Program Overview

BIOL2930: Botany (Advanced)

Overview

The existence of life on Earth relies on plants and other photosynthetic organisms, making botanical knowledge crucial in various professional contexts. This unit explores the origins, diversity, and global significance of plants, providing insights into micro- and macro-evolutionary processes and patterns behind the transition of plants from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on Australian flora.

Unit Details

• Study level: Undergraduate
• Academic unit: Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
• Credit points: 6

Enrolment Rules

• Prerequisites: Annual average mark of at least 70 in the previous year
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: BIOL2023, BIOL2923, AGEN2001, PLNT2001, PLNT2901, PLNT2002, PLNT2902, PLNT2003, PLNT2903, AGEN2005, or BIOL2030
• Assumed knowledge: Knowledge of concepts and skills in BIOL1XX6

Learning Outcomes

• LO1: Explain the evolution of land plants and how plants respond to their environment
• LO2: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of phylogenetic approaches and associated inferences about relatedness of photosynthetic taxa
• LO3: Identify the major plant families of the Sydney region and the tissue systems of plants
• LO4: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of plant anatomy by describing features of the primary plant body and the secondary plant body of Angiosperms
• LO5: Carry out an independent research project and communicate findings
• LO6: Adopt a mindful disposition and a scholarly approach towards studies in Botany

Unit Availability

The unit is available in various sessions, including Semester 1 of different years, with attendance modes such as Normal day and locations like Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney, and Remote. The unit outline, which includes assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities, is published two weeks before the first day of teaching.

Modes of Attendance

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when selecting units in Sydney Student. More information about modes of attendance can be found on the university's website.

Conclusion

Successful completion of Botany (Advanced) will allow students to contribute to a range of disciplines, including ecology, bioinformatics, molecular and cell biology, genetics and biotechnology, environmental law, agriculture, education, and the arts. The Advanced Botany unit of study requires engagement at a high standard of academic rigour and affords opportunities to engage with core aspects of Botany at depth, to create new knowledge, and develop skills in research and communication.