Extended Major Overview
- Description
The extended major in Human Sciences and Neuroscience centres on the understanding of human behaviour, combining a strong core of Neuroscience and Physiology with the disciplines of Psychology and Anthropology. The multidisciplinary major offers an excellent preparation for careers in clinical and healthcare settings as well as medical research.
The degree will increase your knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of how the brain works through Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and Physiology units. You will also expand your understanding of human behaviour through units that incorporate psychology, anthropology as well as primate ecology and social behaviour. These topics provide an excellent counterfoil to the strongly biological content of Neuroscience and Physiology on their own.
This unique combination offers both depth and breadth of knowledge about the human brain and behaviour at both the micro and macro scales. You will learn to understand the brain at a cellular and molecular level, as well as from a human evolution and behaviour perspective. This broad approach will provide a unique insight into how human behaviour is influenced by genetic, developmental, ecological and cultural factors.
Importantly, this major will enhance skills needed for careers in a range of fields, including health care, health policy, and medical and health research. You will learn analytical and critical thinking, innovation and creativity, complex problem solving and effective team work. Furthermore, the suite of units in the program will develop relevant transferable skills for effective communication and engagement with community, government and industry groups involved in social and public health policies, as well as prepare students for Honours and Masters in a broad range of areas in Science.
- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- demonstrate a sound knowledge of basic cell and systems biology and biological chemistry and apply this knowledge to neural cells and systems
- appreciate the value of human diversity for its own sake and for the way in which it informs the disciplines of neuroscience, anatomy and physiology
- demonstrate an understanding of the the basic neuroscience underpinning common pathological conditions of the nervous systems
- integrate key knowlege and concepts about the structure and function of the human brain and how this is expressed in behaviour
- recognise the ongoing expansion of knowledge in neuroscience areas and its ethical implications
- work productively in small groups in a neuroscience laboratory environment
- demonstrate the possession of the generic scientific skills of library research, critical scientific reading, clear written and verbal communication and effective data collection, analysis and interpretation
- apply high-level critical thinking, teamwork and communication and skills required for employment and further studies related to medical and health fields.
- 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 k now 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 Minor
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.
Suggested Minors to broaden you study area, are:
(1) MNR-ANSCI Anatomical MNR-ANSCI Anatomical Sciences
(2) MNR-ASTAT Applied Statistical MNR-ASTAT Applied Statistical Learning
(3) MNR- Behavioural data MNR- Behavioural data science
(4) MNR-BIOAN Biological MNR-BIOAN Biological Anthropology
(5) MNR-DATSC Data MNR-DATSC Data Science
(6) MNR-PAHLT Physical Activity and MNR-PAHLT Physical Activity and Health
(7) MNR-SCCOM Science MNR-SCCOM Science Communication
(8) MNR-SCILT Science in MNR-SCILT Science in Society - 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.
Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.
- Courses
Human Science and Neuroscience 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
- N/A
- not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
Level 1
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (36 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human | None |
S2 | ANHB1102 | Human Biology II: Being Human | None |
S2 | NEUR1001 | Neuroscience in Society | None |
S1 | PSYC1101 | Psychology: Mind and Brain | None |
S2 | PSYC1102 | Psychology: Behaviour in Context | None |
S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Bridging units
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).
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1, S2 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
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 (30 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | ANHB2215 | Biological Anthropology: Human Adaptation and Variation | None |
S1 | ANHB2217 | Human Neurobiology |
|
S1 | ANHB3321 | Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society | None |
S2 | PHYL2002 | Physiology of Cells | None |
S1 | PSYC2217 | Cognitive Neuroscience |
|
Level 3
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (36 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | ANHB3310 | Human Biology: Applications and Investigations I | |
S1 | ANHB3323 | Cells, Tissues and Development |
|
S1 | ANIM3320 | Comparative Neurobiology |
|
S2 | NEUR3301 | Advanced Neuroscience 1 |
|
S2 | NEUR3302 | Advanced Neuroscience 2 |
|
S1 | NEUR3310 | Neuroscience |
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Alternate years