Overview
In this unit you will explore a range of fundamental principles and topics within the life sciences discipline. In Life Science Fundamentals you will study and develop an understanding of cell structure and function, genetics and inheritance, evolutionary processes, and the anatomy and function of common living organisms, including bacteria and viruses. This unit will prepare you for more specialised study and help you understand the important role that life science plays in the scientific study or management of organisms, ecosystems, and animal or plant production. This unit includes a practical component that develops the necessary skills required to study organisms and undertake scientific inquiry in a university context and beyond.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Anti-requisite BIOL11099 Living Systems
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2027
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from 2025 SUTE Evaluations
Staff fostered an inclusive and interactive learning environment. Building on this, greater attention to the diversity of student backgrounds could further strengthen engagement.
Staff should continue to build on the inclusive environment established in this unit by more deliberately integrating diverse student perspectives and experiences into learning activities and resources.