Major Overview

Description

If you are fascinated by our amazing marine plants and animals and the coastal environments in which they live, then Marine Biology is the major for you. Western Australia's marine environment is a biodiversity hotspot with up to 80 per cent of its fish, invertebrates and other organisms found nowhere else in the world, making WA an ideal living laboratory for your studies. This major includes marine biology and ecology, marine and coastal management, and oceanography. It combines knowledge of marine aquatic life with a solid understanding of the physical environment. Through experimental design and research, you will learn to appreciate the complex interactions that occur in marine ecosystems. During your studies, you will gain practical experience through hands-on laboratory-based exercises, field trips and computer-based labs.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. critically review the relationship between structure, function and process at all biological levels: molecular, cellular, organismal, population, community and ecosystem
  2. apply scientific principles, incorporating theoretical concepts, keen observation, sound experimental design, analysis and insightful interpretation into marine research
  3. demonstrate a knowledge of the diversity, life history strategies and functional traits of marine biota
  4. explain the ecological relationships between organisms and their environment at a range of spatial and temporal scales and evaluate how these may be altered by climate change
  5. explain how the interactions between physical and biotic components can influence decisions about sustainable management
  6. develop skills in the use of laboratory and field techniques commonly used in marine biology
  7. develop skills in modelling and statistics as relevant to marine research
  8. conduct quantitative marine research in a safe, ethical and professional manner
  9. demonstrate competency in high-level critical thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment in marine biology.
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 if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Suggested broadening units for Marine Biology:

SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists or MATH1729 Mathematics Fundamentals (unless student has completed ATAR Mathematics Methods) or

GENE2250 Principles of Inheritence or GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems or

ECON1120 Environmental Economics or OCEN1101 Global Ocean Challenges

If you are interested to further develop your skills in Science Communication we also recommend the Science Communication Minor as a set of four related broadening units:

SCOM1101 Communicating Science;

SCOM2208 Science Writing (Sem 1);

SCOM2205 Science Presentations (Sem 2);

SCOM3319 Exhibitions and Interpretation (Sem 1). "

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 an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Courses

Marine Biology can 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

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology None
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology None
S1 EART1105 Dynamic Planet None
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Co-requisites
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists or equivalent
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 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.
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.

Note: MATH1721 should be taken if also considering majors or 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 (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL2204 Marine Biology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SCIE2204 Marine Systems and ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or Successful completion of
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry or equivalent
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
S2 ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
or Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
or Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology (ID 5950)
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
and
SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
S1 SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL3305 Fisheries Science: Foundation and Application
Prerequisites
Successful completion of 48 points and
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
and
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or BIOL2204 Marine Biology
S1 ENVT3306 Coastal Conservation and Management
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or GEOG2202 Reading Landscapes: People and Processes
or permission of the unit coordinator
S2 ENVT3307 Oceanography
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) SCIE2204 Marine Systems
S1 SCIE3304 Field Techniques in Marine Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
72 points and one Unit(s) SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or ENSC3012 Data Collection and Analysis or equivalent