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Study science online with Macquarie University through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

The Bachelor of Science allows you to follow a path to suit your intended career in the sciences. You will undertake an in-depth study of the Biology  – the study of all living things, encompassing diverse subdisciplines, including cell and developmental biology, behaviour, biodiversity, conservation, ecology, genetics, microbiology, anatomy and physiology. You&#39;ll learn about the function and processes that influence the ecology and evolution of organisms. You’ll consider taxa ranging from microbes to fungi, plants and animals, with a focus on Australia’s unique biodiversity. Following our philosophy of learning by doing, you’ll learn to apply your knowledge and skills, with foundational quantitative methods, to independently analyse, research and creatively solve problems. You’ll be equipped to adapt and thrive in future enterprises and employment with skills such as working collaboratively on industry- and research-related projects, and effectively communicating scientific concepts in multiple modes to a range of audiences.Supporting the primary study in Biology, students will study a minor in human biology. This popular area of biology encompasses all aspects of what it is to be human, including genetics, anatomy, physiology, anthropology, ecology and epidemiology. Core units in the degree will address the quantitative skills needed by all scientists. Scientists need to be able to understand, analyze and communicate data.Critical employability skills will be addressed both in the core units and through embedded learning in the discipline units of the majors.The course integrates real-world learning activities, culminating in a Science Capstone unit.By providing both in-depth discipline education as well as the broader skills required by all scientists the degree will provide a world-class science education.The Bachelor of Science will help you develop skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking through practical work and peer-assisted learning. Our science staff are recognised for their excellence in teaching and many are known internationally for their research, ensuring you are taught with the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.Please note: Some subjects in this degree require you to attend laboratory sessions in Sydney.

Benefit from the guidance of teachers whose research findings are known on a global scale. Use this research to conduct case studies. Take a hands-on approach with a lab component. Specialise in biology, including genetics, genes and life processes.

Bachelor of Science

Human Biology

Scientific Computing

Foundations in Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences 1

Biological Basis of Behaviour

Statistical Concepts for Science

Organisms to Ecosystems

Bioethics, Genes and Biotechnology

Genes to Organisms

Human Evolution and Diversity

This unit is suitable for all students interested in behaviour. It covers a range of topics relevant to today&#39;s society in a manner accessible to all students. Basic mechanisms are covered, together with function and evolution. Lecture topics include explanations of behaviour, evolution, evolutionary origins of behaviour, basic neuroscience, perception, learning, brain and behaviour, and topics in animal behaviour. Lectures culminate with some reflections on the lives of humans in our modern world and the role of culture in human evolution.

Venture into the animal kingdom. Track how genes and environment influence the function and evolution of animal behaviour. Study genetics. Sense how people and animals communicate. Reflect on human life today and the role of culture in evolution. 

This subject introduces essential concepts and techniques of computing for conducting science, with special emphasis on the preparation and manipulation of data. We discuss the role of computers and computing tools in science and focus on the use of spreadsheets and other data manipulation tools. This subject introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to success in future careers.

Build data and IT skills that you’ll use throughout your science degree and career. You’ll learn how to collect, prepare, and process data using computers. See how spreadsheets can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your scientific research.

This subject provides a broad introduction to statistical concepts and data analysis techniques. You will develop an understanding of statistical practice through a study of those techniques most commonly used in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Topics covered in this subject include data collection methods, data quality, data summarisation, and statistical models such as the normal distribution, followed by sampling distributions and statistical inferences about means and proportions. Also studied are methods of analysis relating to comparisons, counted data and relationships, including regression and correlation. Statistical computer packages are used for handling and analysing data. However, no prior computing knowledge is assumed. This subject introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to success in future careers.

Gain vital statistics skills for your science degree and beyond. You’ll learn how to collect, organise, and summarise data. Explore statistical models. Use statistical software. Get set for science with a rigorous framework for analysing data.

This subject deals with the nuts and bolts of life on earth. Throughout the subject there is a single unifying theme – that all of the processes that give rise to life are derived from DNA. We show students that DNA controls life by acting as a blueprint for the construction of proteins, and that those proteins build cells which act as the basic structural and functional units of all life. To demonstrate these processes to students, we start by talking about the structure and function of DNA to show how it can act as a simple code for the construction of proteins. Students are then shown how proteins are constructed from the DNA code, and how those proteins can be used to build and maintain cells. Having established these basic principles, the subject then goes on to explain how cells construct multicellular organisms during development, and how the proper functioning of those organisms is maintained by regulating cellular activity. We also demonstrate that the DNA code is essentially immortal because it can be copied from generation to generation, from cell to cell. This subject requires attendance at on-campus sessions.

