C10228v6 Bachelor of Marine Biology
Award(s): Bachelor of Marine Biology (BMarBiol)UAC code: 607035 (Autumn session, Spring session)
CRICOS code: 079735G
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Pathway course
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
In the Bachelor of Marine Biology students explore our ocean environment, the ecological interactions that sustain its biodiversity and how we might best protect it. Learning is centred on practical and field-based experiences, through which students consolidate theoretical concepts and skills that are important for marine research and understanding governance and sustainability.
This course gives students a thorough understanding of life in marine and aquatic environments, acquisition of skills to study them and the ability to detect and assess detrimental effects on marine environments such as climate change, pollution and human resource use, as well as how to ameliorate or remediate such effects.
Students learn these skills and concepts through a combination of theory, field and laboratory experiences. Field trips undertaken in the later part of this course are particularly valued for the opportunities to put theory into practice and learn through experiencing the environment first-hand.
Career options
Career options include positions in fisheries industries, national parks and wildlife, environmental protection, infrastructure and development, natural resources and planning both in government and industries. Graduates are also employed by local councils as environmental officers, in resource industries and consulting firms as research officers, CSIRO, universities and as teachers at schools. Opportunities exist within non-government conservation sector, zoos, aquariums, science communication/documentary making and eco-tourism and tourism industries.
Course intended learning outcomes
1.1 | Apply: Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles of biodiversity, ecosystem function and the evolution of life. |
1.2 | Analyse: Assess how ecological processes are affected by human activity. |
1.3 | Synthesise: Design interventions combining the principles of sustainability and conservation to support the protection of the marine environment. |
2.1 | Apply: Demonstrate the effective application of experimental design and sampling to design appropriate ecological field and laboratory studies to test hypotheses. |
2.2 | Analyse: Investigate and critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature. |
2.3 | Synthesise: Discover and hypothesise solutions to new and emerging marine environmental issues. |
3.1 | Apply: Demonstrate time management, personal organization, teamwork skills, data collection, computing and laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. |
3.2 | Analyse: Choose and demonstrate mathematical and statistical approaches to problem solving and decision-making in biology, ecology, and conservation. |
3.3 | Synthesise: Explain the requirements of compliance with animal ethics, workplace health and safety procedures, and marine environmental impact assessments. |
4.1 | Apply: Demonstrate the ability to reflect and make effective judgments about one's own work, as professional marine biologists. |
4.2 | Analyse: Apply technological and scientific skills to investigate ecological issues and use initiative to adapt to novel situations. |
4.3 | Synthesise: Evaluate evolving concepts in marine biology, seeking current and alternative sources of knowledge and technology to enhance the application of scientific practice and skills in a professional context. |
5.1 | Apply: Communicate effectively across a range of technologies and modes, matching the mode of communication to the audience. |
5.2 | Analyse: Examine and articulate the role of marine and environmental science within local, regional and global settings. |
5.3 | Synthesise: Construct arguments to actively contribute to informing community views on complex issues around environmental science. |
6.1 | Apply: Recognise and show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge of the marine environment. |
6.2 | Analyse: Develop cultural awareness for ethical and respectful practices, and when developing community relations. |
6.3 | Synthesise: Work respectfully and collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to create respectful consultative spaces including traditional owners and occupants. |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Pathway course
Successful completion of the Insearch Diploma of Science (Life Science) guarantees entry into the course with 48 credit points of recognition of prior learning.
Assumed knowledge
Mathematics; any two units of English; any two units of science.
Course duration and attendance
Students can complete the course over three years of full-time or six years of part-time study. Part-time students are required to attend some classes in daytime hours.
Course structure
Students must complete a total of 144 credit points, made up of 120 credit points of core subjects and 24 credit points of elective subjects. The elective subjects enable students to increase their expertise in other areas of science or other disciplines in the University.
Students must satisfactorily complete all core subjects and the required number of credit points of elective for award of the degree.
Industrial training/professional practice
Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.
Course completion requirements
STM91002 Foundation stream (Environmental Sciences) | 48cp | |
STM91568 Core Disciplinary Subjects (Marine Biology) | 72cp | |
CBK90232 Electives (Science UG) | 24cp | |
Total | 144cp |
Course diagram

Course program
A typical course program is shown below.
Autumn commencing | ||
Year 1 | ||
Autumn session | ||
65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
Spring session | ||
91123 Biocomplexity | 6cp | |
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
Year 2 | ||
Autumn session | ||
91110 Experimental Design and Sampling | 6cp | |
91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
91118 Fish Biology and Fisheries | 6cp | |
91121 Aquatic Ecosystems | 6cp | |
Spring session | ||
91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology | 6cp | |
91170 Microbial Ecology | 6cp | |
91157 Marine Phycology | 6cp | |
Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
91155 Stream and Lake Assessment | 6cp | |
91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology | 6cp | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn session | ||
91120 GIS and Remote Sensing | 6cp | |
91126 Coral Reef Ecosystems | 6cp | |
91156 Marine Productivity and Climate Change | 6cp | |
91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
Spring session | ||
Select 24 credit points of options | 24cp | |
Spring commencing | ||
Year 1 | ||
Spring session | ||
65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
91123 Biocomplexity | 6cp | |
91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
Year 2 | ||
Autumn session | ||
91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
Spring session | ||
91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology | 6cp | |
91170 Microbial Ecology | 6cp | |
91157 Marine Phycology | 6cp | |
65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
Year 3 | ||
Autumn session | ||
91120 GIS and Remote Sensing | 6cp | |
91110 Experimental Design and Sampling | 6cp | |
91121 Aquatic Ecosystems | 6cp | |
91118 Fish Biology and Fisheries | 6cp | |
Spring session | ||
Select 18 credit points of options | 18cp | |
Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
91155 Stream and Lake Assessment | 6cp | |
91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology | 6cp | |
Year 4 | ||
Autumn session | ||
Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
91126 Coral Reef Ecosystems | 6cp | |
91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
91156 Marine Productivity and Climate Change | 6cp |
Honours
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science (C09029) is available to eligible students with an additional one year of full-time study.
Professional recognition
The course is recognised by the Australian Marine Science Association
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS