Biotechnology (Honours) - 3053

Program Summary

1. Demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the essential principles and techniques in Biotechnology and its related disciplinary areas with a capacity to apply these techniques to solving problems;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of Biotechnology in its interdisciplinary and international context;
3. Apply their knowledge and skills to collect, review, analyse and evaluate information, define and solve problems, and develop and carry out experiments;
4. Work independently with an ability to approach problem-solving independently and from different the perspectives;
5. Apply the principles of teamwork and collaboration;
6. Communicate effectively with spoken and written communication skills to present a clear and coherent account of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences;
7. Demonstrate information and digital literacy;
8. Demonstrate an understanding of ethical practice in the scientific context and application of the discipline in a socially responsible manner;
9. Identify a problem and construct and execute a research project in a way that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of both concepts and techniques in research and design, and project management skills. A capacity for critical thinking, initiative and judgement will be demonstrated in the development and design of the research project.

• CHEM1011 Chemistry A (6 UoC) or CHEM1031 Higher Chemistry A (6 UoC)
• CHEM1021 Chemistry B (6 UoC) or CHEM1041 Higher Chemistry B (6 UoC)

• MATH1031 Mathematics for Life Sciences (6 UoC) or MATH1131 Mathematics 1A (6 UoC) or MATH1141 Higher Mathematics 1A (6 UoC)
• MATH1041 Statistics for Life & Social Sciences (6 UoC) or MATH1231 Mathematics 1B (6 UoC) or MATH1241 Higher Mathematics 1B (6 UoC)

• Free elective or General Education courses totalling 12 UoC

• BABS2204 Genetics (6 UoC) or BABS2264 Genetics (Advanced) (6 UoC)

• Free elective or General Education (6 UoC)

• BABS3121 Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids (6 UoC) or BABS3621 Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids (Adv.) (6 UoC)

• Free elective or General Education (6 UoC)

• BABS3021 Microbial Genetics (6 UoC) or MICR3621 Microbial Genetics (Adv.) (6UoC)
• BABS3041 Immunology 1 (6UoC)
• BABS3061 Medical Biotechnology (6UoC)
• BABS3081 Bacteria and disease (6UoC)
• BABS3151 Human Genetics and Variation (6UoC)
• BABS3281 Molecular Genomics (6 UoC)
• BABS3291 Genes, Genomes and Evolution (6UoC)
• BABS6741 Astrobiology (6UoC)
• BIOC3111 Molecular Biology of Proteins (6 UoC)
• BIOC3261 Human Biochemistry (6UoC)
• BIOC3271 Molecular Cell Biology 2 (6 UoC) or BIOC3671 Molecular Cell Biology 2 (Adv.) (6UoC)
• BIOT3081 Environmental Biotech (6 UoC)
• CHEM3901 Environmental Toxicology (6UoC)
• FOOD3010 Food Preservation (6UoC)
• MICR3061 Viruses and Disease (6UoC)
• MICR3071 Environmental Microbiology (6 UoC)
• PATH3208 Cancer Sciences: Research Design, Measurement & Evaluation (6 UoC)
• PHAR3101 Rational Drug Design (6UoC)
• PHAR3102 Molecular Pharmacology (6UoC)

1. Students must complete a minimum of 192 units of credit.
2. Students must follow the program of study as outlined in this Handbook, including the core and elective requirements as specified in the Program Structure above.
3. Students must complete 12 UoC of General Education at any stage in their program. Students must follow the UNSW rules for General Education. Any course defined as a 'Science' course in Table 1 cannot be taken as General Education. Additionally, GENS courses cannot count as General Education for Science students. Courses with identifying codes GEN# can only be used to fulfil the General Education requirement of the program. GEN# courses cannot count towards the free elective component, or towards science core courses or science electives in the program. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Associate Dean (Academic Programs) or nominee.
4. Students must complete 12 Units of Credit of free electives (which may be chosen from any of the approved elective lists, but could also be chosen from elsewhere within the University).
5. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. No student may commence Stage 4 until stages 1 to 3 have been completed successfully.
6. A maximum of 48 units of credit of level I courses can be taken throughout this entire program, excluding any GEN*#### course or other mainstream level I course taken to fulfil the 12 unit of credit General Education requirement.
7. Progression to Stages 2, 3 & 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65 for progression to Stage 3, and to Stage 4. Students who do not meet the requirement to enter Stage 4 (Honours) will be transferred to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science) and will, on successful completion of the first three stages of program 3053, graduate with the degree Bachelor of Science (program 3970) with a major in Biotechnology. Students who transfer to program 3970 before successful completion of stage 1 to 3 of program 3053 will be required to complete an approved major in program 3970 as specified in the Handbook.

• Honours Class 1: mark of 85 or greater;
• Honours Class 2 Division 1: mark from 75 to 84;
• Honours Class 2 Division 2: mark from 65 to 74;
• Honours Class 3 or Pass: mark below 65.

• A written thesis. Each student is assigned an Assessment Committee consisting of three members who assess the thesis independently. Where agreement cannot be reached on a thesis grade a fourth examiner will be engaged to provide an independent assessment of the thesis (70%);
• Presentation of research findings (10%);
• Final thesis interview of student with their Assessment Committee (10%);
• Student aptitude and performance as assessed by laboratory notebooks and a supervisor's report (10%)