Foundations of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences 1 introduces students to the principles and practical aspects of the molecular sciences, from the smallest of chemical substances through to the molecules of life - the biomolecules. This subject does not assume prior knowledge of chemistry or biology and is ideal for any student that wants to understand the atomic and molecular world within and around them. It will commence with the language of chemistry by introducing atoms and molecules and elements and compounds and using representative inorganic and organic compounds, including biomolecules, to show how their structures, functions and reactions are described. It will build on this language to allow prediction of the reactivity, behaviour and function of different classes of compounds, with a focus on acids and bases and organic compounds including biomolecules. Contemporary applications will be highlighted to show the role of chemical and biomolecular sciences in our lives, now and in the future, including in helping to achieve a sustainable environment, understanding health and disease, and advancing new molecular technologies. Practical and tutorials at the 5 days of compulsory on campus sessions reinforce learning throughout this subject.

Examine the smallest building blocks of matter in this exploration of molecular science. You’ll learn basic theories and methods of chemistry—online and in the lab. Discover how biomolecular science tackles challenges in health, sustainability, and more.

This subject explores the biological diversity of plants and animals. Relationships between structure and function are emphasised. The unit also discusses how organisms have adapted to specific environments. There is a strong emphasis on evolutionary processes and how these have generated biological diversity. A comparative approach is taken, with adaptation discussed in the context of evolutionary trees and the fossil record. The unit is suitable for students interested in organismal biology, science education, and research.

Diversity of Life

This subject introduces students to a selection of the most pressing ethical questions and concerns raised by current and recent developments in the so-called &#39;biotech revolution&#39;, especially in the sphere of genetic technology. The first section of the unit provides an introduction to ethical reasoning, to issues of social justice and to the relationship between social values, scientific enquiry and research ethics in the context of biotechnology. The second section focuses on the ethics of gene technology in the spheres of human medicine and reproduction, including: genetic screening/testing; gene editig and therapies; genetic enhancement; and human reproductive cloning. In the third section we explore the impact of biotechnologies on other aspects of human, non-human animal and environmental welfare including: genetic engineering of plants and animals (GMOs); biofortification of food; bio-prospecting; and commercial exploitation of human genetic material. The unit is an ethics unit, not a science unit, and prior scientific knowledge is not required.

How do the skills and knowledge you have acquired fit you for the next step beyond your degree? What is the role of scientific thinking in the workplace and in solving society’s problems? A major component of this unit is a cross-disciplinary project, in which you will collaborate with students from other majors in the Bachelor of Science. You will identify and practice employability and workplace skills, connecting your university experiences to career aspirations. By actively reflecting on prior learning and experiences, you will build and articulate a positive self-understanding, exploring opportunities and clarifying goals for the next stage of your career.

Making Science Work for You and Society: Capstone

Evolution is a dynamic process that has occurred over many millions of years (deep evolution) and continues to this day (contemporary evolution) shaping all aspects of vertebrate biology. This unit considers the major events in vertebrate evolution: invertebrate chordate to vertebrate; jawless to jawed; water to land; ectothermy to endothermy; and land to air. The newly emerging synthesis of evolutionary and developmental biology is having considerable impact on current vertebrate evolutionary theory, as are molecular techniques for constructing phylogenies. These topics are discussed in relation to deep and contemporary evolution of vertebrate groups. Lecture topics also discuss the main traits associated with each group of vertebrates including anatomy, physiology, brains and behaviour. The practical work reinforces the lectures by focussing on the comparative anatomy, morphology and behaviour of representative vertebrate groups.

Vertebrate Biology and Behaviour

This unit will cover the fundamentals of emergence of disease in the context of global change. Beginning with an overview of the biology and ecology of different pathogens and progressing to their epidemiology, rapid evolution, and application of modern diagnostics for their detection, diagnosis and source tracking. Past and present epidemics and case studies will be used to investigate host-switching, evolution, adaptation, virulence and transmission theory. Approaches to investigating and managing emerging Infectious disease such as One Health and Planetary Health will also be explored in this unit.

Ecology and Evolution of Emerging Infectious Diseases

Macquarie University Science Short courses | Open Universities Australia

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