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:

  1. demonstrate a sound knowledge of basic cell and systems biology and biological chemistry and apply this knowledge to neural cells and systems
  2. 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
  3. demonstrate an understanding of the the basic neuroscience underpinning common pathological conditions of the nervous systems
  4. integrate key knowlege and concepts about the structure and function of the human brain and how this is expressed in behaviour
  5. recognise the ongoing expansion of knowledge in neuroscience areas and its ethical implications
  6. work productively in small groups in a neuroscience laboratory environment
  7. 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
  8. 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
Suggested units to broaden your study area, are:
HMSC1000 Waking Up to Sleep
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 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027

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
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
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
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
S1 ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any two 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 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or Enrolment in
71520 Master of Biomedical Science
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society None
S2 PHYL2002 Cellular Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or NEUR1001 Neuroscience in Society
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or Enrolment in
71520 Master of Biomedical Science
S1 PSYC2217 Cognitive Neuroscience
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PSYC3317 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
Prerequisites
MJD-ANHBY Anatomy and Human Biology
or MJD-HSNEM Human Science and Neuroscience
Co-requisites
ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
or ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Incompatibility
ANHB3320 Human Biology: Applications and Investigations II
S1 ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
or Unit(s) ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems
or Enrolment in
MJD-HSNEM Human Science and Neuroscience
S1 ANIM3320 Comparative Neurobiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
any Level 2 BIOL unit
or any Level 2 PHYL unit
or any Level 2 ANHB unit
or any Level 2 ANIM unit
or any Level 2 PSYC unit
and Successful completion of
48 points
and Successful completion of
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods

or
Enrolment in
71520 Master of Biomedical Science
S2 NEUR3301 Advanced Neuroscience 1
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology
and Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
S2 NEUR3302 Advanced Neuroscience 2
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology
and Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
Co-requisites
Nil NEUR3301 Advanced Neuroscience 1
S1 NEUR3310 Neuroscience
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
or Unit(s) PHYL2002 Cellular Physiology PHAR2220 Human Pharmacology or equivalent
Degree-specific major units

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

Alternate years

Alternate years

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 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
N/A 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