Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Environmental Science) - 4 year program

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 (Honours) (Environmental Science), but a knowledge of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at Year 12 level is desirable.

Prerequisites and Assumed Knowledge for Specialisations

There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science in 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 (Honours) (Environmental Science) a student must complete 144 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 144 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 144 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the College 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 (Honours)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 who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the Program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science).

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 Oceans and Estuaries (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  Physical Hydrogeology (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.

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

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  Physical Hydrogeology (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)

Stream - Global Water Resources

Core - Global Water Resources - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

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 Oceans and Estuaries (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 Physical Hydrogeology (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

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 (4.5 units)

Honours

Core - Honours Year 4 topics

36 units comprising:

ENVS7700A Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7700B Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7700C Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7700D  Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7700E Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7700F  Honours Research project in the Environment (4.5/27 units)
ENVS7720 Research Project Design and Conduct (4.5 units)

Plus one of*:

EASC7733 Measurement Techniques in Natural Systems (4.5 units)
ENVH7711 Environmental Health Concepts (4.5 units)
ENVH7722 Food Safety (4.5 units)
ENVH7731 Sustainable Development - Health Issues (4.5 units)
ENVH7742  Microbiology and Communicable Diseases (4.5 units)
ENVS7701 Coastal Management (4.5 units)
GEOG7721 Population Issues of Developed and Developing Countries (4.5 units)
GEOG7711 GIS for Environmental Modelling (4.5 units)
GEOG7750 Advanced Studies in Geography, Population and Environmental Management (4.5 units)