Zoology major

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 (1) demonstrate basic knowledge of the development, structure and functioning of animals, ecological processes, and animal diversity in a phylogenetic context; (2) demonstrate awareness of the local importance of animals in a conservation context; (3) demonstrate awareness of the ethics of working with animals; (4) understand methods of working with animals under laboratory conditions; (5) demonstrate knowledge of sampling and handling animals under field conditions; (6) demonstrate knowledge of quantification of animal laboratory and field studies; (7) understand how research advances knowledge; and (8) 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.

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.

Zoology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

Zoology is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • four Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 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
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
equivalent
Co-requisites:
Enrolment in
Or
Successful completion of MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50]
Or
with permission
Co-requisites:
Nil
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 )
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus And MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods And STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 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)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ANIM2220 Animal Diversity
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
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
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 GENE2250 Principles of Inheritance
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or
Unit(s) ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or
Unit(s) SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) GENE2204 Principles of Genetics

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANIM3361 Animal Ecology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function (ID 1298)
or
Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ANIM3362 Evolutionary Processes
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
or
level 2 Unit(s) ANIM2xxx
or
level 2 Unit(s) BIOL2xxx
or
level 2 Unit(s) ENVT2xxx
or
level 2 Unit(s) GENE2xxx
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ANIM3363 Environmental Physiology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ANIM2xxx
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ANIM3365 Behavioural Ecology
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ANIM2207 Animal Form and Function (ID 1298)
or
ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

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 Zoology degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSP004-ZOOLY

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 require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Zoology degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example: Course Study Plan: CSP004-ZOOLY-Generic

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .