Universities and Online Degrees Guide

University of the Witwatersrand

Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology

The Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology in Biology is offered by University of the Witwatersrand.

Program Length: 3 YEARS.

Bachelor of Science in Organismal Biology offered by the University of the Witwatersrand

Study how evolution, heredity, and development shape animal and plant life.

Overview

Animal and plant life is shaped by central processes of evolution, heredity, and development. In the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, we focus largely on whole organisms. But we also cover topics ranging from basic animal or plant biology, including physiology, to animal and plant interactions with the biotic and abiotic characteristics of their environments.The syllabus provides broad competence for careers involving the biology of animals and plants in relation to their environment, including human or veterinary medicine.This major aligns well with Physiology or Anatomy offered through the Faculty of Health Sciences and is an excellent first degree for continuing in the medical profession.

Curriculum

First year

• Introductory Life Sciences I

AND

• Chemistry I

AND

• Auxiliary Mathematics I

AND

• Any other Level I course

Second year

• Animal Form and Function II
• Introduction to Animal Behaviour II
• Evolution II
• Reproductive Biology II
• Whole Plant Physiology II

AND

• Basic Statistics for the Natural
• Sciences II

AND

• Any other Level II courses

Third year

Each major has a choice of the following courses:

• Animal Behaviour III
• Behavioural Ecology III
• Biogeography III
• Biosystematics and Evolution III
• Medical and Applied Entomology III
• Molecular Ecology III
• Palaeontology III
• Physiological Entomology III
• Plant Propagation and Conservation III

ANDone field trip course:

• Applied Freshwater Ecology and Management III
• Experimental Field Biology III

ORone laboratory course:

• Microscopy III
• Service Learning in Biology III