No further student intake - continuing students should seek counselling from the course coordinator
To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science .
The Environmental Science Specialisation is offered as part of the Bachelor of Science and requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Specialisation is offered by the School of the Environment, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Specialisations have different admission requirements to other programs of study available in the Bachelor of Science. In order to undertake a Specialisation students must be admitted to the Specialisation program. The name of the Specialisation will appear on the transcript and parchment.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science), but a knowledge of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at Year 12 level is desirable.
Course aims
The course has been designed to produce graduates who, as environmental scientists, are specialists in a major area of applied science and possess well developed skills to liaise with other groups of scientific and environmental specialists to arrive at solutions to environmental problems.
It aims:
- to promote a project and problem-oriented and trans-disciplinary approach to the application of science to environmental issues
- to produce environmental professionals who are specialists in a major area of environmental concern and who are experienced in working in teams which draw on and communicate a variety of expertise
- to develop the role of basic science in the identification, assessment, monitoring and treatment of environmental problems
- to promote an understanding of the public policy contexts and social organisations within which environmental issues arise and are dealt with.
Learning outcomes
On completion of their degree, students will have developed a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in their science discipline and a range of transferable professional skills.
Subject knowledge
Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:
- demonstrate specialist skills in a major area of environmental concern
- organise environmental projects using problem-based and trans-disciplinary approaches
- employ scientific method to identify, assess, monitor and treat environmental problems
- recognise the public policy contexts and social organisations within which environmental issues arise and are dealt with.
Transferable professional skills
Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:
- employ scientific methodologies such as experimental design, and the critical analysis of data
- communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms
- interact effectively as part of a team in order to work towards a common outcome
- work and learn independently
- reason critically and logically and make independent judgements
- engage effectively with information and communication technologies
- demonstrate research skills appropriate for further study and employment
- appreciate the need for continuing professional development.
Program of study
To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) a student must complete 108 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study detailed below.
No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 108 units for the degree. Topics designated 'any year' or with no year level specified are regarded as First Year level topics.
Elective topics to complete 108 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
Except where there is an approved double specialisation (see Bachelor of Science program of study) the same upper level (2xxx or above) topic cannot be counted twice. For example an upper level topic that is counted towards a specialisation may not also be counted towards a minor.
Students choose from one of three streams in the Environmental Science Specialisation:
Stream - Coasts and Catchments
Core - Coasts and Catchments - Year 1 topics
36 units comprising:
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
ENVS1001 Introduction to Environmental Investigations (4.5 units)
Plus one of
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)
Plus 13.5 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
Core - Coasts and Catchments - Year 2 topics
36 units comprising:
EASC2701 Coasts and Oceans (4.5 units)
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS2751 Skills for Environmental Professionals (4.5 units)
ENVS2752 Geological Processes (4.5 units)
Plus 9 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
Core - Coasts and Catchments - Year 3 topics
36 units comprising:
ENVS3700 Directed Studies in the Environment (4.5 units)
Plus 22.5 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
*Stream - Coasts and Catchments - Recommended Electives
While students are able to select electives from any topics offered by the University, where topic prerequisites are met, these are the recommended first year electives for this specialisation. Note: students may only count up to 45 units of first year topics towards their degree.
