Bachelor of Conservation Biology

Overview

Duration:
 3 years fulltime
 
Mode:
 On campus, full or part time *
 
Workload:
 Normal workload expectations are a minimum of 10 hours per week for every subject, including class contact hours, preparation and time spent on assessment tasks.
 
Type:
 Undergraduate
 
Credit points:
 72 credit points o
 
Mid-year entry:
 Yes
 
Prerequisite/s:
 English, Chemistry, Maths B
 
Campus:
 Townsville, Cairns
 
Faculty:
 Science and Engineering
 
QTAC code:
 316281 Townsville; 326281 Cairns
 

* Duration: Part-time study is available to domestic students only.

o Credit points: Represent the combined value of individual subjects in a degree. One subject usually constitutes three credit points.
 

Structure

Disclaimer - The list of subjects below is correct for 2008, but may change for 2009. Prospective students should contact the University to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses.

The Bachelor of Conservation Biology will provide students with core knowledge and training in theory, skills and application of biology and ecology in conservation. It is designed for students who seek a career as a biologist within government departments and agencies, consulting companies, national and international conservation organisations or academia. The core subjects through levels 1 to 3 provide a fundamental background in biological and associated sciences essential for the practising biologist. A substantial range of subjects in marine biology, plant sciences, evolutionary biology, genetics, zoology and environmental science provide students with the opportunity to:

develop new and relevant skills;

enhance their breadth of ecological knowledge; and/or

enhance their depth of ecological knowledge of specific habitats of plant and animal groups.

Level 1

CORE SUBJECTS

BT1001:03 Introduction to Plant Science

BZ1001:03 Fundamentals of Biology

CH1001:03 Chemistry: A Central Science (Townsville)

or

CH1012:03 Molecular Chemistry (Cairns)

EV1001:03 Introduction to Environmental Science

MA1401:03 Statistics and Data Analysis 1

ZL1001:03 The Diversity of Animal Life

OPTIONS

Two subjects selected from:

AG1001:03 Agriculture and Agroecosystems

EA1002:03 Environmental Earth Science

EA1110:03 Evolution of the Earth

MB1110:03 Introductory Marine Science (Townsville)

Level 2

CORE SUBJECTS

BS2001:03 Quantitative Methods in Biology

BZ2420:03 Genetics for Biology

BZ2440:03 Ecology and Conservation

ZL2008:03 Animal Adaptation to Environmental Change

OPTIONS

Select one subject from Group 1 and a further three subjects from Group 1 or 2 to achieve a total of eight subjects for level 2.

Group 1 Subjects

BT2400:03 Flowering Plant Diversity

MB2090:03 Tropical Marine Ecosystems

ZL2005:03 Invertebrate Zoology (Townsville)

Group 2 Subjects

BC2023:03 Molecular Genetics

BZ2450:03 Biodiversity of Tropical Australia

BZ2470:03 Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology of Plants

EV2401:03 Australian Landscape Processes and Evolution (Townsville)

EV2404:03 Biogeography and Climatology

EV2501:03 Introduction to Environmental Remote Sensing

EV2502:03 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

MB2060:03 Marine Ecology and Environmental Assessment (Townsville)

MB2070:03 Evolution and Biogeography of Marine Organisms (Townsville)

Level 3

CORE SUBJECTS

BZ3215:03 Conservation Biology

BZ3450:03 Ecological and Conservation Genetics

OPTIONS

Select one subject from each of the following three groups, and a further three subjects from any of the three groups to achieve a total of eight subjects for level 3.

Group 1 Subjects

BT3010:03 Biology of Plant Survival

EV3002:03 Environmental Impact Assessment

EV3502:03 Advanced Geographic Information Systems

MB3150:03 Fisheries Science (Townsville)

MB3200:03 Marine Conservation Biology (Townsville)

MB3230:03 Design and Analyses in Ecological Studies (Townsville)

MB3260:03 Ecological Dynamics: An Introduction to Modelling (Townsville)

ZL3205:03 Wildlife Ecology and Management (Townsville)

Group 2 Subjects

BT3400:03 Tropical Flora of Australia

ZL3203:03 The Australian Vertebrate Fauna

ZL3211:03 Tropical Australian Herpetology (even years)

ZL3420:03 Ornithology (odd years)

ZL3501:03 Tropical Entomology (Cairns)

Group 3 Subjects

BZ3210:03 Rainforest Ecosystems (Townsville)

BZ3212:03 Tropical Wetlands Ecology and Management

BZ3220:03 Rainforest Populations and Communities (Townsville)

BZ3400:03 Population and Community Ecology (Cairns)

BZ3420:03 Tropical Ecosystems and Climate Change (Cairns)

EV3203:03 Conserving Marine Wildlife: Sea Mammals, Birds, Reptiles (Townsville)

EV3205:03 Conserving Tropical Rainforests (Cairns)

Honours

Level 4 (HONOURS)

BT4001:12 Botany Honours (Part 1 of 2)

BT4002:12 Botany Honours (Part 2 of 2)

or

BZ4001:12 Botany/Zoology Honours (Part 1 of 2)

BZ4002:12 Botany/Zoology Honours (Part 2 of 2)

or

MB4001:12 Marine Biology Honours (Part 1 of 2)

MB4002:12 Marine Biology Honours (Part 2 of 2)

or

ZL4001:12 Zoology Honours (Part 1 of 2)

ZL4002:12 Zoology Honours (Part 2 of 2)

Career Opportunities

Graduates find work in government management and research agencies, both at home and overseas, in national and international conservation bodies (e.g., WWF, Conservation International), and in the consulting and ecotourism industries. Employees may use their skills to understand the biological needs of key species, to develop management plans for species or habitats, to identify the impacts of development on ecosystems, or to explain such things to tourists.

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