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) (Dean's Scholar) | 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) (Dean's Scholar)

Abbreviation:

BConsBio(Hons)(Dean'sSchol)

UOW Course Code:

1779

CRICOS Code:

084842G

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 / 757628

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.

Students who are eligible for this degree fulfil all of the same requirements as Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) candidates but are also eligible for additional benefits and challenges. Students in this program have the opportunity to undertake individual research subjects and apply for paid research assistantships.

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) (Dean's Scholar) 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. Demonstrate broad and comprehensive research skills in investigating problems in conservation biology.
  5. Generate evidence-based logical solutions to conservation biology problems.
  6. Use a significant range of technical skills to solve problems in conservation biology.
  7. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing and applying new understanding.
  8. Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to a variety of audiences.
  9. Demonstrate initiative and judgement to adapt conservation biology knowledge and skills that can be applied to professional practice and research.
  10. Independently plan, execute and present the findings of 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) (Dean's Scholar), 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
Please 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 CHEM101and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104and 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
Please 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
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:
BIOL292 Special Biology Studies 6 Autumn, Spring
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
BIOL360 Applied Conservation Biology 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer. First offered in 2018
BIOL362 Ecophysiology 6Autumn. First offered in 2018
BIOL361 Marine and Terrestrial Populations 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
BIOL365 Marine and Terrestrial Ecology 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
Plus 24 credit points of subjects from the following list:
BIOL364 Advanced Biology 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer. First offered in 2018
EESC332 Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironments 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
STAT335 Sample Surveys and Experimental Design 6 Autumn
LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
MARE360 Fisheries and Aquaculture 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
EESC331 Changing Global Environments 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
Students wishing to specialise in Conservation Genetics, should select subjects from the following list:  
BIOL343 Techniques in Biotechnology and Medical Research 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
CHEM325 Bioinformatics: Genome, Genes and Biomolecules 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
Or other subjects as approved by the 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 SMAH Annual, SMAH Annual 2017/2018
BIOL416 Conservation Biology Project (Part-Time) 24 SMAH Annual, SMAH Annual 2017/2018
     

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 Conservation Biology (Honours) or Bachelor of Science degree.

Honours

The Honours grade for the degree of Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) 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