DegreesPrograms of Study
In order to qualify for your degree, you need to complete a Program of Study. A program of study lists the units you are required to pass in order to graduate. Look up your degree below to see what programs we have available.
Bachelor of Science (including distance education mode)
Bachelor of Arts (including distance education mode)
Bachelor of Science in Advanced Biology
Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation
Bachelor of Medical Sciences
B Marine Science, B Biotechnology, B Environmental Management, B Environmental Science, Bachelor of Science with Bachelor of Arts in Natural & Cultural Heritage and Museums
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with Diploma of Education
Bioinformatics
Our bioinformatics program is aimed at training computer-literate biologists in the management and analysis of very large datasets such as those of the Human Genome Project and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. All students in this program complete a common set of core units in their first year before specialising in Genomics, Biodiversity/Ecology, Molecular Analysis, or Information Processing and Data Mining.
Requirements
Core units: you need to enrol in (and pass) the following units -
Coherent study: you need to also fulfil the requirements for one of the following coherent studies - BNF01 Genomics, BNF02 Biodiversity/Ecology, BNF03 Molecular Analysis or BNF04 Information Processing and Data Mining.
Sample program (for a coherent study in Biodiversity/Ecology)
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
|
| Year 1 | BIOL114 Evolution and Biodiversity (3cp) | BIOL115 The Thread of Life (3cp) |
| CBMS101 Introductory Chemistry A (3cp) | CBMS103 Introductory Chemistry B (3cp) | |
| COMP115 Introduction to Computer Science (3cp) | ISYS114 Introduction to Systems Design and Data Management (3cp) | |
| MATH130 Mathematics IE (3cp) | STAT170 Introductory Statistics (3cp) | |
| Year 2 | BIOL206 Genetics (3cp) | BIOL227 Ecology (3cp) |
| BIOL210 Plant Structure and Function (3cp) | BIOL235 Biostatistics (3cp) | |
| GEOS112 The Planet Earth (3cp) | ISYS224 Database Systems (3cp) | |
| GEOS264 Geographic Information Systems (3cp) | STAT273 Risk and Chance (3cp) | |
| Year 3 | BIOL360 Biology of Australasian Mammals (3cp) | BIOL347 Australian and World Vegetation (3cp) |
| BIOL374 Biodiversity and Conservation (4cp) | BIOL368 Ecology and Evolution (3cp) | |
| BIOL390 Selected Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation (3cp) | ISYS227 Requirements Analysis and Systems Design (3cp) | |
| STAT373 Design of Surveys and Experiments (3cp) | STAT302 Graphics, Multivariate Methods and Data Mining (3cp) |
Recommendations (for a coherent study in Biodiversity/Ecology)
1st year: among your core units, you have the choice of either STAT170 or STAT171. If you studied relatively advanced mathematics at school (HSC Mathematics extension 1), you should enrol in STAT171. In addition to the core units, it is recommended that you select an elective unit that will supplement your future studies. For example, if you did not study maths to a high level at school, you should take MATH123 or MATH130 to better prepare for 200-level statistics.
2nd year: in addition to your core units, you need to study units that are prerequisites for 300-level units in the Biodiversity/Ecology coherent study. You should therefore take BIOL227 and either BIOL208 (for 300-level zoology) or BIOL235 (for 300-level statistics). It is highly recommended that you also take one or two GEOS units, especially GEOS264. It is permissable to include an additional 100-level unit in your 2nd-year program.
3rd year: make sure you fulfil the requirements of the coherent study (including total number of credit points at 200- and 300-level). For example, you should include at least 18 credit points of 300-level units in your program. In addition to the units listed in the coherent study, it is recommended that you enrol in either BIOL390 or BIOL400 and research a topic in the area of biodiversity/ecology informatics.
4th (honours) year: enrolling in an optional honours year will give you valuable experience in applying your knowledge and skills to research problems.
Biology
Our general biology program is highly flexible allowing you to develop either specialised or broad interests in biology.
