Human Science and Neuroscience major (MJD-HSNEM)

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; and (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.

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.

Human Science and Neuroscience can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

Human Science and Neuroscience is a degree-specific double major comprising:

  • six Level 1 units
  • five Level 2 units
  • seven Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2022

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.

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
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 NEUR1001 Neuroscience in Society
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or
Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) IMED1001 Form and Function and Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Co-requisites:
Nil
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
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
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
Co-requisites:
Nil
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
( Mathematics Methods ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50]
or
equivalent )
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus and MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods and STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)

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
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of two Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or
Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
Unit(s) IMED1001 Form and Function
or
Enrolment in 71520 Master of Biomedical Science
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 PSYC2217 Cognitive Neuroscience
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or
Unit(s) PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
Co-requisites:
Nil
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:
Enrolment in Major(s) MJD-ANHBY Anatomy and Human Biology
or
Major(s) MJD-HSNEM Human Science and Neuroscience
Co-requisites:
Successful completion of
Or
Enrolment in Unit(s) ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society Of Unit(s) ANHB3323 Cells, Tissues and Development
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) 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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ANIM3320 Comparative Neurobiology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one level 2 Unit(s) BIOL2xxx
or
PHYL2xxx
or
ANHB2xxx
or
ANIM2xxx
or
PSYC2xxx
or
Enrolment in 71520 Master of Biomedical Science
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 NEUR3301 Advanced Neuroscience 1
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of two Unit(s) ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology and Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 NEUR3302 Advanced Neuroscience 2
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of two Unit(s) ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology and Unit(s) PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
Co-requisites:
Successful completion of
Or
Enrolment in One Unit(s) NEUR3301 Advanced Neuroscience 1
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 NEUR3310 Neuroscience
Prerequisites:
PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
or
PHYL2245 Physiology of Cells
or
IMED2002 Blood and Drugs
or
PHAR2220 Human Pharmacology
or
equivalent units
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Alternate years

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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

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 Human Science and Neuroscience degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Human Sciences course.

Example Study Plan

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a double major.