Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Biosecurity

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BIOL2579

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2025

Course Coordinator: A/Prof. Nathan Bott

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: Nathan.bott@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Recommended Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed or received credit for the following course/s before you commence this course:

If you have completed prior studies at RMIT or another institution that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible to apply for credit transfer.

Alternatively, if you have prior relevant work experience that developed the skills and knowledge covered in the above course/s you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Please follow the link for further information on how to apply for credit for prior study or experience.

Assumed Knowledge

You also should have completed at least one unit of Microbiology.


Course Description

This course provides an overview of biosecurity, regulatory frameworks, including key pathogens of environmental, economic and human health significance. You will focus on biosecurity concerns of animals, plant production systems, and environmental threats, threat of zoonotic disease, vector biology and One Health which highlights the interconnection between humans, animals, plants and the environment. Laboratory work will emphasise observation of key pathogens and modern ways to detect them.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course is an option course and will broadly contribute to the development of your program learning outcomes.

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.


Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. Recognise features of key zoonotic infections and how they cause disease.
  2. Classify symbiotic relationships to identify the fundamental differences and understand their roles in biosecurity contexts.
  3. Analyse the interplay between humans, animals, plants and the environment within the One Health framework and evaluate its impact on human health.
  4. Evaluate the properties of key phyla to assess their significance and develop strategies for biosecurity processes
  5. Develop a biosecurity protocol to mitigate disease outbreaks.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities in this course are:

  • attendance and participation at scheduled activities;
  • completion of practical exercises and quizzes, which will provide feedback on student progress and understanding;
  • private study, working through the course learning materials and assignments.

Weekly topic content is posted online in pre-recorded format for self-directed study, and a weekly tutorial on campus reinforces the learning objectives for the week. Short weekly online quizzes provide feedback to students on their learning progress. Laboratory practical activities teach hands-on skills in observing, identifying, and interpreting animal specimens with respect to course theory.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

Weekly learning resources are set up and available in Canvas.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, which may include books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Online Quizzes
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 , 2, 3

Assessment Task 2: Practical Assignments
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

Assessment Task 3: Biosecurity plan group assignment (written)
Weighting 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3, 4, & 5

Assessment Task 4: End of Semester Test
Weighting 35%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1,2,3, 4, & 5

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.