Requirements
Core units: there are no official core units. However, you will need to take BIOL114 and BIOL115 before studying 200 and 300-level units.
Coherent study: you need to also fulfil the requirements for one of the following coherent studies - BLG04 Biology (for B Arts) or BLG05 Biology (for B Science).
Sample program
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
|
| Year 1 | BIOL114 Evolution and Biodiversity (3cp) | BIOL115 The Thread of Life (3cp) |
| CBMS101 Introductory Chemistry A (3cp) | CBMS103 Introductory Chemistry B (3cp) | |
| GEOS112 The Planet Earth (3cp) | PHYS159 Concepts in the Physical Sciences (3cp) | |
| MATH130 Mathematics IE (3cp) | STAT170 Introductory Statistics (3cp) | |
| Year 2 | BIOL206 Genetics (3cp) | BIOL208 Animal Structure and Function (3cp) |
| BIOL210 Plant Structure and Function (3cp) | BIOL227 Ecology (3cp) | |
| CBMS215 Microbiology (3cp) | BIOL235 Biostatistics (3cp) | |
| PHIL137 Critical Thinking (3cp) | ELS203 Sex: its basis in evolution, genetics, development, neuroscience and behaviour (3cp) | |
| Year 3 | BIOL316 Invertebrates: Evolution, Behaviour and Diversity (3cp) | BIOL334 Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics (3 cp) |
| BIOL360 Biology of Australasian Mammals (3cp) | BIOL347 Australian and World Vegetation (3cp) | |
| BIOL374 Biodiversity and Conservation (4cp) | BIOL368 Ecology and Evolution (3cp) | |
| PHYS270 Introductory Astronomy (2cp) | BIOL369 Vertebrate Evolution (3cp) |
Recommendations
1st year: you should take both BIOL114 and BIOL115 as together they provide a solid introduction to the biological sciences. All students in this program are strongly urged to study introductory chemistry (CBMS101 and CBMS103), physics (PHYS140 and PHYS143, or PHYS159) and statistics (STAT170 or STAT171). It is also recommended that you include a maths unit (MATH123, MATH130 or MATH135) in your program. For statistics, physics and maths, the particular units you should take depend on the level of maths taken for the HSC. If you studied relatively little HSC mathematics, you should take PHYS159, MATH123 or MATH130, and STAT170. If you studied maths to a relatively advanced level, you should take PHYS140 and PHYS143, MATH130 or MATH135, and STAT171. After taking units in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and statistics, most students still have room to study an additional subject such as human biology (BIOL108), computing (COMP115 or ISYS123), earth science (GEOS112, GEOS114 or GEOS117) or philosophy (PHIL134 or PHIL137).
2nd year: if you have not studied statistics in your first year, you should enrol in STAT170 or STAT171 in the first semester of your second year as it is a prerequisite for 200 and 300-level biology. If you have particular 300-level units in mind for your third year, check on prerequisites when planning your second-year program. It is permissable to include an additional 100-level unit in your 2nd-year program.
3rd year: make sure you fulfil the requirements of the coherent study (including total number of credit points at 200- and 300-level). For example, your program should include at least 18 credit points of 300-level units.
4th (honours) year: enrolling in an optional honours year will give you valuable experience in applying your knowledge and skills to research problems.
Specialisations
Our biology program gives you the flexibility to pursue a particular area of interest within the biological sciences. See the list below for our suggestions for 200 and 300-level units that address or supplement your particular interests.
Ecology
Evolutionary biology
Genetics
Microbiology
Plant Science (Botany)
Zoology
Advanced Biology
Our Advanced Biology program is designed for gifted students wishing to study the biological sciences. Students in this program have access to special small-group tutorials during first, second and third year discussing recent advances with leading faculty members. Additionally, every effort will be made to arrange vacation employment with research teams for students wanting the direct experience of research.
Requirements
Core units: you need to enrol in (and pass) the following units -
Coherent study: you need to also fulfil the requirements for the coherent study - BLG06 Advanced Biology.
