Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour)

Admission requirements

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

Course aims

The program of study aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in animal behaviour. The program will examine animal behaviour in captive and wild animals, and will promote an understanding of the role of animal behaviour for assessing animal welfare, survival, and evolution. The program also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

understand and apply relevant scientific principles in the area of animal behaviour
retrieve and present information about animal behaviour effectively, communicate clearly with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to animal behaviour
appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of studies in animal behaviour and engage positively with people and ideas beyond the discipline
work cooperatively and productively within a team
work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, animal behaviour, and animal welfare issues.

The program provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in biology or another science or non-science related discipline or for a career in a biology related field 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:

know and critically apply theories, subject content, professional methodologies and research procedures relevant to animal behaviour; for example focal sampling method, ethogram analysis, and experimental design
understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about the disciplines of animal behaviour, evolution, and sociobiology were developed
analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data 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
design and carry out experiments using appropriate techniques, protocols and appreciation of ethics
communicate their findings to lay, general scientific and specialised scientific audiences in written and spoken form
appreciate that animal behaviour science 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.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) a student must complete 108 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 108 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 108 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.

Specialisation - Animal Behaviour - 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)
BIOL1711  Introduction to Animal Behaviour (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)

Elective - Year 1 topics

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

Specialisation - Animal Behaviour - 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)
BIOL2721  Foundations of Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

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

Specialisation - Animal Behaviour - 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)
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)

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 - Animal Behaviour - 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)
BIOD2701 Biodiversity and Conservation (4.5 units)
BIOL1112 Biology and Society (4.5 units)
BIOL1301 Introduction to Marine Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL3703 Vertebrate Palaeontology (4.5 units)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
PSYC1101 Psychology 1A (4.5 units)
PSYC1102 Psychology 1B (4.5 units)
SCME1000 Film Form and Analysis (4.5 units)
SCME2001 Television Studies (4.5 units)
SCME2102 Gender, Media and Technology (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)
STEM1003 GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM3003 Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS (4.5 units)
STEM3100 Research Project in Science (4.5 units)
TOUR1101 Introduction to Tourism Studies (4.5 units)
TOUR1102 Interpretive Tour Guiding (4.5 units)
TOUR1103 Introduction to Events (4.5 units)
WMST2016 Indigenous Women’s Voices: Race, Gender and Colonialism (4.5 units)
WMST2017 Gender, Globalisation and International Development (4.5 units)

Honours

Admission to an honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the College being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study. Refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours).