Astrobiology and the Origins of Life

About this subject

• What you'll learn

  Students who successfully complete this subject will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe current theories of Solar System formation, the various theories of how life began on Earth and the parallel evolution of life and the environment;
  2. Discuss and explain how our limited understanding of life influences current searches for life in the Solar System;
  3. Recognise how astrobiology relates to other sciences;
  4. Explain basic principles and concepts about the synthesis of complex molecules in a non-technical way understandable to the wider public;
  5. Use problem solving skills to explain solutions to problems in astrobiology and the origins of life;
  6. Design and create a research project using credible sources of astronomical information and research articles and/or observational means

• Topics covered

• Description

• Assessments

• Textbooks

• About Swinburne University of Technology

Entry requirements

Part of a degree

To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:

Elective

• SWI-AST-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy)

Prior study

You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:

one of

• SWI-AST80005-Exploring the Solar System

• SWI-HET602 (Not currently available)

and one of

• SWI-AST80004-Exploring Stars and the Milky Way

• SWI-HET603 (Not currently available)

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• SWI-HET618 (Not currently available)

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

Study load

0.125 EFTSL

This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.

Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.

Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.