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) OR
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units)
MATH1122 Mathematics 1B (4.5 units)
MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A (4.5 units)
*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements
**Option - Coasts and Catchments - Year 2 & 3 topics
Select 9 units from:
BIOL2701 Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL2711 Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL2712 Animal Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL2721 Foundations of Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL2742 Marine Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL3701 Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL3702 Marine and Freshwater Biology (4.5 units)
BIOL3703 Vertebrate Palaeontology (4.5 units)
BIOL3721 Research in Animal Behaviour (4.5 units)
BIOL3722 Conservation and Ecological Genetics (4.5 units)
BIOL3751 Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles (4.5 units)
ENVS2741 Microbiology of our Environment (4.5 units)
Select 18 units from:
EASC3741 Groundwater (4.5 units)
EASC3751 Hydrochemistry (4.5 units)
ENVS2731 Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
ENVS2761 Hydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3731 Ecohydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3751 Extended Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3791 Coastal Environments (4.5 units)
Select 4.5 units from:
ENVS3711 Coastal Management (4.5 units)
ENVS3732 Environmental Impact Assessment (4.5 units)
GEOG2701 Introduction to Remote Sensing (4.5 units)
GEOG2711 Australian Environmental Change (4.5 units)
GEOG3701 Spatial Information Management (4.5 units)
Stream - Environmental Forensics
Core - Environmental Forensics - Year 1 topics
36 units comprising:
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
ENVS1001 Introduction to Environmental Investigations (4.5 units)
Plus either:
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) AND
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) AND
9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
or
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units) AND
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) AND
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units) AND
a 4.5 unit elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
Core - Environmental Forensics - Year 2 topics
36 units comprising:
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS2751 Skills for Environmental Professionals (4.5 units)
ENVS2761 Hydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS2752 Geological Processes (4.5 units)
Plus 9 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
Core - Environmental Forensics - Year 3 topics
36 units comprising:
ENVS2741 Microbiology of our Environment (4.5 units)
ENVS3741 Public Health and Environmental Toxicology (4.5 units)
Plus 18 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
*Stream - Environmental Forensics - Recommended Electives
While students are able to select electives from any topics offered by the University, where topic prerequisites are met, these are the recommended first year electives for this specialisation. Note: students may only count up to 45 units of first year topics towards their degree.
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units)
MATH1122 Mathematics 1B (4.5 units)
MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A (4.5 units)
*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements.
**Option - Environmental Forensics - Year 2 & 3 topics
Select 18 units from:
EASC3741 Groundwater (4.5 units)
EASC3742 Earth Fluid Modelling (4.5 units)
EASC3751 Hydrochemistry (4.5 units)
ENVS3700 Directed Studies in the Environment (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3751 Extended Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3770 Environmental Research Project (4.5 units)
ENVS3771 Extended Environmental Research Project (4.5 units)
Select 9 units from:
ENVS3711 Coastal Management (4.5 units)
ENVS3732 Environmental Impact Assessment (4.5 units)
GEOG2701 Introduction to Remote Sensing (4.5 units)
GEOG2711 Australian Environmental Change (4.5 units)
GEOG3701 Spatial Information Management (4.5 units)
LEGL3112 Regulating Technology^^ (4.5 units)
^^ Requires topic pre-requisites from elective topics.
Stream - Global Water Resources
Core - Global Water Resources - Year 1 topics
36 units comprising:
BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
ENVS1001 Introduction to Environmental Investigations (4.5 units)
Plus one of
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)
Plus 13.5 units of electives*
Core - Global Water Resources - Year 2 topics
36 units comprising:
EASC2701 Coasts and Oceans (4.5 units)
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS2751 Skills for Environmental Professionals (4.5 units)
ENVS2752 Geological Processes (4.5 units)
ENVS2761 Hydrology (4.5 units)
Plus 4.5 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics*
Core - Global Water Resources - Year 3 topics
36 units comprising:
EASC3741 Groundwater (4.5 units)
ENVS3700 Directed Studies in Environment (4.5 units)
ENVS3731 Ecohydrology (4.5 units)
Plus 13.5 units of option topics**
Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.
*Stream – Global Water Resources - Recommended Electives
While students are able to select electives from any topics offered by the University, where topic prerequisites are met, these are the recommended first year electives for this specialisation. Note: students may only count up to 45 units of first year topics towards their degree.
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units)
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units)
MATH1122 Mathematics 1B (4.5 units)
MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A (4.5 units)
*Students may choose to undertake a Bachelor of Science Minor as part of the elective component of their degree subject to meeting course/topic requirements.
**Stream - Global Water Resources - Option Year 2 & 3 topics
Select 18 units from:
BIOL2711 Ecology (4.5 units)
BIOL2712 Animal Diversity (4.5 units)
EASC3742 Earth Fluid Modelling (4.5 units)
EASC3751 Hydrochemistry (4.5 units)
ENVS2731 Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
ENVS3791 Coastal Environments (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3751 Extended Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3770 Environmental Research Project (4.5 units)
ENVS3771 Extended Environmental Research Project (4.5 units)
GEOG2700 Geographical Information Systems
Honours
Admission to an honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study. Refer to Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) (Honours).
Combined degrees
The Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) may also be studied in a combined degrees program with a:
- Bachelor of Business and Technology
- Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice
- Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours)
- Master of Business and Technology