Sample program
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
|
| Year 1 | BIOL111 Advanced Biology 1A (1cp) | BIOL112 Advanced Biology 1B (1cp) |
| BIOL114 Evolution and Biodiversity (3cp) | BIOL115 The Thread of Life (3cp) | |
| CBMS101 Introductory Chemistry A (3cp) | CBMS103 Introductory Chemistry B (3cp) | |
| MATH135 Mathematics IA (3cp) | PHIL134 Introductory Formal Logic (3cp) | |
| STAT171 Statistical Data Analysis (3cp) | PHYS159 Concepts in the Physical Sciences (3cp) | |
| Year 2 | BIOL206 Genetics (3cp) | BIOL226 Advanced Biology 2B (1cp) |
| BIOL208 Animal Structure and Function (3cp) | BIOL235 Biostatistics (3cp) | |
| BIOL225 Advanced Biology 2A (1cp) | BIOL246 Human Physiology (3cp) | |
| CBMS215 Microbiology (3cp) | CBMS224 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II (3cp) | |
| CBMS223 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I (3cp) | ELS203 Sex: its basis in evolution. genetics, development, neuroscience and behaviour (3cp) | |
| Year 3 | BIOL345 Human Genetics Theory (3cp) | BIOL334 Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics (3cp) |
| BIOL365 Advanced Biology 3A (1cp) | BIOL346 Bioscience Ethics and Reproduction (3cp) | |
| BIOL400 Readings in Selected Topics in Biology (3cp) | BIOL350 Aboriginal Impact on Australian Ecosystems (3cp) | |
| CBMS352 Molecular Biology (3 cp) | BIOL366 Advanced Biology 3B (1cp) | |
| PHYS242 The Tradition of Science (3cp) | BIOL369 Vertebrate Evolution (3cp) |
Recommendations
1st - 3rd year: students take the Advanced Biology units in addition to a normal workload for a science degree. Recommendations are otherwise the same as for all students majoring in biology (see the program above). Advanced Biology students are especially encouraged to pursue diverse interests by including subjects such as languages, philosophy, psychology, physics or climatology in their program. In the case of Advanced Biology students, the Department would often be willing to waive some prerequisites to enable a more interesting program of study to be constructed.
4th (honours) year: most Advanced Biology students will wish to gain experience in applying their knowledge and skills to research problems by enrolling in an honours year.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity is the study of biological variety, and of how this variety can be understood and classified. Conservation biology is the study of how biological diversity can be conserved for the future and is a subject that draws together basic biological and ecological principles with those of genetics, taxonomy and evolutionary biology.
Requirements
Core units: you need to enrol in (and pass) the following units -
Coherent study: you need to also fulfil the requirements for the coherent study - BDV01 Biodiversity and Conservation.
Sample program
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
|
| Year 1 | BIOL114 Evolution and Biodiversity (3cp) | BIOL115 The Thread of Life (3cp) |
| CBMS101 Introductory Chemistry A (3cp) | CBMS103 Introductory Chemistry B (3cp) | |
| GEOS112 The Planet Earth (3cp) | GEOS114 Foundations for Resource and Environmental Management (3cp) | |
| STAT170 Introductory Statistics (3cp) | ISYS114 Introduction to Systems Design and Data Management (3cp) | |
| Year 2 | BIOL206 Genetics (3cp) | BIOL208 Animal Structure and Function (3cp) |
| BIOL210 Plant Structure and Function (3cp) | BIOL227 Ecology (3cp) | |
| GEOS264 Geographic Information Systems (3cp) | BIOL235 Biostatistics (3cp) | |
| POL165 Introduction to Australian Politics (3cp) | GEOS265 Resource and Environmental Management: Issues and Solutions | |
| Year 3 | BIOL316 Invertebrates: Evolution, Behaviour and Diversity (3cp) | BIOL334 Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics (3cp) |
| BIOL360 Biology of Australasian Mammals (3cp) | BIOL347 Australian and World Vegetation (3cp) | |
| BIOL374 Biodiversity and Conservation (4cp) | BIOL350 Aboriginal Impact on Australian Ecosystems (3cp) | |
| BIOL390 Selected Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation (3cp) | GEOS328 Environmental Management (4cp) |
Recommendations
1st year: you should take both BIOL114 and BIOL115 as together they provide a solid introduction to the biological sciences. You need to include at least one GEOS unit in your program - GEOS112 and/or GEOS114 are recommended as they serve as prerequisites for a wide variety of 200 and 300-level units in geography and geology. You are also required to study statistics - take either STAT170 or STAT171 depending on your level of HSC mathematics. Students are strongly encouraged to include chemistry units (CBMS101, CBMS103) in their program. Other useful subjects to consider are human biology (BIOL108), economics (ECON110, ECON111), informatics (ISYS114), mathematics (MATH123, MATH130), philosophy (PHIL134, PHIL137), physics (PHYS159) and politics (POL165, POL167, POL168).
