Major Overview
- Description
The Zoology major will provide you with the opportunity to study animals and their habitats including Western Australia's unique fauna. These habitats are diverse, and range from deserts through to temporary wetlands and rainforests. Zoologists discover the solutions to the problems presented by these habitats. This major will provide you with a sound knowledge and understanding of animal structure and function and the evolutionary processes that have engendered animal diversity. Zoologists also study physiology, reproduction, behaviour, community ecology and molecular genetics. Zoology underpins society's interest in conservation and marine science including major contributions to current research in fisheries and ecosystem management. It is envisaged that there will be up to two overnight field trips (cost of food and accommodation of up to \$200 for around four nights to be borne by the student).
- Outcomes
Students are able to:
- demonstrate basic knowledge of the development, structure and functioning of animals, ecological processes, and animal diversity in a phylogenetic context
- demonstrate awareness of the local importance of animals in a conservation context
- demonstrate awareness of the ethics of working with animals
- understand methods of working with animals under laboratory conditions
- demonstrate knowledge of sampling and handling animals under field conditions
- demonstrate knowledge of quantification of animal laboratory and field studies
- understand how research advances knowledge
- apply relevant employability skills for zoology.
- 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 Zoology:
ANIM2001 The Darwinian Revolution. NEUR1001 Neuroscience in Society.
SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists or MATH1729 Mathematics Fundamentals (unless student has completed ATAR Mathematics Methods). ANIM3320 Comparative Neurobiology. "
- 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.
- Courses
Zoology 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
- 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 |
S1, S2 | SCIE1104 | Science, Society and Data Analysis | |
S1 | SCOM1101 | Communicating Science |
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):
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
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S2 | ANIM2207 | Animal Form and Function |
|
S1 | ANIM2220 | Animal Diversity |
|
Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points from this group:
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
NS | ANIM2209 | Field Studies in Zoology | |
S1 | ENVT2250 | Ecology | |
S1 | GENE2250 | Principles of Inheritance |
|
Level 3
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
---|---|---|---|
S1 | ANIM3361 | Animal Ecology |
|
S2 | ANIM3363 | Environmental Physiology |
|
S2 | ANIM3365 | Behavioural Ecology |
|
S1 | BIOL3364 | Evolutionary Processes |