This major explores the origins, interactions and future prospects for plant and animal life. It embraces:

• evolution of species diversity
• structural consequences of functional adaptation
• within- and between-species interactions
• survival and reproductive strategies
• species/environment interactions, and the impact of climate change

 Designated courses provide a theoretical and practical grounding in genetics, evolution, ecology and physiology. With a thorough understanding of the basic principles in each field, and hands-on experience of experimental design and techniques used to develop and test hypotheses, students will be well placed to pursue a career in research and field-based studies in plant and animal sciences, or to make a professional contribution to the development of policy in the areas of conservation, environment, agriculture and fisheries.

Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.

The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the evolutionary processes and the major evolutionary innovations that have led to the diversity of extant plant and animal life.
2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the structures and processes involved in the functioning of plants and animals.
3. Describe the nature of interactions between and among plants and animals, and describe the important processes governing the dynamics of plant and animal communities.
4. Explain how biology is an evidence-based discipline involving observation, experimentation and hypothesis testing and how it relates to other scientific disciplines.
5. Develop and implement experimental strategies to investigate different biological and experimental systems and analyse and present results of these investigations.
6. Critically assess biological information and apply it to theoretical, experimental and professional contexts.
7. Employ their collaborative and independent educational experiences of laboratory, project and course work in other contexts.
8. Clearly communicate biological processes and principles to both science literate and non-science literate audiences.
9. Recognise how biology contributes to resolving ethical, social and environmental issues and the expectations this places on their professional practice.