2nd year: in addition to your core units, you should study units that are prerequisites for the 300-level units you are thinking of taking as part of your coherent study. For example, if you wish to study plant physiology (BIOL313 or CBMS317) in your 3rd year, you should take CBMS223. As your coherent study requires a 300-level GEOS unit, you should also take one or more 200-level GEOS units such as GEOS214, GEOS264, GEOS265 or GEOS266. It is permissable to include an additional 100-level unit in your 2nd-year program.
3rd year: make sure you fulfil the requirements of the coherent study (including total number of credit points at 200- and 300-level). For example, you should include at least 18 credit points of 300-level units in your program.
4th (honours) year: enrolling in an optional honours year will give you valuable experience in applying your knowledge and skills to research problems.
Biomedical (Medical Sciences)
This program is designed to provide for those with interests in the biomedical sciences. Careers will be available to graduates in both government and private sectors.
Requirements
Core units: you need to enrol in (and pass) the following units -
Coherent study: you need to also fulfil the requirements for the coherent study - MED01 Biomedical.
Sample program
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
|
| Year 1 | BIOL114 Evolution and Biodiversity (3cp) | BIOL115 The Thread of Life (3cp) |
| CBMS101 Introductory Chemistry A (3cp) | CBMS103 Introductory Chemistry B (3cp) | |
| PHYS149 Physics for Technology (3cp) | MATH130 Mathematics IE (3cp) | |
| PSY104 Introduction to Psychology I (3cp) | PSY105 Introduction to Psychology II (3cp) | |
| Year 2 | BIOL206 Genetics (3cp) | BIOL208 Animal Structure and Function (3cp) |
| BIOL246 Human Physiology (3cp) | BIOL235 Biostatistics (3cp) | |
| CBMS223 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I (3cp) | CBMS224 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II (3cp) | |
| STAT170 Introductory Statistics (3cp) | PSY236 Biopsychology and Learning (3cp) | |
| Year 3 | BIOL345 Human Genetics Theory (3cp) | BIOL346 Bioscience Ethics and Reproduction (3cp) |
| BIOL357 Physiology I (3cp) | BIOL358 Physiology II (3cp) | |
| BIOL375 Immunology, Cell and Developmental Biology (4cp) | BIOL369 Vertebrate Evolution (3cp) | |
| CBMS215 Microbiology (3cp) | STAT395 Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3cp) |
Recommendations
1st year: all students complete a common 100-level program that includes units of biology, chemistry, psychology, mathematics, physics and statistics to a total of 27 credit points. As a normal yearly study load is 24 credit points, one or more of these units may be deferred to the 2nd year. Students are encouraged to seek academic advice on this matter.
2nd year: a 200-level program which allows for adequate choice at 300-level can be constructed from: BIOL206; BIOL208; CBMS215; CBMS223; CBMS224; BIOL235; BIOL246; CBMS204 and PSY236.
3rd year: make sure you fulfil the requirements of the coherent study (including total number of credit points at 200- and 300-level). For example, you should include at least 18 credit points of 300-level units in your program.
4th (honours) year: enrolling in an optional honours year will give you valuable experience in applying your knowledge and skills to research problems.