Wildlife Conservation major (MJD-WLCDM)
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)
Wildlife Conservation can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
Overview of unit sequence
Wildlife Conservation is a degree-specific double major comprising:
- four Level 1 units
- seven Level 2 units
- seven Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period |
Level 1
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology |
|
| S2 | BIOL1131 | Plant and Animal Biology |
|
| S2 | GEOG1104 | Disasters! |
|
| S1, S2 | SCIE1104 | Science, Society and Data Analysis |
|
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 |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1721 | Mathematics Foundations: Methods |
|
| S1, S2 | SCIE1500 | Analytical Methods for Scientists |
Level 2
Take all units (42 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ANIM2207 | Animal Form and Function | |
| NS | ANIM2209 | Field Studies in Zoology |
|
| S1 | ANIM2220 | Animal Diversity |
|
| S1 | BIOL2261 | Conservation Biology | |
| S2 | ENVT2221 | Global Climate Change and Biodiversity | |
| S1 | ENVT2250 | Ecology | |
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
Level 3
Take all units (42 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ANIM3353 | Wildlife Conservation and Management | |
| S1 | ANIM3361 | Animal Ecology | |
| S1 | ANIM3362 | Evolutionary Processes |
|
| S2 | ANIM3363 | Environmental Physiology |
|
| S2 | ANIM3365 | Behavioural Ecology | |
| NS | BIOL3360 | Saving Endangered Species | |
| S2 | GEOG3303 | Environmental Policy and Planning |
|
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 Wildlife Conservation degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Biological Science 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.