SLE205 - Vertebrate Structure and Function
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Previously coded as: | SBB205 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Roan Plotz |
| Prerequisite: | SLE132 |
| Corequisite: | SLE010 |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 2 x 1 hour lectures per week, 6 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit is designed to enable students to: gain an understanding of the major anatomical and functional developments throughout vertebrate evolution and their influence on the life history characteristics, ecology and diversity of this animal group; further develop skills in analysing, interpreting and critically evaluating scientific data; and gain experience in communicating scientific reports and making an oral presentation.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Develop an appreciation of the range and diversity of vertebrate animals enabling students to categorize vertebrates based on their form and function. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Attain an insight into the evolutionary history and relationships of the vertebrate groups enabling students to interpret and deduce the reasons for the success of some vertebrate animals over others. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Develop an understanding of the anatomy and functional organisation of the vertebrate body enabling them to compare and contrast various adaptations thereby inferring reasons for a particular animals evolutionary success. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Oral presentation | 10-minute collaborative presentation | 25% | Week 8 |
| Assessment 2 Practical test | In-class test | 35% | Week 9 |
| Assessment 3 Online quizzes | Five online quizzes (after each practical) | 10% (5 x 2%) | Week 11 |
| Assessment 4 End-of-Trimester test | 50-minute in class written test | 30% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
Prescribed text(s): Hildebrand & Goslow, 2001, Analysis of Vertebrate Structure, 5th edition, John Wiley.
The texts and reading list for SLE205 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.