Program Overview

This course enables you to better tailor your study to suit your specific interests in science and gives you access to advanced-level units relevant to an honours degree.

You will learn core science units and choose a science major in which to specialise. From your second year you’ll benefit from work-integrated learning opportunities that give you practical experience and skills before you graduate – an attribute that is highly valued by employers.

You’ll also undertake internal and external research experiences, and in your final year you may conduct a self-directed honours project that adds to the scientific knowledge of your field.

This science degree is unique in Western Australia in that you will also study scientific professional practice, entrepreneurship and leadership. It is designed to ensure you graduate as a resourceful and creative professional who can respond innovatively to changing industry and employment landscapes.

Major: Molecular Genetics
In this course, you will gain the deep knowledge of genetic processes and bioinformatics for careers and research related to human, animal and plant health, environmental health and food security.

Genetics is a rapidly growing science discipline that now underpins diverse jobs related to biology. For example, around the world, governments are investing in genetics research to improve food supply, which is increasingly reliant on genetically modifying the production of plants and animals.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is another growth area, where trace amounts of DNA in the environment are contributing to better estimates of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine environments. And ancient DNA is being extracted from fossils to understand the evolution of life and the impacts of ancient climate and ecosystem change.

In the field of disease diagnosis, DNA ‘chips’ can detect the expression of thousands of genes, enabling rapid diagnosis of multiple diseases in a single test. Before long, individuals will be able to access their own DNA sequence and learn their propensity to develop particulardiseases.

This course offers a flexible approach to studying genetics, allowing you to explore the field through for-credit immersive research experiences, industry placement and interdisciplinary team-based projects.

You’ll also gain practical experience programming in R and Python and through exposure to data science professionals.

In your second and third years you can source internships and immersive work experience for course credit. In your final year, you'll complete a capstone project in genetics, which can range from pure research through to translational (entrepreneurial) science.

This is a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) course, designed for high-performing students to pursue their interest in science through a core of research, leadership and entrepreneurship.