Extended Major Overview

Description

As the world becomes increasingly globalised, the importance of understanding and respecting cultural and physical differences between individuals becomes critical. The core units within this undergraduate program will provide students with the theoretical framework to understand how biological and cultural variation occurs, what forces shape this variation between and within populations, and how we can use this information to inform us about current social dilemmas and aid in finding solutions. These critical concepts are explored in this extended major via a sequence of units that examine the biology of 'being human' in today's world with an emphasis on how biology and behaviour of humans are influenced by genetic, developmental, ecological and cultural factors; these are complex interactions and often are associated with ‘big data'.

What is unique about this extended major is the concurrent development of data/analytical analysis skills in understanding complex biological systems. The sequence of data analysis/statistical units will develop an understanding of study design, data types (often observational), ways of understanding complex relationships, ability to make predictions and model interactions in actual biological systems.

Importantly, this extended major enhances skills needed for the future such as analytical thinking and innovation, critical thinking, complex problem-solving and programming. Furthermore, the suite of units in the program will develop other relevant transferable skills for effective communication and engagement with the community, government and industry groups involved in social and public health policies, as well as prepare students for honours in a broad range of areas in Science and Health.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the evolutionary processes that determine human differences within and between populations
  2. apply acquired knowledge to clearly define questions about human evolutionary and behavioural biology and ecology, particularly in relation to the processes by which humans adapt and acclimate to their natural environments
  3. acquire knowledge of, and demonstrate, techniques for seeking out information or designing experiments to answer questions related to issues in the fields of human evolutionary and behavioural biology and ecology
  4. critically assimilate, analyse and discuss information acquired on social, biological and economic issues from a human evolutionary biology perspective
  5. develop an awareness of how the principles of human evolutionary biology can inform the study of human biology, social, and public health policy
  6. apply appropriate techniques to the collection, visual presentation, analysis and interpretation of data from a wide range of sources
  7. select appropriate mathematical/statistical models for complex biological systems.
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. Recommended minors OneHealth: Human Health and Environment Science Communication
Suggested Minors to broaden you study area, are:
(1) MNR-SCCOM Science Communication
(2) MNR-ONHLT OneHealth: Human Health and Environment
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 equivalent or higher or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Courses

Human Sciences and Data Analytics can only 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
SS
summer teaching period
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human None
S2 ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human None
S1, SS PHIL1002 Introduction to Critical Thinking
Incompatibility
PHIL1105 Introduction to Critical Thinking
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
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain None
S2 PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context None
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 ECON1120 Environmental Economics 1 None
S2 PUBH1102 Foundations of Global Health None
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
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
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
Incompatibility
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
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 (SCIE1500 recommended). 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 (SCIE1500 recommended).

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 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 (30 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation None
S2 ANHB2216 Human Reproductive Biology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any one Unit(s)
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 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1108 Issues in Women's Health Across the Lifespan
S2 GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication
S1 STAT2401 Analysis of Experiments
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
or
Enrolment in
62530 Master of Data Science
S2 STAT2402 Analysis of Observations
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
or
Enrolment in
62530 Master of Data Science

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (30 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society None
S1 GENE3370 Genomics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
S2 STAT3064 Statistical Learning
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
MJD-CDSDM Computing and Data Science
or MJD-MTHST Mathematics and Statistics
or MJD-DATSC Data Science
or MJD-HSDEM Human Sciences and Data Analytics
and
STAT2401 Analysis of Experiments
and STAT2402 Analysis of Observations
or
STAT2062 Fundamentals of Probability with Applications
or STAT2063 Probabilistic Methods and their Applications
Incompatibility
STAT4067 Applied Statistics and Data Visualisation
and STAT5061 Statistical Data Science
S1 STAT3401 Advanced Data Analysis
Prerequisites
STAT2401 Analysis of Experiments
and STAT2402 Analysis of Observations
or STAT2062 Fundamentals of Probability with Applications
Incompatibility
STAT4065 Multilevel and Mixed-Effects Modelling
S1 STAT3406 Applied Statistics and Data Visualisation
Prerequisites

Course Enrolment in
the MJD-QTMTD Quantitative Methods major
or the MJD-HSDEM Human Sciences and Data Analytics major
or the MNR-ASTAT Applied Statistical Learning minor
and STAT2401 Analysis of Experiments
and STAT2402 Analysis of Observations
or STAT2062 Fundamentals of Probability with Applications
Incompatibility
STAT4064 Applied Predictive Modelling
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation (ID 1171)
or Unit(s) ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
or Unit(s) ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation
S2 ANHB3322 Human/Primate Social Organisation
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANHB2215 Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation
or Unit(s) ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
or Unit(s) ANHB3315 Human Evolutionary Ecology