Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty
Bachelor of Conservation Biology and Ecology (SBCBE) – Melbourne (Bundoora)
Under the influence of the biodiversity crisis, the discipline of conservation biology and ecology has developed into an important field of study, drawing material from all areas of biology and from law and management, and with its own conceptual and theoretical strengths. The aim of the degree program is therefore:
- to provide students with a multidisciplinary education in conservation biology and ecology based on the core subjects of botany, genetics, microbiology and zoology, plus appropriate areas from mathematics and statistics, management, and policy
- to lead to employment in conservation-based positions in local, state and federal government and in research in biology generally
- to provide a degree leading to postgraduate studies in any of the core disciplines covered in the course.
Seminar program
Students may be required to attend a meeting or a seminar each month of the semester. The seminar speakers are chosen to present perspectives not otherwise strongly developed in the main course and to discuss applications of concepts 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. In all years, students have freedom to follow their particular interests by the choice of optional subjects to combine with their core subjects. Students should select subjects carefully to make sure that prerequisites for later year subjects are met.
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-1 | Processes that Shape the Earth | GEO1PRO | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Statistics for Life Sciences | STA1LS | 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 |
Electives (15 credit points)
Any first year level science subject not already taken as a core subject.
Recommended subject options are:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-2 | Earth Structure, Resources and History of Life | GEO1ERS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Applications of Chemistry | CHE1APL | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematical Applications in Biology | MAT1MAB | 15 |
Second year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (80 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Australian Fauna and Ecology | ZOO2AFE | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Issues in Conservation | CBE2IC | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australian Ecology and Systematics | BOT2AES | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | GEN2EEG | 20 |
Electives (40 credit points)
Science subjects to the value of 40 points subject to meeting the prerequisite requirements for those subjects. Recommended subjects:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Biostatistics | STA2BS | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Land and Soil Management | AGR2ILM | 20 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introductory Microbiology | MIC2IM | 20 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Landscape and Climate Change | GEO2EGL | 10 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Remote Sensing and GIS | GEO2EGR | 10 |
Third year (120 credit points)
Core subject (30 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Applications in Conservation | CBE3AC | 30 |
Electives (90 credit points)
Subjects to the value of 90 credit points, chosen from the following list:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Field and Environmental Botany | BOT3FEB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Zoology A | ZOO3EPA | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | GEN3EEG | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Ecology, Systematics and Evolution | BOT3ESE | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Microbiology | MIC3AM | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Zoology B | ZOO3EPB | 30 |
Other subjects may be substituted but only with the approval of the course adviser.
Honours
Students achieving an average mark of 65% in relevant third year subjects constituting at least 60 credit points and an overall average at third year level of 60 are eligible to continue to an inter-disciplinary Honours year in conservation biology and ecology, or in appropriate departments according to the subjects taken at third year level.
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.