Zoology Honours Research Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Students should discuss total time commitment with their supervisor but as a guide, a student would be expected to be engaged in their research for an average of thirty hours per week over two semesters.

Admission into the Honours program in the Department of Zoology through either the Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours) or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Degree with Honours).

Students must also be concurrently enrolled in the coursework subjects within this Honours program.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject provides students with the opportunity to design and conduct, under supervision, independent research. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad spectrum of zoological issues. Students will take responsibility for a research project, including the design of rigorous sampling programs; field and/or laboratory experiments; collection, appropriate statistical analysis, and interpretation of data; and providing oral and written presentations of the results. Students will assimilate and critically evaluate new knowledge within a scientific paradigm, and communicate that knowledge to others. Students should also develop skills in managing a scientific research project, writing scientific reports, providing and responding to peer reviews, and making an oral presentation.

Students enrol in a total of 75 points of research project across the duration of the Honours program. This is achieved by enrolling in this 37.5 point subject across two consecutive semesters to achieve a total 75 credit points.

The objectives of this subject are to provide students with skills in:

• conducting research in zoology;

• designing rigorous experimental and sampling programs;

• taking responsibility for managing a research project;

• preparing and giving an oral and written presentation of the results;

• expressing persuasive intellectual, scientific arguments;

• assimilating and critically evaluating existing knowledge within a scientific paradigm; and

• developing a justified budget for their proposed research.

• A literature review not exceeding 4,000 words (10%);
• A formal final seminar presenting original results (10%);
• An assessment of the research skills demonstrated by the student, provided by the student's research supervisor (10%);
• A written thesis not exceeding 10,000 words, due at the end of the program (70%).
• On-going hurdle requirements: a seminar presentation outlining the research proposal; preparation of a grant proposal justifying, costing and explaining the methodology for carrying out the honours research project.

These assessment requirements are applicable to the entire 75 point Research Project component.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students should gain skills in:

• articulating the breadth of knowledge gained in an particular discipline;

• critical appraisal of draft documents;

• developing the ability to exercise critical judgement;

• expressing persuasive intellectual arguments;

• writing a scientific report;

• managing a research project;

• oral communication and presentation;

• rigorous and independent thinking; and

• time management and self-management skills.