Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty
Bachelor of Biotechnology and Cell Biology (SBBCB) – Melbourne (Bundoora)
Biotechnology is the use or manipulation of living organisms or their components to perform tasks of practical benefit. It is making important contributions to medicine, waste technology, agriculture, food technology, and renewable resources technology.
The aim of the degree program is to:
- provide students with a multidisciplinary education in biotechnology and cell biology based on the core subjects of biochemistry, botany, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, and zoology
- lead to employment in industry and government
- provide a basis for postgraduate studies in any of the core disciplines covered in the course.
Course structure
The course is of three years full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 360 credit points overall.
First year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (105 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Animal Diversity, Ecology and Behaviour | BIO1AD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Organisation and Function of Cells and Organisms | BIO1OF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Applications of Chemistry | CHE1APL | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Genetics, Human Biology and Evolution | BIO1GEN | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Plant Science | BIO1PS | 15 |
Choose one first-semester chemistry subject. Students who have passed VCE Chemistry, Units 3 and 4 or equivalent, must choose CHE1GEN.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Basic Chemistry | CHE1BAS | 15 |
| or | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | General Principles of Chemistry | CHE1GEN | 15 |
Choose at least one mathematics or statistics subject:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematical Applications in Biology | MAT1MAB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 | Statistics for Life Sciences | STA1LS |
Electives (15 credit points)
The remaining 15 credit points can be any first year level subject for which pre-requisites have been obtained.
Second year (120 credit points)
Students must choose six subjects to the value of 120 credit points from the list below. Unless a clearly defined three-year program of study has been organised, it is highly recommended that students complete a full year of study in at least two disciplines in order to ensure flexibility of subject choice at the third year level. Any variation from the subjects listed below requires the approval of the course adviser.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology A | BCH2BMA | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | CHE2FND | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Human and Molecular Genetics | GEN2HMG | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introductory Microbiology | MIC2IM | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Plant Molecular Biology, Physiology and Nutrition | BOT2MPN | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Animal Physiology | ZOO2APH | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B | BCH2BMB | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Developments in Chemistry | CHE2DEV | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | GEN2EEG | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Medical and Veterinary Microbiology | MIC2MVM | 20 |
Third year (120 credit points)
Students must choose subjects to the value of 120 credit points from the list below.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Chemistry A | CHE3ADA | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Medical and Veterinary Microbiology | MIC3AMM | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3A | BCH3BMA | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Human and Molecular Genetics | GEN3HMG | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Chemistry B | CHE3ADB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Microbiology | MIC3AM | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3B | BCH3BMB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Plant Biotechnology | BOT3PB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Zoology B (physiology components only) | ZOO3EPB | 30 |
Honours
Students who achieve an average of 65% or more in 60 points of relevant third year subjects and 60% across all of their third year subjects are eligible to continue to an interdisciplinary Honours year in biotechnology and cell biology, or in appropriate departments according to the subjects taken in third year.
For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.