- 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 Science (Conservation Biology)
Conservation Biology is the study of the Earth's biodiversity with the aim of being able to manage and protect species and ecosystems.
At UOW, this degree provides the knowledge and skills to understand and develop strategies to minimise the impact of humans on their environment.
You will focus on biology, developing skills in evolutionary physiology, conservation biology and ecology of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
At the completion of the degree, students may enrol in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree, if the required academic standard is achieved, and pending approval of the Head of School. See separate entry for the Bachelor of Science (Honours).
Major Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this major students will be able to:
- Exercise critical thinking and judgement in applying conservation concepts and knowledge of biological systems to inform the implementation and development of policies for conservation.
- Use their knowledge of the biology of organisms to develop appropriate management policies or research questions.
- Demonstrate skills in analysing, interpreting and synthesising data, methodologies and other information.
- Demonstrate rudimentary research skills in investigating problems in conservation biology.
- Exercise critical thinking and independent problem solving in experimental design.
- Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to others in both written and spoken form.
- Apply knowledge and skills of conservation biology to solving current problems in either a professional context or in research.
Course Structure
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Autumn | |||
| BIOL104 | Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL105 | Functional Biology of Animals and Plants | 6 | Autumn |
| MATH151 | General Mathematics 1A (if required) | 6 | Autumn |
| Select ONE of the following subjects: | |||
| Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101. All other students must select CHEM104. | |||
| CHEM101 | Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry | 6 | Autumn |
| CHEM104 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter | 6 | Autumn |
| Spring | |||
| BIOL103 | Molecules, Cells and Organisms | 6 | Spring |
| SCIE103 | Climate Change | 6 | Spring |
| Select ONE of the following subjects: | |||
| CHEM102 | Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life | 6 | Spring |
| CHEM105 | Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures | 6 | Spring |
| Recommended Electives: Select one or two to total 48 cp at 1st Year | |||
| Note: EESC103 Landscape Change and Climatology is a pre-requisite for MARE200 | |||
| EESC103 | Landscape Change and Climatology | 6 | Autumn |
| GEOG122 | Human Geography II: Living in a Material World | 6 | Spring |
| STAT252 | Statistics For the Natural Sciences | 6 | Spring |
| Year 2 | |||
| BIOL240 | Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL251 | Principles of Ecology | 6 | Autumn |
| EESC204 | Introductory Spatial Science | 6 | Autumn, Spring |
| BIOL241 | Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms | 6 | Spring |
| BIOL252 | Evolution and Behaviour | 6 | Spring |
| STAT252 | Statistics For the Natural Sciences* | 6 | Spring |
| * If not completed in 1st Year | |||
| Electives | |||
| Select from the following to total 48 cp at Year 2: | |||
| EESC203 | Biogeography and Environmental Change | 6 | Autumn |
| MARE200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 6 | Autumn |
| EESC202 | Shaping Earth's Surface | 6 | Spring |
| Students wishing to specialise in Conservation Genetics should select: | |||
| BIOL213 | Principles of Biochemistry | 6 | Autumn |
| BIOL215 | Introductory Genetics | 6 | Spring |
| Year 3 | |||
| Core | |||
| BIOL332 | Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology | 8 | Autumn |
| BIOL351 | Conservation Biology: Marine and Terrestrial Populations | 8 | Autumn |
| BIOL355 | Marine and Terrestrial Ecology | 8 | Spring |
| Select ONE of the following subjects: | |||
| EESC305 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 8 | Autumn |
| EESC304 | Geographic Information Science | 8 | Spring |
| Electives | |||
| Select TWO of the following subjects: | |||
| BIOL392 | Advanced Biology | 8 | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
| EESC305 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 8 | Autumn |
| STAT355 | Sample Surveys and Experimental Design (with Project) | 8 | Autumn |
| EESC304 | Geographic Information Science | 8 | Spring |
| LAW 380 | Law for Environmental Managers | 8 | Spring |
| MARE300 | Fisheries and Aquaculture | 8 | Spring |
| MARE357 | Advances in Molluscan Biology | 8 | Not offered in 2015 |
| Or other subjects approved by the degree Coordinator. | |||
Honours
See separate entry for the Bachelor of Science (Honours).
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