Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Palaeontology)

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

There are no formal pre-requisites for the specialisation in Palaeontology but knowledge of Biology to SACE Stage 2 is desirable.

Course aims

The highly interdisciplinary program of study aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the Australian fossil record, and a broad-based foundation in the scientific principles underpinning palaeontology and allied disciplines. Students are expected to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills in both university- and field-based settings, including the capacity to:

understand and apply relevant scientific principles, analytical approaches and problem solving in the areas of palaeontology, vertebrate evolution and zooarchaeology
develop interpersonal skills through cooperative teamwork and present scientific information via effective written and spoken communication to a variety of audiences, including the broader community
appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of palaeontology and engage positively with people and ideas outside of the immediate discipline, especially in biology, earth sciences and archaeology
appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of palaeontology and the role it has in informing our understanding of modern ecosystems and their conservation
work and learn independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills.

The Honours Year provides students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out research projects in a specific area. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

understand and apply relevant scientific principles
retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
analyse and evaluate data, appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of the science disciplines and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their own discipline area
use information technology, work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
appreciate the role of science in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises.

The specialisation provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in disciplines related to palaeontology and evolutionary studies or for a career in a field related to palaeontology and vertebrate evolution or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

demonstrate familiarity with and critically apply current theories, subject content, professional methodologies, ethical frameworks and research procedures relevant to studies of palaeontology and vertebrate evolution
understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about the areas of palaeontology and vertebrate evolution and diversity was developed
analyse and critically evaluate ideas, data and information and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating and testing hypotheses, generating predictions, designing and conducting experiments, and statistically analysing data
undertake studies relating to palaeontology, palaeoecology and vertebrate evolution in both laboratory and field contexts
communicate their findings and present information clearly to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
display a profound understanding of the processes that have led to the evolution of the modern Australian fauna and an appreciation of the fossil heritage of the continent
demonstrate the retention of a broad set of foundational skills that may be further developed and expanded to suit a variety of palaeontological and allied professions.

In addition, graduates of the Honours year are expected to be able to:

critically analyse the scientific literature and use this as a basis for planning research projects
understand how scientific research is funded
formulate hypothesises and design appropriate experiments to test them
use appropriate methods, techniques, equipment and instrumentation to ethically collect scientific data
use appropriate statistical methods to analyse scientific data
communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Palaeontology) a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the study detailed below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree. Topics designated 'any year' or with no year level specified are regarded as First Year level topics.

Elective topics to complete 144 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the College of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Upon completion of at least 103.5 units and with a GPA of 5 or more in the last 36 units of study, students may commence the Fourth Year Honours program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Science (Palaeontology) on completion of 108 units.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Science (Palaeontology).

Specialisation - Palaeontology - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

BIOD1102 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation (4.5 units)
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
SPOC1701 The Nature of Science I (4.5 units)
STAT1122 Biostatistics (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Palaeontology - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

BIOL2701 Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL2706 Vertebrate Anatomy and Evolution (4.5 units)
BIOL2711 Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL2712 Animal Diversity (4.5 units)
ENVS2752 Geological Processes (4.5 units)
VISA2306 Scientific Illustration (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Palaeontology - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

BIOD3701 Human Impacts and Biodiversity (4.5 units)
BIOL3703 Vertebrate Palaeontology (4.5 units)
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3752 Geology of Australia (4.5 units)
STEM3100 Research Project in Science (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Palaeontology - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising:

BIOL7700A Biology Honours Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
BIOL7700B Biology Honours Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
BIOL7700C Biology Honours Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
BIOL7700D Biology Honours Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
BIOL7700E Biology Honours Research Project (4.5/22.5 units)
BIOL7710 Honours Critical Readings (4.5 units)
BIOL7720 Honours Grant Writing Skills (4.5 units)
STEM7001 Research Methods for Honours (4.5 units)

*Specialisation – Palaeontology - Recommended Electives

While students are able to select elective units from anywhere across the University, these are Recommended Electives.

ARCH2202 Archaeology of the First Australians (4.5 units)
ARCH3109 Environmental Archaeology (4.5 units)
BIOL1711 Introduction to Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL2721 Foundations of Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL3701 Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL3711 Plant and Algal Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL3712 Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants (4.5 units)
BIOL3721 Research in Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL3722 Conservation and Ecological Genetics (4.5 units)
BIOL3751 Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles (4.5 units)
ENVS2731 Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
ENVS3791 Coastal Environments (4.5 units)
SPOC2702 Science and Influence (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Paleaontology) may also be studied in a combined degree program with another Bachelor degree in the College of Science and Engineering where the combination meets the requirements of the credit transfer policy.