Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)

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
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
• Honours
• Combined degrees
  
  

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.

Students who have completed 72 units or more with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following rule, may exit with the Diploma of Applied Science:

• at least 27 units from the First Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering
• at least 18 units from Second or Third Year science topics offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

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:

• Coasts and Catchments
• Environmental Forensics
• Global Water Resources

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)
 ENVR1101  Environmental Science 1#  (4.5 units)
 ENVR1702  Fundamentals of Environmental Science#  (4.5 units)
 Plus 9 units of elective topics$$^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Plus one of

 CHEM1101  Chemistry 1A#  (4.5 units) 
 CHEM1201  Introduction to Chemistry A#  (4.5 units)

Core - Coasts and Catchments - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 EASC2701  Coasts and Oceans  (4.5 units)
 EASC2702  Global Climate Change  (4.5 units)
 ENVR2701  Environmental Science 2  (4.5 units)
 Plus 9 units of option topics*
 Plus 9 units of elective topics^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Plus one of

 EASC2722  Sedimentary Processes  (4.5 units) 
 EASC3732  Geological Processes  (4.5 units)

Core - Coasts and Catchments - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 ENVR3701  Environmental Science 3  (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.

#These topics are cognate studies topics which must be taken to complete the specialisation.

$$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  Chemistry 1B  (4.5 units) OR
 CHEM1202  Introduction to Chemistry B  (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  Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3722  Conservation and Ecological Genetics  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3751  Marine Mammals, Birds and Reptiles  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)

Select 18 units from:

 EASC2711  Microclimate and Soil Processes  (4.5 units)
 EASC2712  Surface Water Hydrology  (4.5 units)
 EASC3741  Groundwater  (4.5 units)
 EASC3751  Hydrochemistry  (4.5 units)
 EASC3752  Science of Environmental Change  (4.5 units)
 EASC3762  Field Investigations  (4.5 units)

Select 4.5 units from:
 
 ENVS3711  Coastal Studies  (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 Forensic  

  

Core - Environmental Forensic - 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)
 ENVR1101  Environmental Science 1#  (4.5 units)
 ENVR1702  Fundamentals of Environmental Science#  (4.5 units)

Plus either:

 CHEM1101  Chemistry 1A#  (4.5 units) AND
 CHEM1102 Chemistry 1B# (4.5 units) AND
 a 4.5 unit elective topic$$* from across the University where entry requirements are met.

or

 CHEM1201  Introduction to Chemistry A#  (4.5 units) AND
 CHEM1202 Introduction to Chemistry B# (4.5 units) AND
 CHEM1102 Chemistry 1B# (4.5 units)

Core - Environmental Forensic - Year 2 topics

22.5 units comprising:

 EASC2702  Global Climate Change  (4.5 units)
 EASC2711  Microclimate and Soil Processes  (4.5 units)
 ENVR2701  Environmental Science 2  (4.5 units)
 Plus 9 units of option topics**
 Plus 9 units of elective topics* from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Plus one of

 EASC2722  Sedimentary Processes^  (4.5 units) 
 EASC3732  Geological Processes^^  (4.5 units)

Core - Environmental Forensics - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 ENVR3701  Environmental Science 3  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (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.

#These topics are cognate studies topics which must be taken to complete the specialisation.

*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 - 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)

^Offered in even years only. ^^Offered in odd years only.

**Option - Environmental Forensics - Year 2 & 3 topics

Select 18 units from:

 EASC2712  Surface Water Hydrology  (4.5 units)
 EASC3741  Groundwater  (4.5 units)
 EASC3742  Earth Fluid Modelling  (4.5 units)
 EASC3751  Hydrochemistry  (4.5 units)