Major Overview
- Description
Botany is the scientific study of plants—from their structure and function to their indispensable roles in ecosystems and the intricacies of their cell function. Botanists study how plants evolve and adapt to changing climates and environments and have a proactive role in mitigating the loss of biodiversity. Botany is an ideal major if you are enthusiastic about Western Australia's unique native flora or agricultural crops, and are interested in addressing current and future threats to plant conservation and sustainability. It is envisaged that there will be up to three overnight field trips (there will be a cost of up to \$500 to cover food and accommodation for around 10 nights, to be borne by the student).
- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- understand plant structure, function, diversity and evolution
- appreciate the pivotal relationship between plants and their environment
- demonstrate a knowledge of basic plant processes at different levels of organisation including cells, tissues, organs, organisms, populations and communities
- be conversant in the terminology, issues and practice of the core principles of botany—diversity, ecology, genetics and evolution, and physiology
- apply relevant employability skills for botany.
- 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 if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Recommended broadening units for Botany
CHEM1001 Chemistry Properties and Energetics)
INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology;
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python;
GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems; ANIM2001 Darwinian Revolution (Sem 1);
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity;
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function; GENE3340 Molecular Genetics II;
BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function
BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry ;
BIOC2002 (Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)
ENVT3060 Soil–Plant Interactions
Recommended Minors
Language and Culture minor
Data Science
Environmental Chemistry
Science Communication
Earth's Environmental Challenges
Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
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 Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.
- Courses
Botany can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
Example Study Plan
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 (24 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 | |
| S1 | SCOM1101 | Communicating Science |
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 MATH1721 or SCIE1500.
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 either MATH1721 or SCIE1500.
Note: MATH1721 should be taken if also considering majors or minors that require it for progression to level 2 (e.g. Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | MATH1720 | Mathematics Fundamentals |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1721 | Mathematics Foundations: Methods | |
| S1, S2 | SCIE1500 | Analytical Methods for Scientists |
Level 2
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT2250 | Ecology | |
| S1 | GENE2250 | Principles of Inheritance |
|
| S2 | PLNT2201 | Plants in Action |
|
| S2 | PLNT2204 | Plant Diversity and Evolution |
|
Level 3
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | BIOL3364 | Evolutionary Processes |
|
| S2 | ENVT3363 | Ecological Processes |
|
| S1 | PLNT3301 | Plant Physiological Ecology |
|
| NS | PLNT3306 | Australian Vegetation |
|