Extended Major Overview

Description

The Wildlife Conservation extended major is designed for students interested in the conservation of threatened animals and their environments. The extended major allows you to study animals with a special emphasis on understanding their relative conservation status and options for recovering viable populations of threatened species. Focusing on unique Australian fauna, you will learn about the processes leading to the exceptional biodiversity that exists today, the threats facing this biodiversity and the management strategies and policies that can be used to limit, and in some cases reverse, the impact of these threats. There will be opportunities to study animals living in a diverse range of habitats in Western Australia, from the desert to forests and tropical reefs, and to carry out your studies in both the classroom and in the field. Through studying zoology, ecology, genetics, conservation biology, spatial planning and policy from leading academics and industry partners, you'll gain the expertise and skills to seek employment opportunities in environmental consulting, wildlife conservation programs and fauna management. This extended major also prepares you for entry into Honours in Conservation Biology, honours in Zoology and the Master of Biological Science.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. describe the major differences in the development, structure and functioning of animals and to explain animal diversity in a phylogenetic context
  2. summarise broad patterns of global biodiversity and the evolutionary history of Australia's biodiversity
  3. explain how animals function in different environments using physiological, ecological and genetic concepts
  4. experience how to survey, sample and handle wild animals under field conditions
  5. identify timescales and their importance to processes of evolution, environmental change and the dynamics of Australian ecosystems
  6. describe the crucial relationship between an animal's physiology, behavior and ecology and its vulnerability to rapid environmental change
  7. analyse the major threats to wild animal populations, and how threats interact with other threats
  8. critique how key threatening processes are managed and mitigated in Australia
  9. explain the role of different stakeholders in shaping policy, planning and decision-making; (10) demonstrate high-level analytical, critical thinking and communication skills suited to gaining employment in wildlife conservation; and (11) demonstrate competency in laboratory practice, report writing, oral presentation, fieldwork and team work skills suited to gain employment in wildlife conservation..
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. 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.

Suggested broadening units for Wildlife Conservation:

SCOM 1101 Communicating Science (Sem 1)

MATH1729 Mathematics Fundamentals (unless student has completed ATAR Mathematics Methods)

INDG Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge (Sem 1)

ANIM2001 Darwinian Revolution (Sem 1)

GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance (Sem 1)

ANIM2297 Human-wildlife conflict in the Tropics (Non standard semester)

ENVT3363 Ecological Processes (Sem 2).

We also recommend the Science Communication Minor as a set of four related broadening units:

SCOM1101 Communicating Science (Sem 1)

SCOM2208 Science Writing (Sem 1)

SCOM2205 Science Presentations (Sem 2)

SCOM3319 Exhibitions and Interpretation (Sem 1).

Note that Science Presentations would need to be taken in first year in order to complete the extended major in Wildlife Conservation and the minor in Science Communication.

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.

Incompatibilities

MJD-CONBI Conservation Biology (ID 256), MJD-ZOOLY Zoology (ID 1230)

Courses

Wildlife Conservation can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plans

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
NS
non-standard teaching period

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
S2 INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge 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.

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 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 (42 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
or Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
NS ANIM2209 Field Studies in Zoology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
Co-requisites
ENVT2250 Ecology
S1 ANIM2220 Animal Diversity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
S1 BIOL2261 Conservation Biology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
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, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites
36 points of prior study

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (42 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ANIM3353 Wildlife Conservation and Management
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
or ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (ID 1293)
S1 ANIM3361 Animal Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Unit(s) ANIM2220 Animal Diversity
or Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
or Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function
S2 ANIM3363 Environmental Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANIM2xxx
S2 ANIM3365 Behavioural Ecology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function (ID 1298)
or ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
NS BIOL3360 Saving Endangered Species
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) BIOL2261 Conservation Biology (ID 1250)
or Unit(s) ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (ID 1293)
or Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228) or equivalent
S1 BIOL3364 Evolutionary Processes
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists or equivalent
and
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
and
SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
Incompatibility
ANIM3362 Evolutionary Processes
S2 GEOG3303 Environmental Policy and Planning
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
MJD-CONBI Conservation Biology
or MJD-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
or MJD-GGRPY Geographical Sciences
or MJD-GSSCI Geographical and Spatial Science
or MJD-HGYPL Human Geography and Planning
or MJD-APHGY Applied Human Geography
or MJD-WLCDM Wildlife Conservation
or MJD-ENVDM Environmental Science and Management
or MJD-ENVMT Environmental Management
or MJD-ENGEO Environmental Geography and Planning
or MNR-SAPEP Science and Policy: Environmental Planning
or MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
or MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment
and Successful completion of
72 points in your chosen degree
Incompatibility
Unit(s) PLNG2203 Environmental Policy and Planning