• Total units 24 Units
  • Areas of interest Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Plant Science, Evolution and Ecology, Biology
  • Specialisation code PLNT-SPEC
Plant Science Specialisation

Corequisite majors: Cell & Molecular Biology or Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology or Biochemistry or Biodiversity Conservation


Plants underpin the primary productivity of agricultural, ecological and human ecosystems through their ability to produce primary biomass by photosynthesis. Understanding plant function is thus central to many important outcomes of biological science, including agricultural production, ecosystem diversity and function, human health and sustainable population strategies for the Earth.

The Plant Science specialisation is designed to give students an understanding of how plants function, scaling from the molecule to the ecosystem and how this function underpins the performance of plants in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Plant Science is a major focus of scientific research activity at ANU, spanning everything from the function, energy, interactions, genetics and modeling of plants and their environments. In this specialisation students are exposed to cutting edge disciplinary research and researchers, which builds engagement, understanding and analysis of current issues in plant biology. The specialisation will assist students seeking to pursue professional and graduate degrees in plant sciences, and will provide a solid background for students pursuing career goals in plant laboratory science, and public and environmental policy.  

Learning Outcomes

  1. Outline plant function spanning from the molecule and gene, to whole plant and ecosystem levels, and the role of evolutionary processes.
  2. Describe processes of plant biology relevant to plant growth and performance in both agricultural and natural ecological systems.
  3. Evaluate and apply a range of contemporary research techniques in plant science.
  4. Locate, analyse and critique primary plant science research literature, in written and oral formats, and research results.
  5. Communicate plant science issues and ideas in broadly accessible terms particularly as they relate to agriculture, ecology, global climate change and sustainable human populations.

Other Information

What courses should you take in first year if interested in this specialisation?

This major can only be taken in conjunction with one of the majors listed below. The courses you must take in first year will depend on the major:


Additional advice:

  • Students taking the Biodiversity Conservation Major or Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology major should note that some later year courses in plant science also require CHEM1101 and CHEM1201 in first year however there are pathways through these two majors that do not require CHEM.
  • Students should choose appropriate second year courses to ensure they meet prerequisite requirements for third year electives.
  • For students taking BIOL3023, BIOL3208 or BIOL3209 as part of this major, the research project must be in the field of Plant Science.


Academic or enrolment advice:

Students can seek further advice from the academic contact for this major (details above), or the College of Science Student Services Team (students.cos@anu.edu.au)

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Requirements

This specialisation must be take in conjunction with one of the following majors:


This specialisation requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:

6 units from the completion of a course from the following list:

BIOL2114 Evolution (6 units)

BIOL2115 Comparative Physiology (6 units)

BIOL2117 Cell Biology (6 units)

BIOL2131 Ecology (6 units)

BIOL2151 Genetics (6 units)

BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression (6 units)

BIOL2162 Molecular Gene Technology (6 units)


18 units come from the completion of courses from the following list. A maximum of 12 units total across major and specialisation may come from completion of research project/special topic courses (BIOL3023, BIOL3208, BIOL3209). For the course to contribute towards the specialisation, the topic must be in the field of Plant Science

BIOL3023 Special Topics in Biology (6 units)

BIOL3002 Plants: Genes and the Environment (6 units)

BIOL3106 Biosecurity (6 units)

BIOL3107 Advances in Medical and Plant Biochemistry (6 units)

BIOL3109 Developmental Biology (6 units)

BIOL3125 Plants and Global Climate Change (6 units)

BIOL3130 Quantitative Ecology (6 units)

BIOL3177 Advances in Molecular Plant Science (6 units)

BIOL3203 Advanced Microscopy in Biosciences (6 units)

BIOL3208 Biology Research Project (6 units)

BIOL3209 Biology Research Project (12 units)

BIOL3303 Advanced Field Studies in Functional Ecology (6 units)

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