Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (Technology) degree provides you with an opportunity to gain practical, relevant work experience as part of your undergraduate degree. This will help you to step into the professional world in your chosen career and successfully integrates theoretical learning with hands-on experience.

The BSc(Tech) is a flexible degree, designed to provide you with the necessary practical experience to stand out among other science graduates.

It is internationally recognised, meaning you can find work anywhere in the world. A high percentage of graduates actively seeking employment find it within six months of graduating.

Heading into the workplace with a BSc(Tech) from Waikato means you'll have spent the summer between your second and third years gaining relevant work experience and, in most cases, being paid for your efforts.

To prepare you for the workplace and gain an understanding of how the business world works, the BSc(Tech) includes a workplace preparation paper prior to starting the work placement in addition to a wide variety of science papers.

The first year of the degree is similar to the BSc, enabling you to explore a range of scientific disciplines, broaden your opportunities and lay a foundation for you to build on, even if you haven't studied science before.

From second year your major will form the core of your degree and give you a much deeper understanding of a particular discipline.

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Molecular and Cellular Biology is an interdisciplinary field combining biochemistry, microbiology, genetics and physiology to study how cells function at the molecular level.

Molecular and Cellular Biology explores the complex mechanisms that coordinate the essential systems that define a living cell and that allow cells to have differentiated properties. This knowledge is used to look at how unicellular and multicellular organisms function and how it can provide researchers with crucial insights into the basis of human and animal diseases.

By studying a major in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Waikato, you will:

• Gain a detailed knowledge of the molecules of life and the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecules;
• Understand the subcellular and cellular organisation of eukaryotic cells and the key catabolic, anabolic and metabolic cellular processes that occur;
• Learn how to distinguish between the genetic organisation and gene expression of viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes, and describe the mechanisms of inheritance and evolution;
• Be able to describe the anatomy and physiology of mammals and other organisms, and the mechanisms behind certain diseases.
• Along with relevant subject knowledge, you will also gain a range of critical thinking skills, and practical learning experiences from our range of challenging and innovative papers and programmes. There is a significant laboratory component to the Molecular and Cellular Biology major, where you will learn relevant skills and be exposed to some of the latest techniques available.

Teaching is research-led, and you can expect to be taught by world-class researchers. Research strengths within Molecular and Cellular Biology include active programmes within molecular biology, structural biology and protein engineering, neuroendocrine processes that underlie food intake and biomedical related research relevant to veterinary and human medicine.

Career opportunities

• Agricultural Researcher
• Plant and Food Researcher
• Biochemist
• Biotechnologist
• Quarantine Officer
• Chemical Analyst
• Laboratory Technician

Entry criteria

If you have achieved University Entrance through NCEA you will be accepted into this degree.

Discretionary Entrance

Applicants will normally be granted Discretionary Entrance if they have gained a total of at least 80 credits in NCEA at Level 2 in four subjects equivalent to the approved subjects for University Entrance in NCEA at Level 3, with a minimum grade of Merit in at least half of the achievement standards for each subject. Applicants must also have satisfied the numeracy and literacy requirements of University Entrance.

Special Admission

Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis. Applicants 20 years old and over by the beginning of their programme of study will be accepted, except those that are clearly insufficiently prepared for academic study. Preference may be given to applicants who have successfully completed appropriate Waikato Pathways College bridging programmes.

Admission at entrance level or with credit from previous study

Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis bearing in mind patterns of admission which have applied in previous years and the standing of the qualification in New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS (Academic) - 6.0 overall (no band less than 6.0); iBT (internet based) TOEFL - 79-80 with a score of 20 in writing; Pearson PTE Academic - 57 with no less than 57 for each communicative skill; Waikato Pathways - Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade average in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) program.