Handbook

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 Honours year provides students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out research projects in a specific area. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

• Understand and apply relevant scientific principles
• Retrieve and present information, including communicate effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
• Critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
• Analyse and evaluate data, appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of the science disciplines and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their own discipline
• Use information technology, work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
• Appreciate the role of science in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises

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. 

Students achieving a GPA of at least 5 in their last 36 units of study after completing 103.5 units of study will be eligible to continue into fourth year of the course. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will be able to exit with Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) on completion of 108 units according to the first three years of study in the degree.