2017 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) | 2017

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean's Scholar)

Abbreviation:

BBionan(Hons)(Dean'sSchol)

UOW Course Code:

458

CRICOS Code:

090882D

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full time or part time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On campus (face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong/757605

Additional Information:

Course Finder

Overview

UOW's Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean's Scholar) targets the emerging field of bionanotechnology, an area that combines principles from biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics to understand and control biological processes at the molecular level. Using bionanotechnological approaches, revolutionary advances are being made in the biomedical sciences, varying from the visualization and manipulation of individual molecules, the use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs to specific sites in the body and the development of nanofabricated architecture to read out the sequence of DNA.

The Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) draws on the internationally recognised strengths of the University's research in the areas of molecular biophysics, biochemistry, and materials science. It provides rigorous and interdisciplinary training in biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics. In the final year, all students undertake a substantial piece of supervised research, together with other required seminar and/or course work. Graduates may then be eligible for direct enrolment into a research doctorate in their chosen field or into other postgraduate degrees.

A Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) will place you in a unique position to undertake an exciting, interdisciplinary career in biotech industry, pharmaceutical industry, academic biomedical research, government policy, patent law, and many other fields. 

The Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) is designed specifically for high-achieving students interested in a challenging degree leading to a career in scientific research. Students who are eligible for this degree fulfill all the same requirements as Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) candidates, but are also eligible for additional benefits and challenges. 

All students are invited to participate in various enrichment activities throughout the program and, after the first year, to develop a close association with an appropriate member of one of the faculty's research teams.

Students in this program also have the opportunity to undertake an individual research subject (BNAN301). You will be able to gain research experience in the laboratories of UOW’s scientists working on state-of-the-art topics in bionanotechnology. Students are normally required to achieve at least a Distinction average in subjects completed in a calendar year. 

In the final year, all students undertake a substantial piece of supervised research, together with other required seminar and/or course work. Graduates may then be eligible for direct enrolment into a research doctorate in their chosen field or into other postgraduate degrees.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Deans Scholar) will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate extensive and coherent knowledge of the principles and concepts associated with bionanotechnology.
  2. Demonstrate extensive and coherent knowledge of the principles from biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics associated with the understanding and control of biological processes at the molecular level.
  3. Demonstrate technical and cognitive skills associated with bionanotechnology - and its relevant subjects from mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry - by locating, analysing and synthesising information to generate solutions to complex questions and problems.
  4. Exercise critical analysis of observations and data from primary and secondary sources.
  5. Integrate and apply knowledge and skills associated with bionanotechnology to plan and execute a substantial research project.
  6. Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to others through a variety of media.
  7. Apply knowledge of research principles and research skills in a variety of research contexts.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) (Dean's Scholar), candidates must satisfactorily complete 192 credit points in accordance with the table below. 

Notes:

  • Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit points of 300-level subjects.
  • Students must have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in at least 24 credit points of 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science major.
Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
Autumn
BNAN101 Introduction to Bionanotechnology 6 Autumn
PHYS141 Fundamentals of Physics A 6 Autumn
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 andCHEM105.
CHEM101 Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry 6 Autumn
CHEM104 Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter 6 Autumn
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
MATH141 Foundations of Engineering Mathematics 6 Autumn, Spring
MATH187 Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus 6 Autumn
Spring
BIOL103 Molecules, Cells and Organisms 6 Spring
PHYS142 Fundamentals of Physics B 6 Spring
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
CHEM102 Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life 6 Spring
CHEM105 Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures 6 Spring
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
MATH142 Essentials of Engineering Mathematics 6 Spring, Summer 2017/2018
MATH188 Mathematics 2: Series and Integral Calculus 6 Spring
Summer
CHEM106 Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter 6 Summer 2017/2018
Year 2
Autumn
BIOL213 Principles of Biochemistry 6 Autumn
PHYS205 Advanced Modern Physics 6 Autumn
CHEM212 Organic Chemistry II 6 Autumn
ENGG103 Materials in Design 6 Autumn
Spring
BNAN201 Biology at the Nanoscale 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
BIOL215 Introductory Genetics 6 Spring
CHEM213 Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change 6 Spring
STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences 6 Spring
Year 3
BNAN301 Research Project in Bionanotechnology 12 Annual. First offered in 2019
Autumn
BIOL343 Techniques in Biotechnology and Medical Research 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
Select TWO of the following subjects:
BIOL340 Cell and Molecular Biology 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
MEDI312 Fundamentals of Neuroscience 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
CHEM358 Pharmacology 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
CHEM374 Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure Elucidation 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
CHEM324 Instrumental Analysis 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
PHYS305 Quantum Mechanics 6 Autumn
Spring
CHEM325 Bioinformatics:Genome, Genes and Biomolecules 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
MATE201 Structure of Materials 6 Spring
Select ONE of the following subjects:
BIOL214 The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism 6 Spring
MATE302 Polymeric Materials 6 Spring
CHEM333 Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
BIOL341 Immunity and Infection 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
CHEM360 Organic Synthesis III 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
Year 4
Select either the full-time (48cp) or 48cp of the equivalent part-time subject (2 x 24cp) option below.
BNAN401 Honours Project in Bionanotechnology (Full Time) 48 Annual. First offered in 2020
BNAN402 Honours Project in Bionanotechnology (Part Time) 24 Annual. First offered in 2020

Progression Requirements

To maintain a place in the Dean’s Scholar program, students are normally required to achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 75% in the 200- and 300-level subjects completed. The performance of each student will be reviewed initially by the Faculty after the completion of 72 credit points. Students not meeting the minimum progression requirements will be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Bionanotechnology (Honours) or Bachelor of Science degree.

*If you are required to complete CHEM106 as part of your course schedule you may be eligible to substitute an elective subject, please contact your course coordinator for approval.

Honours

The class of Honours awarded is based on performance in third and fourth year subjects, based on a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) formula in accordance with Method 3 in the General Course Rules Section 8.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

Further information is available at:

UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 15 February, 2017