Recommended Study Sequence

This unit is designed to provide students with academic and generic skills required for successful completion of their science-related undergraduate studies and for professional practice. Activities allow students to learn, develop and utilise various academic and interpersonal skills within the wider context of applied scientific principles in society. Activities encourage development of self-confidence, creative thinking, problem solving, group process, communication and peer support. Academic skills include aspects of scientific reading and writing, assignment preparation, gathering scientific information, research and library skills, oral presentation, group work, taking tests and exams, effective personal and class-based learning strategies, peer assessment and online learning.

Students studying at Campbelltown campus should refer to 300543 - Cell Biology. The cell is the basic unit of life and some basic processes, such as membrane function and the reactions involving DNA, occur in cells of all living organisms. This unit introduces the important biological chemicals involved in those processes and the study of the processes themselves. The unit also examines phenomena such as cell replication, sex cell formation, inheritance, and cell metabolism that are shared by all eukaryotes (animals, protistans, fungi and plants). The biochemical capture of the sun's energy (photosynthesis) is also studied. The evolutionary links between these cellular processes form a framework for the unit, and students consider the origin of life and their own evolution. In addition, students are introduced to the immense potential of recombinant DNA technology.

The aim of the unit is to give students an introduction to different areas of study within Animal Science. This unit gives the basic skills and knowledge base for further development in the program. The unit will include a balance of theoretical and practical work in the areas of classification, behaviour and handling, structure and locomotion, basic health care, feeding, reproduction and growth and development.

This unit introduces students to the relationships between humans and animals. It deals with domestication, the role of animals for companionship and as workers, the traditional role of animals in agriculture and their increasingly recognised aesthetic and therapeutic role. Project work is developed by negotiation with lecturers to assist student learning. Students are expected to undertake a reading program from prescribed texts to supplement the lecture series.

This unit introduces students to various statistical techniques necessary in scientific endeavours. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using a ‘hands-on’ approach. Topics include effective methods of gathering data, statistical principles of designing experiments, error analysis, describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, non-parametric methods, and simple linear regression and correlation.

Students enrolled in Resource Sustainability will work in groups employing rapid appraisal techniques to score the environmental conditions across a range of landuse categories on the UWS Hawkesbury Campus. Students will be required to design and implement an investigation of the landscape utilizing methods currently in use by relevant legislative and administrative bodies (GPS, GIS, PDT, etc). The development of skills in the area of spatial data management is an essential element in this unit. Having completed an assessment of the environmental conditions on the Campus, students will illustrate their findings and present them in both audio/visual and written reports.

This unit will provide students with an understanding of comparative physiological and anatomical concepts of a range of mammalian and avian species. Students will develop the skills to apply these concepts in practical situations through the use of field observations and the relationship of these to functional anatomy and physiology of production animals. In addition students will develop many of the principles and concepts employed in animal production. Concepts discussed in lectures are reinforced by practical classes held in the laboratory and on the outdoor laboratories.

This unit will study the basic biology, ecology, conservation and management of selected terrestrial animals (amphibian, reptiles, birds and mammals) grouped according to their taxonomic affiliations. It will examine the various strategies used in the management of both wild roaming and captive reared animals including those propagated for human use. Students will learn the different management systems and research methods used in the conduct of wildlife research. The use of wildlife as a sustainable resource will be analysed within the context of ecological sustainable development and animal ethics.

This unit examines the complex interaction between power, politics, ethics and scientific paradigms in the management of natural agricultural and built environments. As such its foundations are in the field of environmental studies with a particular focus on the role of science graduates in the social interactions that govern societies use, transformation and impact on these environments. The rationale for the inclusion of a sociological perspective in a science degree is that scientists do not operate in a social vacuum, but are constantly subject to broader social, economic, political, ethical and cultural influences that bear upon the distribution and exercise of power and knowledge in organisations and in society as a whole.

This unit aims to give students a good understanding of nutrient requirements of different types of animals and the nutrient composition of common feeds so that they can evaluate and formulate rations to meet a range of animal requirements at different stages of growth, reproduction, lactation and production.

This unit is designed to help students understand and navigate their way through the scientific inquiry process, and to make inquiry a meaningful experience. It highlights the creative and strategic thinking skills needed to negotiate research, and covers the entire inquiry process from conceptualisation and design through to data collection, analysis, and report writing. The unit transcends traditional paradigmatic and disciplinary boundaries by approaching research from the ground up – a research question based perspective.

This unit will introduce students to the major issues related to animal health and welfare that form essential knowledge for those working with animals. In particular, students will gain an understanding of disease agents, disease transmission and methods for disease control as well as an introduction to disease diagnosis. In addition, students will gain knowledge about the relationships between animal management and the health and welfare expectations for domesticated and wild animals. The causes of common animal diseases will be introduced as well as the legal obligations of those owning, working or observing animals with respect to maintaining and monitoring their health and welfare. This unit will be taught in a block of eight weeks.

This unit aims to provide students with a sound understanding of reproduction of both domestic and non domestic animals so that they can design and manage a breeding program for a species of choice. Topics will include anatomy and physiology of male and female reproductive tracts; hormonal control of reproduction; fertilisation, pregnancy, parturition and lactation; artificial reproductive techniques.

This unit requires students to initiate a major project with clients from industry, research organizations or public utilities associated with the professional practice domains of the natural sciences. The project work includes a number of activities (eg developing project proposal and methodology etc) negotiated with the client and will draw together all of the previous learning in the B. Nat Sci./BSc. The project will entail interdependent relationships with the client, staff supervisor and other resource people and will involve the full range of project management skills. Students will be required to demonstrate their capacity to implement the project by production of a literature review and detailed project proposal. This subject prepares students for 300660 Field Project 2 which focuses on students putting their knowledge into action in a professional setting.

This unit aims to develop an understanding of the major animal production systems used for food and fibre in Australia (beef, dairy, pigs, poultry and sheep) and to apply this knowledge to improving problematic issues and understanding topical issues. Topics will focus on the applications of animal production principles to these production systems.

This unit requires students to undertake a major project with clients from industry, research organizations or public utilities associated with the professional practice domains of the natural sciences. The project work includes a number of activities developed in 300659 Field Project 1. The project will entail interdependent relationships with the client, staff supervisor and other resource people and will involve the full range of project management skills. Students will be required to demonstrate their capacity to implement the project by production of a major report and seminar. The unit places a heavy emphasis on continued development of professional competency in preparation for students to enter the workforce.

Focusing on a variety of wildlife and companion animal species, his unit will teach and demonstrate to students the many areas of animal behaviour and the importance of understanding these behaviours in animal management. Students will observe and work with groups of animals on the UWS campus as well as witnessing and participating in events with industry that highlight the importance of knowledge and acceptance of animal behaviour.

This unit will begin with an introduction to the evolutionary placement of the vertebrates and the relative age and importance of the different groups. The focus will then shift to an investigation of the comparative anatomy, function and behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. There will be a particular emphasis on environmental adaptations.