BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology
Faculty of Science
BIO4200 Advanced coursework in biology is a level 4, 12-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 and Full year at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 12
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2, Full year
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before BIO4200
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After BIO4200
No unit lists BIO4200 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
COREQUISITE: BIO4100
PREREQUISITE: Enrolment in an approved Honours in the discipline of Ecology and conservation biology, Genetics, Plant sciences or Zoology
Overview
You will undertake advanced coursework in your chosen area of Biology (including Genetics) to develop skills in research design, data analysis and presentation, and critical analysis. You will also develop professional skills that are relevant within and outside of academia. Coursework comprises workshops, seminars and research colloquia which are supported through independent learning activities and mentoring from research supervisors. Candidates may commence the honours year at the beginning of either first or second semester (July). Further information is available from the course coordinator and at a meeting held with prospective students during second semester (July) of level 3.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester to First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Full year | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Journal club: written critique of a primary research paperDemonstration35%
- Seminar series projectProject20%
- Data analysis moduleDemonstration35%
- Professional skills moduleWritten10%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Critically evaluate the scientific content of peer-reviewed scientific research papers to demonstrate skills in critical analysis of research;
- 2
Summarise, in writing, the content of scientific seminars, articulating the general scope of research addressed, the methodology, and the larger implications of the research;
- 3
Analyse and display data in a manner that is appropriate for scientific talks, theses, and publications;
- 4
Demonstrate professional skills relevant to job applications in biology and science.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars7 hours
- Workshops39 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
This unit requires the equivalent of 12 hours per week of work.
You will largely undertake work associated with this unit independently. This work will be supplemented by scheduled activities that will include a combination of face-to-face classes, purpose developed online modules, research, seminars and meeting the students honours supervisors.
You will develop skills in critical thinking and research practice through guided peer-review of the scientific literature and participation in research seminars.
The unit involves blocks of teaching across the year, which incorporate a range of teaching approaches including lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials. All teaching approaches are highly interactive. Teaching blocks revolve around group discussions focused on problem solving, core skills in scientific research, peer-assisted learning, and professional development.
Learning resources
Required resources
Bring your own device
Where it fits
BIO4200 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Tim Connallon
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Tim Connallon
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for BIO4200?
BIO4200 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is BIO4200 offered?
In 2026, BIO4200 runs in Semester 2 and Full year at Clayton.
Does BIO4200 have an exam?
No. BIO4200 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include BIO4200?
BIO4200 is part of Ecology and conservation biology; Genetics and genomics; Plant sciences; and Zoology.