Diploma of Bioscience

• Bachelor of Agriculture
• Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences*
• Bachelor of Biological Sciences
• Bachelor of Biomedicine*
• Bachelor of Science, with majors in:
  • Biochemistry
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Statistics
  • Zoology

*Students require a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) to progress into second year as listed on the Transferring to La Trobe University page.

**Second year of some Bachelor courses may require specific university subjects to be completed as elective units.

LTM1AIM does not count towards your study load and is a wholly online module. Completion (prior to week 4) is a requirement to pass your diploma; this module is expected to take about 1 hour.

Online, zero credit point module, all students must complete this unit in their first trimester. This module introduces students to the principals of academic integrity in the context of La Trobe University’s values and policy. Students learn what their responsibilities are in relation to maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of academic work and the potential ramifications for academic misconduct according to the Academic Integrity Policy. Activities and quizzes are provided which are designed to develop and understanding of the concepts of cheating, plagiarism and collusion. Topics include an explaining of how the text-matching tool ‘Turnitin’ is used at La Trobe, and where to get help and where to go to develop referencing skills.

SCHE1CHF completion is a prerequisite for SCHE1APL

Chemistry Foundations chemistry is a foundation module designed for students who have no or little previous experience or study in chemistry. The aim of the module is to instil concepts, knowledge and skills that will enable these students to apply chemical principles and practice during their university degree and future employment. The content of the one trimester module covers topics common to senior high school chemistry and also prepares students to advance to second trimester chemistry.

SBIO1MGC and SBIO1EEB are incompatible to be undertaken concurrently

Living organisms, with their many intricate and intriguing processes, are composed of lifeless molecules. SBIO1MGC takes a look at how those molecules are organised into the smallest unit of life, cells, across a range of organisms. SBIO1MGC also covers how those cells capture light energy, break down molecules to release energy, synthesise new molecules, communicate with other cells, and how the instructions to perform those functions are stored and passed on to the next generation.

This module provides an introduction to applied statistics and strengthens basic numeracy skills. It introduces students to the basic applied statistical methods used in the biological sciences, medical sciences, agricultural sciences, nutrition, and health sciences. The three main areas of study are descriptive statistics, probability, and statistical inference and the use of a statistical computing package is an integral part of this module. The strengths and limitations of statistical models to enable informed thinking about sustainability are explored. This module is a possible pre-requisite for the second-year modules in statistics.

HHBS1HBA completion is a prerequisite for HHBS1HBB

In this subject, students will be introduced to the anatomical organisation of the body and the basics of cell structure and function. The fundamentals of the nervous and endocrine systems will then be explored in the context of mechanisms of physiological control. This information will provide the foundation for the study of the major organ systems of the body which include the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, digestive, reproductive systems and metabolism. Underpinning these studies will be the concept of homeostasis and how it is maintained by integration of organ system functions. In addition, students are required to engage in guided, independent learning throughout the semester to extend their level of knowledge in the topic areas described above.

SCHE1CHF completion is a prerequisite for SCHE1APL

This module aims to provide you with a further foundational concept and the knowledge of the first trimester chemistry units. It fully prepares you to advance to second year studies in chemistry or apply chemistry knowledge and skills within your chosen discipline. This module includes specific applications of chemistry to the manufacture of synthetic materials, identifying and alleviating chemical pollution, and the chemistry of living organisms. Chemistry Foundations is a pre-requisite to study this module.

SBIO1MGC and SBIO1EEB are incompatible to be undertaken concurrently

The evolution of life on earth is a product of the interaction between organisms and the environment. SBIO1EEB will explore the amazing diversity of life from a global and Australian perspective. How population genetics allows evolutionary changes of adaptation over both short and long periods of time will be discussed. SBIO1EEB will also explain ecological forces that determine the distribution of life forms, the flow of energy through ecosystems and the dynamics of natural populations.

Infectious diseases, both new and ancient, continue to threaten wellbeing by causing localised, epidemic or pandemic disease outbreaks. Selected microorganisms will be described and compared: the main focus is the natural habitat of the organisms (reservoirs of infection), the ways in which humans can encounter the organisms (routes of infection) and the strategies available at the individual, community and global levels to prevent disease and, in the diseased patient, to cure disease.

Students wishing to articulate into Bachelor of Biomedicine must complete Human Biosciences B

HHBS1HBA completion is a prerequisite for HHBS1HBB

This is a basic anatomy module which concentrates on anatomical structures and their function and is a core module within the Health Sciences first year. It has 60 contact hours of teaching and includes both small group and computer-based activities as well as demonstrations of anatomical models. This will be occurring in the workshops as well as the scheduled lectures. In this module the concepts of human structure and function will be applied to a detailed study of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Anatomical principles and terminology will be applied to relevant body systems and the concept of integrated function of multiple systems in one body region will be introduced.

Introduction to Professional Practice is a module which will introduce you to the health care system; as a consumer participants, as a health and human services practitioner and as part of a health care team. This module also offers you the opportunity to reflect on your own experiences within the health care system, and to use this to analyse and develop your understanding of health and human services. Group work is an essential component of University studies, and you will explore the nature of group work and team-based assessment, as used across all modules. Concurrent with HHLT1IPP is HHLT1LHS* Learning in Health Sciences, which covers academic skills such as referencing, academic writing and presentations, critical analysis, and academic integrity.

*Note: HHLT1LHS is not compatible with the current Bioscience course structure.

Requirement and availability for this subject is under review for 2024 and 2025