Future Students

Genetics & Breeding

The course will give you a solid grounding in the disciplines of genetics and molecular genetics and how these techniques are applied to the theory and practice of modern breeding and conservation of genetic resources. During the degree, you will develop contacts in the industry which will assist your employment prospects following graduation.

Genetics and Breeding is a program under the four-year Bachelor of Science.

Level 1
In Level 1 you will study Core Concepts in Biology; Plant and Animal Biology; Cell Biology; Agriculture, Environment and Society; Chemistry and Biometrics.  Depending on your TEE subjects, you may also need to study Mathematics.

Level 2
Level 2 studies will expand your knowledge through the study of Genetics; Biometrics; Molecular Biology; Molecular Genetics; and Science and its Communication. Plus two of:  Invertebrate Zoology; Veterbrate Zoology;  Animal Science; Plant Physiology; Conservation Biology; Land Plant Diversity; and Global Climate Change and Biodiversity.   In addition you will choose units from the elective list, such as Animal Science; Plant Physiology, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Zoology; and Land Plant Diversity. 

Level 3
In Level 3 you will specialise further, studying units in Genetics and Breeding; Genetics and Evolution;  Bioinformatics; and Biometrics. In addition you will choose units from the elective list

Level 4
In Level 4 you will undertake a research project worth 50 per cent of your mark for fourth year. This research is in addition to units you choose from the elective list.

You may earn Honours based on your marks for the project plus your four best marks from Level 3 units.

Each semester you will normally have at least one optional unit.  such as Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics; Animal Production; Climate and Environment; Coastal Management; Environmental Economics; Environmental Management; Plant Conservation Biology; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics; Plant Production/Agronomy; Science Communication; Marine Biology and Wildlife Management.

If you are interested in finding out which subjects you will study then have a look at the Course Outline. This will show you the core units and the options for the course, along with course rules.

You will notice that each unit has a unit code, for example BIOL1130. The first number in the unit code indicates the level of the unit - in this case level one. For a more detailed description of a particular unit, click on the unit code.

Career opportunities

Graduates with a specialisation in genetics and breeding are employed in pure and applied research positions in both private sector companies and public agencies such as CSIRO, government departments such as Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Food, botanic gardens, State Fisheries, as well as in school, college and university teaching.