Overview

The Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) requires 3 years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course specialisation is offered by the College of Science and Engineering.The course specialisation is also available as an exit award from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Animal Behaviour) - 4 years, subject to … For more content click the Read More button below.

Student guidance

Program of study overview
Program of study notes

Program of study
108 Units

Admission requirements

Admission requirements
Dual offer
English Language requirements

Aims

The course specialisation aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in animal behaviour. The course specialisation will examine animal behaviour in captive and wild animals, and will promote an understanding of the role of animal behaviour for assessing animal welfare, survival, and evolution. The course specialisation also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

  • Understand and apply relevant scientific principles in the area of animal behaviour
  • Retrieve and present information about animal behaviour effectively, communicate clearly with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
  • Critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to animal behaviour
  • Appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of studies in animal behaviour and engage positively with people and ideas beyond the discipline
  • Work cooperatively and productively within a team
  • Work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
  • Appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, animal behaviour, and animal welfare issues.

The course specialisation provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study in biology or another science or non-science related discipline or for a career in a biology related field or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable. 

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course you will be able to:
1.
Know and critically apply theories, subject content, professional methodologies and research procedures relevant to animal behaviour; for example focal sampling method, ethogram analysis, and experimental design
2.
Understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about the disciplines of animal behaviour, evolution, and sociobiology were developed
3.
Analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
4.
Design and carry out experiments using appropriate techniques, protocols and appreciation of ethics
5.
Communicate their findings to lay, general scientific and specialised scientific audiences in written and spoken form
6.
Appreciate that animal behaviour science is multidisciplinary and has connections to other science and non-science disciplines
7.
Work and learn independently and appreciate the need for continuing professional development
8.
Interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals
9.
Understand the role of science in society, operate within the relevant regulatory frameworks and value ethical behaviour in scholarship and professional activity

Associations

Course/Course specialisation association
Honours - 1 year/Bachelor association
Honours - Embedded/Bachelor association