Biosecurity
Qualifications
Overview
Biosecurity concerns the exclusion, eradication, and effective management of threats to the economy, environment, and human health that are posed by pests and diseases. Aotearoa New Zealand's economy and trade rely on a strong primary production base, and our freedom from major pests and diseases is critical to producing efficiently and trading freely.
Ongoing global climate change and its effects on ecosystems make understanding biosecurity issues crucial. As our climate alters, organisms previously unable to survive in our environment may become a potential threat to our ecosystem.
- UC has Aotearoa New Zealand's top-ranked department for research in molecular, cellular, and whole organism biology (the latest Tertiary Education Commission 2012 PBRF Assessment).
Year 13 biology is recommended. Some background in mathematics, particularly statistics and chemistry, is valuable. All students should have adequate English skills.
100-level courses
If you want to study towards a Bachelor of Science with an endorsement in Biosecurity you will need to take the following courses in your first year, and combine it with the Biological Sciences major:
- BIOL 111 Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
- BIOL 112 Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- BIOL 113 Diversity of Life
- CHEM 112 Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry or Biochemistry or CHEM 114 Foundations of Chemistry
If you wish to advance in Biological Sciences, you will also need to include STAT 101 Statistics 1.
200-level and beyond
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science with an endorsement in Biosecurity will study BIOS 201 Issues in New Zealand Biosecurity at 200-level (as well as other required courses listed in the Biosecurity endorsement schedule). This course establishes a scientific, legal, and practical definition of biosecurity and pursues the ramifications of breaches to the systems in place to protect Aotearoa New Zealand from such threats to our security.
Students studying other degrees, such as the Bachelor of Arts, can take BIOS 201 as part of their degree, plus the Biological Sciences course BIOL 273 New Zealand Biodiversity and Biosecurity.
All students majoring in Biological Sciences must take BIOL 209 Introduction to Biological Data Analysis.
As an emerging issue of both national and international importance, biosecurity provides many career opportunities in government agencies, spearheaded by the regulatory authority the Ministry for Primary Industries | Manatū Ahu Matua. You may also find work in Crown Research Institutes and in ministries concerned with conservation, the environment, agriculture, and forestry.
District and regional councils also may employ biologists to manage invading organisms.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Biosecurity.
Contact us
School of Biological Sciences | Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora
Phone +64 3 369 5200
Email biological-sciences@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
See the School's website for up-to-date location details.
Postal address
College of Science | Te Rāngai Pūtaiao
University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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