2009 Undergraduate Courses
2009 Postgraduate Courses
Bachelor of Science (Ecology)
The University has one of the strongest ecological research groups in Australia working in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology, tropical and temperate ecosystems. Study areas include applications of remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS), the use of molecular genetics in conservation biology, biodiversity assessment/ sampling, environmental impact assessment and experimental ecology. Organisms studied include: endangered plants, marsupial pollinators, marine and arid land birds, and invertebrates - from corals to ants and marine and freshwater fish. This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects as set out below.
Subjects |
Session |
Credit Points | |
First Year | |||
Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment |
Autumn |
6 | |
Molecules, Cells and Organisms |
Spring |
6 | |
Earth Environments and Resources |
Spring |
6 | |
Landscape Change and Climatology |
Autumn |
6 | |
Mathematics 1A, Part 1 (or MATH141 or MATH161) |
Autumn |
6 | |
Mathematics 1A, Part 2 (or MATH142 or MATH162) |
Spring |
6 | |
Plus 12 credit points of electives to be approved by the Coordinator. Students are strongly encouraged to complete first year Chemistry (CHEM101 and CHEM102) for their elective subjects. | |||
Second Year | |||
Functional Biology of Plants and Animals |
Autumn |
6 | |
Biodiversity: Classification and Sampling |
Spring |
6 | |
Principles of Ecology and Evolution |
Autumn |
6 | |
Biogeography and Environmental Change |
Autumn |
6 | |
Introductory Spatial Science |
Autumn or Spring |
6 | |
Applied Mathematical Modelling 1 |
Spring |
6 | |
Probability and Random Variables |
Autumn |
6 | |
Estimation and Hypothesis Testing |
Spring |
6 | |
One 6 credit point elective subject may be approved by the Coordinator if MATH111 is taken in first year. | |||
Third Year | |||
Core | |||
Conservation Biology: Marine and Terrestrial Populations |
Autumn |
8 | |
Marine and Terrestrial Ecology |
Spring |
8 | |
Geographic Information Science |
Spring |
8 | |
Remote Sensing of the Environment |
Autumn |
8 | |
Sample Surveys and Experimental Design (with project) |
Autumn |
8 | |
Options | |||
Plus one of the following | |||
Ecology and Evolutionary Physiology |
Autumn |
8 | |
Advanced Biology |
Autumn, Spring or Summer |
8 | |
Fisheries and Aquaculture |
Spring |
8 | |
Coastal Environments: Process and Management |
Spring |
8 | |
Or other subjects approved by the Coordinator. | |||
Entry to BIOL392 would be subject to the student having a distinction average or higher performance in subjects pertinent to the intended area of research, as approved by the Head of School, and availability of a research supervisor. | |||
Honours
Students with a good academic record, particularly in third year, are encouraged to proceed to the Honours year in the discipline of their major. The Honours year is a fourth year of study that provides training in independent research.
Other Information
The Degree Coordinator is Professor David Ayre - School of Biological Sciences, telephone (02) 4221 3440, email: dja@uow.edu.au.