- 2017

Undergraduate

Minor

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2017 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 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

Coordinator(s)

Professor Tim Cole

Location

Clayton

Molecular biology is a fundamental science that imparts an understanding of the biology of organisms at a molecular level. It specifically focuses on the unique features of DNA, RNA and proteins and the interactions that occur between them. Importantly, the field of molecular biology is a fundamental enabling science for most fields of biology and has had a major impact upon virtually all other scientific disciplines, such as biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, anatomy and developmental biology, physiology, immunology and biotechnology.

Molecular biology at Monash University helps to tie together several different discipline areas within the biological sciences. An understanding of the molecular underpinnings of life serve to amplify the lessons that may be learned in other disciplines such as biochemistry, microbiology and genetics. Our teaching staff are active researchers and educators who apply molecular biology theory and techniques to their current research projects. Together this interdisciplinary team will lead you through molecular biology theory and practical training from the basics to the more advanced. This training will integrate with other science units that are undertaken as part of your major program of study.

Practical classes in molecular biology are designed to provide laboratory skills in genetic manipulation and expression and modern techniques of recombinant DNA technology.

Molecular biology is a fundamental science, which underpins a number of discipline areas. Core theory and skills in this area will open up opportunities to a range of career options in the field of biomedical and biological sciences, and biotechnology. Graduates with a training in molecular biology find employment in research and academia, teaching, industry, and government agencies.

Availability

Molecular biology is listed in S2000 Bachelor of Science, S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours) and S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours) at Clayton as a minor.

The molecular biology minor is not available in the double degree course S2007 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Biomedical Science

Outcomes

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

  • demonstrate a broad theoretical understanding of the molecules which make up the blueprint of life and the expression and regulation of genes
  • demonstrate advanced practical and technical skills in core molecular biology techniques, recombinant DNA technology, genomic and bioinformatic analysis.

Units

Minor requirements (24 points)

12 points at level 1 and 12 points at level 2.

Students complete the following four units (24 points):

Relevant courses

Bachelors

Single degrees

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

  • S2000 Bachelor of Science
  • S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours)
  • S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours)

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

Double degrees

Successful completion of this area of study can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Science component in the following double degrees:

  • B2023 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science
  • B2016 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Science
  • D3005 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • E3007 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • C2003 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science
  • L3007 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science
  • S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
  • S2004 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Computer Science
  • S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies
  • S2005 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music