Molecular Life Sciences major

This double major has been specifically designed to give an understanding of biological function at the molecular level and how this knowledge integrates into understanding how individual cells and entire organisms function. Emphasis is placed on developing and practicing the laboratory skills and technologies of cutting-edge molecular life sciences. Both theoretical and practical information is presented in the contexts of health sciences and agriculture. Critical thinking; developing and testing hypotheses; and analysing data, including big data, are integrated throughout the degree. Completion of this double major opens the possibility of a Master in Biotechnology with a choice of specialisations in AQUAtech, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology, Genetics and Genomics, or Synthetic Biology. This degree will also serve as an excellent stepping stone into careers in synthetic biology, bioscience, medicine and allied health fields, industry, as well as post-graduate studies in multiple bioscience disciplines.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of the current theoretical basis of the molecular life sciences in animals, plants and microorganisms; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of cellular environments, including biological systems and soils; (3) modify experimental protocols; (4) critically analyse and interpret experimental results; (5) apply techniques and technologies to solve problems in the molecular life sciences; (6) effectively communicate in the context of the molecular life sciences in both written and oral forms; and (7) apply relevant employability skills for molecular life sciences.

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. 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. If you are completing this major in a Combined Bachelor's masters Course, you have elected to pursue a highly specialised and in-depth program of study in your chosen field. While you are encouraged to use the free elective units available in your course to study in other disciplines offered at UWA, your formal requirement to broaden your course will be met through the Honours and Postgraduate units which form an integral part of your course.

Prerequisites

ATAR Mathematics Methods or equivalent or higher and ATAR Chemistry or equivalent or higher.

Molecular Life Sciences can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

BP004 Bachelor of Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Overview of unit sequence

Molecular Life Sciences 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

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (36 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
Chemistry ATAR
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry, WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
equivalent
S1, S2 CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
equivalent
or
higher
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
(Human Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
Biology: ATAR
or
equivalent;
or
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human;
or
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human;
or
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology;
or
IMED1001 Form and Function)
and
(Chemistry: ATAR
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry)
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004
S1, S2 STAT1400 Statistics for Science
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
equivalent
or
higher
Incompatibility:
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Bridging units
Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students without Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1721. Students without Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher take MATH1720 and MATH1721. Students without Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher take CHEM1003.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
This unit is not available to students who have a satisfactory performance (scaled score of 50 per cent
or
more) in Chemistry ATAR
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE 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
Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50)
or
equivalent .
Incompatibility:
WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B; MATH1038 Calculus and its Applications; MATH1045 Intermediate Calculus; Mathematics Specialist ATAR; MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1; MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2; MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus; MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods;
or
STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics.

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (30 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and (CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
or
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell, BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell, SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
S2 BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
Prerequisites:
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and (CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
or
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity)
Co-requisites:
For students in the Combined Bachelor Masters in Biochemistry of Nutrition
or
Molecular Life Sciences only: SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell (ID 1019)
Incompatibility:
BIOC2250 Biochemistry, BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology and (SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or
STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics), Chemistry ATAR
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
EART2230 Soil Science Essentials
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S2 GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Prerequisites:
12 points of Level 1 biology, six points of which must be EITHER SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
OR
IMED1003 Cell Survival and Communication
S2 PLNT2201 Plants in Action
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (42 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOC3001 Molecular Biology
Prerequisites:
(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in
or
before 2004; SCIE3325 Molecular Biology
S1 BIOC3002 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3003 Omics—Global Approaches to Cell Function
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3351 Structural and Functional Biochemistry
S2 BIOC3005 Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites:
[(BIOC2203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC2001 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell)
and
(BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function
or
BIOC2002 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function)]
Incompatibility:
BIOC3352 Cellular and Metabolic Biochemistry; PHYL3300 Mammalian Cell Biology
S2 BIOL3305 Fisheries Science: Foundation and Application
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology and completion of 48 points.
S2 GENE3350 Evolution and Development
Prerequisites:
GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Incompatibility:
ANIM3302 Genetics and Evolution
S1 GENE3370 Genomics
Prerequisites:
GENE2230 Molecular Genetics I
Incompatibility:
GENE3330 Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Choosing your degree-specific major

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.

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.

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