment in roles related to biodiversity and evolution.
Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so and to pursue as many areas of interest as you can during your course of study. At the same time, we know that many of you value the University's guidance and assistance in planning your enrolment throughout your course, so we offer the following suggestions for your consideration as possible avenues to broaden your degree.

Recommended units

CHEM1004

PLNT2201 Plants in Action

GENE3340 Molecular Genetics II

GENE3370 Genomics

ENVT3363 Ecological Processes

PLNT3301 Plant Physiological Ecology

ENVT3060 Soil–Plant Interactions"

Recommended Minor

Minor in Science Communication

Do always remember, however, that there is no wrong way to broaden your studies as long as you complete at least four units not associated with your Degree Specific Major.

Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher, or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.

Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Incompatibilities

MJD-ZOOLY Zoology

Courses

Biodiversity and Evolution can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plans

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
NS
non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (30 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology None
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology None
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications or equivalent
or Mathematics Methods or equivalent
or Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Human Biology or equivalent
or ATAR Subject(s) Biology or equivalent
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or IMED1001 Form and Function
and Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D or equivalent
Co-requisites
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Bridging units

Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete either MATH1721 or SCIE1500.

Note: MATH1721 should be taken if also considering minors that require it for progression to level 2 (e.g. Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science).

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and MATH1721 or SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1
and MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2 and
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods
and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (42 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANIM2001 The Darwinian Revolution
Incompatibility
Unit(s) ANIM1001 The Darwinian Revolution (ID 5787)
S2 ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
or Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
S1 ANIM2220 Animal Diversity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
and
SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
S2 GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life
or Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication
S1 GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life
or Successful completion of
any one BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GENE2204 Principles of Genetics
S2 PLNT2204 Plant Diversity and Evolution
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any one Unit(s)
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANIM3361 Animal Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) ANIM2220 Animal Diversity
or Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
or Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function
S2 ANIM3363 Environmental Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANIM2xxx
S2 ANIM3365 Behavioural Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function (ID 1298)
or ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
S1 BIOL3364 Evolutionary Processes
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
and
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
and
SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
Incompatibility
ANIM3362 Evolutionary Processes
S2 GENE3350 Evolution and Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
NS PLNT3306 Australian Vegetation
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PLNT2204 Plant Diversity and Evolution (ID 1302)
or Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)