Teaching and Training
Honours
The Honours Degree in the Department of Zoology is a course of advanced study and research occupying a full year. It is designed to broaden your understanding of the research base underpinning modern zoological science. It also introduces you to hands-on research either on your own project or as part of a team. There may be opportunities to work with industry partners to assist them with an environmental or scientific problem. This course can act as a "stepping stone" to higher degree study at this University or others but the recommended pathway for students who already know that they would like to train for a research career at Masters or PhD level at the University of Melbourne is the Master of Science degree.
The broad aims of our Honours program are to:
- introduce you to the design and execution of a research project
- provide you with some training in the research area of the project undertaken
- teach you how to communicate your data to a scientific or industry community
- expand your knowledge and understanding of biological sciences
Outline of Course and Assessment
Overview
The Honours program in the Department of Zoology is offered in two streams: Discovery and Links.
The streams are equivalent in merit, academic rigour and intellectual content. The emphasis in the Discovery stream is on development of the ability to identify research questions and make original discoveries in science. In the Links stream, the emphasis is on the ability to use the scientific method in an industrial or applied context. Students select a project offered in one stream or the other in consultation with a department supervisor and remain in that stream for the duration of the course.
Both streams are designed to:
- introduce students into the processes and practice of research in Zoology;
- provide students with some personal experience of the philosophy and methods used for identifying pure or applied research questions and making original discoveries in science or contributions to industry;
- enable students to acquire some current research skills in a specific area;
- enhance students' understanding of Biological Sciences;
- encourage students to develop the ability to think critically and independently, evaluate information and analyse biological data;
- improve oral and written communication skills;
- learn about the production of research communications and publications.
Assessment tasks include:
- a literature review
- a research report of no more than 10000 words
- coursework including experimental design and analysis, project assessment
How do I get more information and apply for an Honours place?
Getting more information
If you have no idea what sort of project you would like to undertake or who might supervise it, contact the Coordinators (Laura Parry, Steve Swearer) or the Head of Department (David Macmillan, David Gardner).
If you have already decided on a project area or even a preferred supervisor, you can approach staff members directly for more information. The University limits the number of students that a staff member can supervise so your first choice of supervisor may not be able to take you on. All members of staff will, however, be able to advise you and help you find a supervisor. The Department has a large number of potential supervisors available in institutions with which we have strong links (e.g. Howard Florey Institute, Children’s Hospital, Zoos Victoria, Museum Victoria, Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industry) so discussions with staff members may reveal additional opportunities for projects.
How do I apply for an Honours place?
You cannot enrol for Honours unless you have a project supervisor. You can, however, apply for an honours place and submit a list of projects/supervisors. If none of these are available, we may be able to offer you something else. Spaces are allocated according to academic performance, so the better your record and marks, particularly in the subject area of choice, the better your chances of an offer.
Offers can be made at any time up until commencement of the course but the bulk of offers are made as soon as the Faculty Honours Scores for the current academic year are known, usually early December.
Once you have discussed your plans and decided to apply:
Complete both the Zoology Application formand the Faculty Application formand submit them to main reception at the Head’s office.
Application Forms