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 Conservation Biology (Honours) | 2017

This information is for students commencing their course in 2017. Students follow the rules and requirements for the year they commenced their course. Please refer to the Archives link in the menu for years prior to 2017.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours)

Abbreviation:

BConsBio(Hons)

UOW Course Code:

1778

CRICOS Code:

084861D

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 / 757627

Additional Information:

Course Finder

Overview

Conservation Biology at UOW is a practical degree aimed at producing graduates who have the knowledge and skills to understand and develop strategies to minimise the impact of humans on their environment and are capable of undertaking postgraduate research to become accomplished conservation biologists.

Studies in biology combined with subjects in chemistry and earth and environmental sciences in first year lead to second-year studies that provide students with an understanding of how organisms function, plant and animal ecology, and landscape science.

Third-year subjects focus on research training and experience in conservation biology and ecology providing students with significant breadth in their research experience in preparation for the Honours year.

A significant component involves experience in how research skills are incorporated into policy and management of biodiversity through contact with practising conservation biologists in both government and non-government agencies. Training in research methodology is carried out with conservation biology researchers from the School of Biological Sciences at UOW.

In addition, graduates develop additional skills in conservation management to improve their capacity to contribute to conservation.

Entry Requirements

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

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) will be able to:

  1. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in applying conservation concepts and knowledge of biological systems to inform the implementation and development of policies and directions for conservation.
  2. Apply detailed knowledge of the biology of organisms to develop and implement appropriate management strategies and research investigations.
  3. Demonstrate a high level of skill in analysing, interpreting and synthesising data and other information.
  4. Use a range of technical skills to solve problems in conservation biology.
  5. Demonstrate sound research skills in investigating problems in conservation biology.
  6. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing and applying new understanding.
  7. Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to a variety of audiences.
  8. Demonstrate initiative and judgement to adapt conservation biology knowledge and skills that can be applied to professional practice and research.
  9. Independently plan and execute a project/piece of research to an area of conservation biology. 

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours), candidates must satisfactorily complete 192 credit points, as set out in the table below.

Note:

  • Students who have not completed HSC Mathematics at Band 4 or higher (or equivalent) are required to complete a mathematics subject (MATH151 or equivalent) normally in the first year.
  • Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.
  • Students must have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science major. 
  • 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
    EESC105 Introductory Geospatial Analysis 6 Autumn, Spring
    Plus ONE of the following two subjects:
    Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% of more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 and CHEM105.
    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
    STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences 6 Spring
    Plus 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
    Year 2
    Autumn
    BIOL240 Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms 6 Autumn
    BIOL251 Principles of Ecology 6 Autumn
    MATH151 General Mathematics 1A* 6 Autumn
    *MATH151 must be completed by any student who has not completed NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent at Band 4 or higher.
    Spring
    BIOL241 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms 6 Spring
    BIOL252 Evolution and Behaviour 6 Spring
    EESC207 Advanced Geospatial Analysis 6 Spring
    Plus subjects from the following list to give a total of 48 credit points for Year 2
    EESC203 Biogeography and Environmental Change 6 Autumn
    MARE200 Introduction to Oceanography 6 Autumn
    EESC202 Shaping Earth's Surface 6 Spring
    BIOL232 Biology Research Internship 6 Annual, Autumn, Spring, Summer 2017/2018
    Students wishing to specialise in Conservation Genetics should select subjects from the following list;
    BIOL213 Principles of Biochemistry 6 Autumn
    BIOL215 Introductory Genetics 6 Spring
    Year 3
    BIOL362 Ecophysiology 6 Not available in 2017
    BIOL361 Marine and Terrestrial Populations 6 Not available in 2017
    BIOL360 Applied Conservation Biology 6 Not available in 2017
    BIOL365 Marine and Terrestrial Ecology 6 Not available in 2017
    Plus 24 cp from the following list:
    BIOL364 Advanced Biology 6 Not available in 2017
    EESC332 Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments 6 Not available in 2017
    STAT335 Sample Surveys and Experimental Design 6 Autumn
    EESC331 Changing Global Environments 6 Not available in 2017
    LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Not available in 2017
    MARE360 Fisheries and Aquaculture 6 Not available in 2017
    Or other subjects approved by the degree coordinator.
    Year 4
    Select either the full-time (48cp) or 48cp of the equivalent part-time subject (2 x 24cp) option below.
    BIOL410 Conservation Biology Project 48 Not available in 2017
    BIOL416 Conservation Biology Project (Part-Time) 24 Not available in 2017

    Progression Requirements

    Satisfactory performance must be achieved (normally a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 75% or greater in 300-level subjects) for entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) degree. Students with an average below 75% in 300-level subjects may only progress into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) with the approval of the Conservation Biology Coordinator. Students who do not gain entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) degree will normally be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Science (Conservation Biology) degree. 

    The Honours grade for the degree of Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) will be calculated in accordance with Method 1 defined 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 December, 2016