Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Marine Biology)

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 prerequisites for the specialisation in Marine Biology, but knowledge of Mathematics and/or Physics to SACE Stage 1 is desirable.

Course aims

The program of studies aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the biology of marine organisms, their relationships with the physico-chemical marine environment, and their potential responses to changes. It also provides students with the ability to acquire extensive subject knowledge in marine biodiversity, ecology, genetics, conservation, fisheries and related areas. It also aims to to develop a range of transferable skills for research, analysis and communication skills including the capability to:

understand and apply scientific principles in a marine biology context
retrieve and present scientific information about marine biology, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to marine biology and solve problems
appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of marine sciences and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their discipline area
work effectively and productively within teams
work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
appreciate the ethical and societal contexts of marine sciences.

In addition, the Honours year provides students with advanced skills that are required for lanning, 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 information, including communicate effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
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

This course provides the broad-based foundation that will support ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in marine sciences or for a career in marine biology or related area 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 theories, subject content, professional methodologies, ethical frameworks and research procedures in marine sciences and be able to critically apply them in marine biological studies
understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about marine biology and its related disciplines were developed
analyse and critically evaluating ideas/information/data in marine biology, and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
competently design marine biological studies, employing sampling methods and techniques that work effectively in the field and laboratory, and applying numerical skills for data analysis
appreciate work practices relating to OH&S and animal ethics in regards to marine biological studies
demonstrate skill at identifying organisms found in marine and costal environments
understand the dynamics of marine ecosystems and their potential responses to changes
apply conservation and management principles for marine conservation and sustainable use of marine resources
communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
appreciate that marine biology is multidisciplinary and has connections to other science and non-science disciplines
work and learn independently and appreciate the need for continuing professional development
interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals.

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) (Marine Biology) specialisation a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study detailed below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree.

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 (Marine Biology) 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 (Marine Biology).

Specialisation - Marine Biology - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
BIOL1301  Introduction to Marine Biology (4.5 units)
EASC1102  Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
SPOC1701 The Nature of Science I (4.5 units)
STAT1122 Biostatistics (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Plus one of:

CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)

Plus:

CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Marine Biology - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

BIOL2701  Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity (4.5 units)
BIOL2711  Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL2712  Animal Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL2742  Marine Ecology (4.5 units)
EASC2701  Oceans and Estuaries (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

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

Specialisation - Marine Biology - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 topics

BIOL3701  Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL3702  Marine and Freshwater Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL3711  Plant and Algal Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL3751  Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles (4.5 units)
BIOL3752  Fisheries Biology, Science and Management (4.5 units)
BIOL3800 Research Project in Marine Science (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 3 topics

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

#Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third-year elective.

Specialisation - Marine Biology - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 4 topics

  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 Honours Research Methods (4.5 units)

^Specialisation - Marine Biology - Recommended Electives

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

BIOD1102 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation (4.5 units)
BIOL1112 Biology and Society (4.5 units)
BIOL1201 Introduction to Aquaculture (4.5 units)
BIOL1711 Introduction to Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL2721 Foundations of Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL2731 Aquaculture Nutrition and Water Quality (4.5 units)
BIOL2732 Aquaculture Systems and Technology (4.5 units)
BIOL2761 Virology (4.5 units)
BIOL2771 Biochemistry (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)
BIOL3731 Aquaculture Reproduction (4.5 units)
BIOL3732 Aquaculture Health and Product Quality (4.5 units)
ENVS3711 Introduction to Managing Coastal and Marine Environments (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)
STEM3100 Research Project in Science (4.5 units)

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Marine Biology) 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.