Program Overview

Foundation Studies prepares you for a successful transition to degree-level study, providing a pathway to the first year of study of a bachelor’s degree at Murdoch University.

This course is suited to you if you:

• Need an entrance qualification for Murdoch University
• Want to accelerate your university preparation after Year 11, or equivalent
• Want to change your degree stream after Year 11, or equivalent

Course Structure
For Foundation Studies you will complete eight units over two study periods, studying a combination of core and elective units. The units you will undertake will be determined by your chosen degree. All students must complete the two English units and at least one unit from each Discipline Group.

Each unit of study builds concepts from an introductory level through to university entrance level. The units are designed to develop your learning techniques as well as bridging gaps in your unit knowledge.

• English
  • Essential Australian Studies
  • Introduction to Academic Communication
• Mathematics
  • Introductory Mathematics
  • Mathematics for Science
• Science and Technology
  • Information Technology for Academic Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• The Arts
  • Introduction to Media
  • Media Production
• Business and Legal Studies
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Economics

Leading to:  Bachelor of Science (Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences)
In Biomedical Science you’ll explore human disease and its treatment and prevention, and learn both fundamental and specific laboratory techniques required across the medical fields, including in medical research. Or you’ll learn about medical technology and gain analytical skills needed to succeed in medical diagnosis in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Majoring in Forensic Biology and Toxicology will see you learn to apply scientific thinking to investigate crime and even participate in simulated crime cases.  You’ll discover the molecular basis of genetics and how to analyse and manipulate genes in the process of genetic engineering if you decide to major in Genetics and Molecular Biology.

You’ll also have the opportunity to increase your scope by choosing minors across other disciplines including anatomy, biology, bioinformatics, pharmacology, ethics, or science communication. Our leading academics will guide and mentor you, as you explore the human body, forensic investigation, and/or DNA and genetics in-depth through extensive hands-on practical classes.

You can also expand on your career prospects by undertaking a double major or double degree with another scientific area.

Major: Forensic Biology and Toxicology
Put your curiosity to work as you investigate crime from a scientific viewpoint. Our course is unique in WA as it focuses on biology and life sciences, and forensic science including DNA analysis and Toxicology.

Industry terms such as forensic palynology (the use of pollen grains to connect a suspect to a crime scene), forensic anthropology (the identification of skeletal remains) and forensic entomology (the insects that decompose human remains) will become part of your professional vocabulary.

You will learn the dynamics of blood pattern analysis and test your knowledge in the lab, exploring your fingerprints and features that are used for identification. You’ll also investigate wildlife crime through DNA analysis using the same techniques that are used to identify elephant ivory and rhino horn.

Using the latest cutting-edge analytical technology, you will learn how to identify toxins in body fluids and contaminated products, helping you piece together crimes.

Along with the technical skills, you will also get hands-on experience with forensic DNA profiling and analysing human profiles in simulated casework.

3 reasons to study Forensic Biology and Toxicology at Murdoch

• Five-star rating for student-teacher ratio and teaching quality.*
• Get hands-on experience as you apply DNA profiling and other forensic techniques from the lab to simulated crime scenes.
• Learn the latest real-world techniques and policies, with course input and guest lectures from forensic experts from PathWest, and ChemCentre.

What you’ll learn

• Forensic science
• Forensic DNA analysi
• Forensic anatomy and anthropology
• Forensic toxicology