Genetics major
Genetics is the study of biologically inherited traits as diverse as those that cause human disease, allow a rare plant to live in a single, isolated location, or result in a desirable characteristic found in a domestic animal used in agriculture. Your studies in genetics involve the analysis of DNA and the many ways in which it is expressed. The knowledge acquired by studying the Genetics major is important for study in all biological sciences including agriculture, biochemistry, botany, conservation biology, ecology, medicine, microbiology, molecular biology and zoology. This major delivers a broad overview of the universal principles, potentials and problems associated with DNA-based life, and provides you with the essential skills of a geneticist.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) appreciate that as genetics is the study of inheritance, it is a cornerstone of the biological sciences; (2) demonstrate knowledge of how traits are inherited and the molecular nature of these patterns, how genetic processes control development and disease and are affected by the environment and evolution, and how and why genomes are studied; (3) demonstrate oral and written communication skills; (4) practise technologies used in various fields of genetics; and (5) demonstrate skills in critical thinking, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and teamwork.
Degree-specific major
Genetics 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
Genetics is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
- five Level 1 complementary units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Level 1
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | |
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology |
Students with WACE Chemistry, take STAT1400 and either CHEM1001 or CHEM1004 (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | CHEM1001 | Chemistry—Properties and Energetics |
|
| S2 | CHEM1004 | Biological Chemistry |
|
| S1, S2 | STAT1400 | Statistics for Science |
Students without WACE Chemistry, take all complementary units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
| S1, S2 | STAT1400 | Statistics for Science |
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GENE2230 | Molecular Genetics I |
|
| S1 | GENE2250 | Principles of Inheritance |
|
Level 3
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GENE3340 | Molecular Genetics II |
|
| S2 | GENE3350 | Evolution and Development |
|
| S1 | GENE3370 | Genomics |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANIM3362 | Evolutionary Processes |
|
| S1 | PATH3305 | Medical Genetics |
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 Genetics degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
- With WACE Chemistry
- Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-1
- Without WACE Chemistry
- Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-2
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 Genetics degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
- With WACE Chemistry
- Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-Generic-1
- Without WACE Chemistry
- Course Study Plan: CSP004-GENET-Generic-2
- Example 3:
- Course Study Plan: CSP006-GENET-Generic
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Genetics can also be taken as a second major.
Second major
Genetics can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:
- BP001 Bachelor of Arts
- BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- BP002 Bachelor of Commerce
- BP003 Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students.
- BP004 Bachelor of Science
- BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
The Genetics 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
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | |
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology |
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GENE2230 | Molecular Genetics I |
|
| S1 | GENE2250 | Principles of Inheritance |
|
Level 3
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | GENE3340 | Molecular Genetics II |
|
| S2 | GENE3350 | Evolution and Development |
|
| S1 | GENE3370 | Genomics |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANIM3362 | Evolutionary Processes |
|
| S1 | PATH3305 | Medical Genetics |
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 Genetics can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .
Genetics can also be taken as a degree-specific major.