Handbook

The highly interdisciplinary course specialisation aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the Australian fossil record, and a broad-based foundation in the scientific principles underpinning palaeontology and allied disciplines. Students are expected to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills in both university- and field-based settings, including the capacity to:

• Understand and apply relevant scientific principles, analytical approaches and problem solving in the areas of palaeontology, vertebrate evolution and zooarchaeology
• Develop interpersonal skills through cooperative teamwork and present scientific information via effective written and spoken communication to a variety of audiences, including the broader community
• Appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of palaeontology and engage positively with people and ideas outside of the immediate discipline, especially in biology, earth sciences and archaeology
• Appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of palaeontology and the role it has in informing our understanding of modern ecosystems and their conservation
• Work and learn independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills

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 scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
• 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 area
• 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 disciplines related to palaeontology and evolutionary studies or for a career in a field related to palaeontology and vertebrate evolution 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 (Palaeontology) on completion of 108 units according to the first three years of study in the degree.