Bachelor of Biological Science

2017 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2017 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2017 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Biological Science
Course Map	2017 course map If you started your course before 2017, please refer to the plan your study page or contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Cloud Campus	No
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	001841F Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	S321
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Quality Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study life in all its forms, from microbes to plants and animals while learning about animal and plant biology, microbiology, genetics, molecular cell biology, biogeography and evolution. This course provides you with the knowledge and skills to tackle the biological challenges of the 21st century with a focus on experimental design and the Australian biota, and is perfect for people who are passionate about flora and fauna both big and small.

This course qualifies you to become a well-rounded, modern biologist with a knowledge of microbes, plants and animals, and the interactions these have with one another and their environments.

This course provides you with opportunities to gain real-life experience in your chosen profession and to study overseas. The Industry-Based Learning placement will allow you to apply knowledge gained in your course, experience workplace culture and practices, explore career options, and develop a professional network before you graduate.

Units in the course may include assessment hurdle requirements.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Career opportunities

You will have the opportunity to be employed in a wide range of areas including primary industries, wildlife biology, the general health and medical industry (hospital scientists, analytical and diagnostic laboratory scientists and research scientists), animal health, quarantine services, environmental consulting, museums, herbaria and the emerging biotechnology industries.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (DGLOs)	Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities: appropriate to the level of study related to a discipline or profession.	Apply a broad and coherent knowledge of the scientific disciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and the environment within Biological Sciences to demonstrate a deep understanding of the nature of biology and it’s place and importance in the society. Demonstrate technical knowledge and skills in biological science to test scientific theories and apply them to a range of activities in a professional and/or academic setting. Use hypotheses, laws, facts and theories to investigate, test, analyse, and evaluate scientific data and demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsibility to argue about characteristics and aspects of scientific theory in the advancement of biological science.
2. Communication: using oral, written and interpersonal communication to inform, motivate and effect change.	Demonstrate listening skills and the ability to use a range of communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer audience questions. Articulate the boundaries or limits of scientific information, experimental or field data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments. Judge how well to present essential details of scientific procedures, key observations, results and conclusions in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts.
3. Digital literacy: using technologies to find, use and disseminate information.	Apply well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise, create and disseminate biological science literature, information, data and results in a digital world.
4. Critical thinking: evaluating information using critical and analytical thinking and judgment.	Locate and evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation or fieldwork investigations. Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based biological concepts and principles.
5. Problem solving: creating solutions to authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems.	Use initiative and creativity in planning, identifying and using multiple approaches to recognise, clarify, construct and solve problems taking into account relevant contextual factors. Advocate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions to authentic real world problems in biological science.
6. Self-management: working and learning independently, and taking responsibility for personal actions.	Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional biological science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices.
7. Teamwork: working and learning with others from different disciplines and backgrounds.	Work independently and collaboratively as a team to contribute towards achieving team goals and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts.
8. Global citizenship: engaging ethically and productively in the professional context and with diverse communities and cultures in a global context	Apply scientific knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with others to articulate the place and importance of biology in the local and global community.

Approved by Faculty Board 14 July 2016

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Biological Science, students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 24 credit points, you’ll need to study 24 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.

The course comprises a total of 24 credit points, which must include the following:

19 core units
5 elective units
Completion of SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit-point compulsory unit)
Completion of STP010 Introduction to Work Placements (0 credit-point compulsory unit)
level 1 - up to 10 credit points
levels 2 and 3 - at least 14 credit points over both levels
level 3 - at least 6 credit points