tropical-environmental-biology/index

aos

18 September 2017 20 April 2024

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Students who commenced study in 2016 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

Monash University

Undergraduate
Minor/Major/Extended major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2016 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Science component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Science

Offered by

School of Science

Coordinator

Dr Lee Sui Mae

Websites

Faculty of Science

School of Science

Location

Malaysia

Over half the species of animals and plants in the world occur in the Tropics. Tropical environmental biology introduces students to terrestrial and aquatic tropical ecosystems and their vast biodiversity. The conservation and management of tropical forests are of global importance particularly with respect to climate change, nutrient cycling, conservation of endangered species and potential for discoveries of new drugs and other bioactive compounds. The major provides specialist training in tropical environmental biology with a particular emphasis on techniques and field skills relevant to the study, conservation and management of tropical environments. Students study a range of topics including environmental science, tropical ecology, terrestrial and aquatic tropical biology, tropical environmental management and conservation of bioresources.

Monash is one of the few world class universities with a tropical campus and the location of the Malaysia Campus is ideal for the study of Tropical environmental biology. Through field trips, lectures and research projects, students gain an appreciation for, and understanding of, tropical ecosystems in the region including coral reefs, tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, peat swamp forests, rivers and lakes.

Tropical environmental biology can lead to an exciting career in areas such as conservation biology, aquatic biology, environmental management and consultancies, biotechnology, field and laboratory research in government, industry or universities, and environmental NGOs.

Availability

Tropical environmental biology is listed in the Bachelor of Science at Malaysia as a minor, major or extended major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major or extended major will be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific principles, concepts and skills in areas of science relevant to tropical environmental biology, such as ecology, conservation, environmental management and aquatic and terrestrial biology
  • demonstrate understanding of how biological processes differ between tropical regions and other latitudes due to the effects of climate
  • apply critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative field and laboratory research techniques and analytical skills to solve problems in tropical environmental biology.

Units

Minor requirements (24 points)

12 points at level 1 and 6 points at each of level 2 and level 3.

Students complete the following four units (24 points):

  • BIO1011 Biology I
  • BIO2810 Tropical ecology or ENV2726 Ecosystems and bioresources
  • BIO3810 Tropical aquatic biology or BIO3820 Tropical terrestrial biology
  • ENV1800 Environmental science: A Southeast Asian perspective

Major requirements (48 points)

12 points at level 1 and 18 points at each of level 2 and level 3.

Students complete the following eight units (48 points):

  • BIO1011 Biology I
  • BIO2810 Tropical ecology
  • BIO3800 Tropical environmental management
  • BIO3810 Tropical aquatic biology
  • BIO3820 Tropical terrestrial biology
  • ENV1800 Environmental science: A Southeast Asian perspective
  • ENV2726 Ecosystems and bioresources
  • STA2216 Data analysis for science

Extended major requirements (72 points)

24 points at each of level 1, level 2 and level 3.

Students complete:

(a.) The requirements for the major in Tropical environmental biology (48 points)

(b.) The following two units (12 points):

(c.) One unit (6 points) from the following:

  • BIO1022 Biology II
  • CHM1052 Chemistry II advanced
  • MON1800 The sustainable planet

(d.) One unit (6 points) from the following:

Requirements for progressing to honours

  • STA2216 Data analysis for science and 18 points of level 3 units from the units listed above.

Refer to S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours) for full details.

Relevant courses

Bachelors

Single degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degree:*

  • S2000 Bachelor of Science

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.

* Students cannot complete a minor, major or extended major in the same area of study.