Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology)

The main aim of the course is to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a professional scientist in their chosen discipline area. Graduates will have a qualification that allows them to seek professional employment, or further studies at honours or postgraduate level.

Students completing the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a coherent understanding of science by articulating the methods of science, explain why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry and explain the role and relevance of science in society
2. Exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge by demonstrating well-developed knowledge in at least one science disciplinary area
3. Critically analyse and solve scientific problems by evaluating information from a range of sources, designing and planning an investigation, selecting and applying practical and theoretical techniques for that investigation and collecting, recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data
4. Effectively communicate science by presenting information or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes using a variety of modes
5. Adopt ownership of their own learning and scientific work by being independent and self-directed learners, working effectively and safely in an individual or team context, demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory framework relevant to the disciplinary area and practising ethical conduct

For the completion of Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology), students are required to complete a total of 24 units (300 credit points) consisting of:

• 8 Science Core studies (100 credit points)
• 8 Biotechnology Major (100 credit points)
• 8 Electives/Component Units (100 credit points)

Core units

• BIO10001 Concepts of Biology
• CHE10001 Chemistry 1
• PHY10001 Energy and Motion
• STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
• MTH10010 Essential Mathematics
• NPS10003 Sustainability Challenges in Science
• NPS20005 Communication for Scientists*
• NPS30003 Grand Challenges in Science*

*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

Biotechnology Major

• BIO10003 Concepts of Biotechnology
• BIO20002 The Microbial World
• BCH20002 Introduction to Biochemistry
• BCH20001 Biochemistry of Genes and proteins*
• BCH30003 Advanced Biochemistry*
• BIO30004 Molecular Biotechnology*
• BIO30005 Microbes in the Environment
• BIO30009 Applications of Bioinformatics

*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

Electives available in Sarawak in the Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology) course:

Science Elective Units

• PEH20006 Water Science
• ENV30001 Environmental Biology
• CHE10005 Consumer Chemistry
• PEH20002 Food Science
• PEH20005 Communicable Disease Control
• PEH20004 Built and Sustainable Communities
• ENV30003 Environmental Management
• Research and Development Project 1
• BIO20008 Introduction to Tropical Ecology
• BIO20006 Industrial Microbiology
• BIO30010 Natural Products

Other recommended electives

• COS10009 Introduction to Programming
• COS10022 Introduction to Data Science
• COS20083 Advanced Data Analytics
• COS30045 Data Visualisation
• MGT10001 Introduction to Management
• MKT10007 Fundamentals of Marketing
• COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
• MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives on Science and Technology