To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the degree in which you are enrolled:
To qualify for Honours in Biological Sciences a student must complete satisfactorily 36 units of study as specified below. The program requires one year of full-time study or the equivalent part-time.
There is no automatic entry into the Honours program in Biological Sciences.
Course aims
The honours program aims to provide students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out research projects in a specific area within the broad discipline of biology. 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 honours program provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in disciplines related to biological science or for a career in a science-related field or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the honours program are expected to be able to do the following, in their chosen area of specialisation:
- 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
Eligibility for enrolment in particular areas depends on topics taken in Third Year and grades achieved.
Students undertake 22.5 units of thesis and 13.5 units of core topics
Honours - Biological Sciences - Thesis 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)
Honours - Biological Sciences - Core topics
BIOL7710 Honours Critical Readings (4.5 units)
BIOL7720 Honours Grant Writing Skills (4.5 units)
BIOL7730 Honours Scientific Methods and Data Presentation (4.5 units)
