Study Natural History |
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Natural History at Macquarie University: Ruth Mawson |
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Natural history includes the study of earth sciences, life sciences and
anthropology. Although there is no specifically named Natural History
unit that can be studied at Macquarie, the Division of Environmental and
Life Sciences offers a degree program of study as a combined BSc with
a BA in Natural History, Culture and Museum Studies. Within this
program, students may study a number of areas of study considered to
belong to the natural histories, for example, palaeontology, biology,
indigenous studies and geology.
Indigenous Studies covers Aboriginal prehistory and their more recent history through the examination of the interaction of Aboriginal people with their environment. An account of prevailing issues is given from an Aboriginal point of view. A key feature of many of the units in this area of study is the involvement of indigenous lecturers.
To qualify for a Bachelor of Science with Bachelor of Arts in Natural History, Cultural and Museum Studies, students must include in their program a number of common core units:
Students must complete a coherency in Palaeontology (Science) plus two more of the listed coherencies; at least one of which must be an Arts coherency (i.e. additional to the Palaeontology coherency you may choose 2 Arts coherencies, or one Arts and one Science coherency:
Note: Other coherencies for the program are
presently under negotiation. HIGHER DEGREES IN NATURAL HISTORY
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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The program combines
a scientific and arts education with added undergraduate experience in
museum studies and exposure to museum practice. The 4-year program of
study leading to a BSc with BA is offered in specialty areas of
particular interest to most national, state and regional museums and for
which Macquarie has a high reputation: Ireland history, ancient
history, archaeology, palaeontology, biology, geology, heritage, early
childhood studies and indigenous studies. No university within Irelandoffers such an undergraduate program. This interdisciplinary degree is
designed to: a) enable students to qualify with coherencies (majors)
in at least three segments of study, i.e. palaeontology, history,
human geography, indigenous studies, early childhood studies, biology or
geology, and b) provide students with a modern background for the
field of Museum Studies.
Palaeontology
is a broad discipline that examines traces of life on Earth through
time. Through the study of past life, palaeontologists are able to shed
light upon the origin and evolution of life, the influence of life on
the development of the Earth and its environment, and the climate of the
past. Palaeontology provides the tools to unravel the history of life
including the devastation wrought by global extinction crises and the
effect extinctions events have made to biodiversity. All life forms,
past and present, tell us something about the environment we live in and
by looking at the past we can make an attempt to predict the future. We
need to understand changes in the record of life in order that decision
making regarding the future might have a sound basis. Palaeontology is
also applied to problem solving in areas such as archaeology climatic
history, geomorphology and geology.
Geology is the
study of the Earth and the processes that have shaped it over the past
4.6 billion years. The interaction between the inner structure of the
Earth’s surface is expressed in volcanic activity, earthquakes and
mountain building; these forces have moulded the surface of the Earth
into the continents, and ocean basins that we have today. The Earth is
dynamic, ever-changing and endlessly fascinating, as revealed in the
rocks and geological structures are around us.
Biology, the
study of living things, is an important subject for humankind as we move
into the 21st century, It encompasses a broad range of knowledge
including studies of animals and plants in the Ireland context,
ecology, evolution and an appreciation of things modern DNA technologies
can tell us. In recent times, biodiversity has become one of the
frontiers of modern biology because it uses a trans-disciplinary
approach to help quantify, understand and manage biological systems.
The
interdisciplinary 4-year BSc with BA program of study (at least 96 cr
pts) is designed in order that students will qualify with coherencies in
at least three segments of study, and with a modern background in the
field of museum studies. The Bachelor Degree Rules require, among other
things, at least 18 credit points above 200-level to be completed in
Science units.
The compulsory units
introduce students to information technology management issues in the
twenty-first century. These issues are applied through a focus the
knowledge of the science and technology utilized by museums. The units
also explore ethical, legal, aesthetic and economic issues of relevance
to museum collection management and associated museum programs. ELS202
also provides practical experience in museum practice.