Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Animal Behaviour)

The Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) (Honours) will appeal to applicants who have the goal of completing an Honours year in this specialisation of science. Learn to appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, animal behaviour and animal welfare. This degree provides you with training in retrieving, analysing and evaluating information relevant to animal behaviour, and communicating this information to a variety of audiences.

This degree aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in animal behaviour and examine animal behaviour in captive and wild animals, and will promote an understanding of the role of animal behaviour for assessing animal welfare, survival, and evolution. The degree aims to appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, animal behaviour, and animal welfare issues.

The Honours year in Animal Behaviour provides students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out research project. The degree aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to understand and apply relevant scientific principles.

On completion of the degree students will be able to know and critically apply theories, subject content, professional methodologies and research procedures relevant to animal behaviour, for example focal sampling method, ethogram analysis, and experimental design. Students will be able to understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about the disciplines of animal behaviour, evolution, and socio-biology were developed and appreciate that animal behaviour science is multidisciplinary and has connections to other science and non-science disciplines.

On completion of the Honours year, students will be able to apply research skills appropriate to postgraduate research or advanced industrial investigation.

This degree prepares graduates for employment in various workplaces including private and public global organisations. Potential occupations may include animal behaviour consultant, animal welfare officer and zookeeper; potential employers may include universities, zoos and research centres.