Biological Science Major - Bachelor of Science
Study the Biological Science major in the Bachelor of Science, and become familiar with microbiology, biodiversity, cells and molecular biology, gene technology, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive biological variation.
Biology is at the heart of life on Earth, from the smallest microorganisms to entire ecosystems. In recent years, there have been remarkable discoveries in the biological sciences, from antibiotics and vaccines to disease-resistant crops and alternative fuels.
The Biological Science major is ideal for students who are interested in understanding the science of life, how everyday existence can be explained and how human activities can shape Earth’s future. In the face of climate change and population growth, the biological sciences have never been more important and there are many rewarding careers for biological science graduates.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
In the Biological Science major you explore the role of biological sciences across many areas - human health, industry, agriculture and the environment. There’s an emphasis on concepts relevant to issues and biological phenomena in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.*
*Depending on your chosen combination of majors and minors it may take you longer than three years to complete your degree.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Science students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Choose one of:
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- SCIE504 Science and Society
And choose one natural sciences course
- ASTR500 Introductory Astronomy
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- CHEM500 Chemistry in Our World
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- EASC500 Our Dynamic Earth
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- FOOD502 Food Science
- FOOD503 Food Technology
- GESC500 Mapping Our Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology^
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- PHYS501 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
- SOSC585 Climate Action
And one mathematical and computer sciences course
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques*
- COMP503 Object Oriented Programming*
- MATH502 Algebra and Discrete Mathematics
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MATH505 Algebra and Calculus I
- STAT500 Applied Statistics
- STAT502 Introductory Probability and Statistics
^Not offered in 2025
*Only available to students in the Analytics and Mathematical Modelling and Computation majors
And one course from either the natural sciences or mathematical and computer science courses above.
Complete the following course:
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
And one of:
- CHEM604 Instrumental Analysis
- SCIE600 Scientific Inquiry
In Year 3, you complete a project in an area related to your major. This project gives you an important competitive edge for your career, and is good preparation for postgraduate study.
Courses you complete for this project:
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Biological science courses
If you're majoring in biological science, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight biology-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- MICR501 Microbial Life
Year 2 courses
- CONS600 Ecology and Evolution
- GENE603 Cells, Genes and Molecules
- MICR601 Environmental Microbiology
Year 3 courses
- CONS701 Conservation Biology
- GENE700 Gene Technology
- MICR700 Decoding Life
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-science/biological-science-major-bachelor-of-science
- Microbiologist
- Scientific laboratory technician
- Research scientist
- Agricultural researcher
- Biosecurity officer
- Environmental microbiologist
- Conservation officer
- Forensic technician
- Geneticist
- Science teacher*
You could work in areas like environmental monitoring and management, water quality management, animal welfare, biotechnology and pharma industries or academic research.
*After an additional year of teacher training
Other majors in the Bachelor of Science
- Analytics
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Marine Science
- Mathematical Modelling and Computation
Postgraduate study options
- A holistic education in biology
- Diverse career opportunities in environmental health, human health and biotechnology
- A focus on relevant issues and biological phenomena in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific
- Flexibility: tailor your degree with a second major, minor or electives of your choice
- Complete an industry-related project in your final year
- Persistent, enquiring and innovative
- Analytical, accurate, careful and patient
- Able to communicate complex ideas simply
- Interested in biology
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.