Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Coasts and Oceans)

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The course aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in science and research together with specialisation in coasts and oceans.

The program of study aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in coastal and marine systems. The program will examine ocean and coastal dynamics, coastal landforms and environments. The course will promote an understanding of the interactions between coastal processes and the evolution of marine and terrestrial landform evolution.

It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

understand and apply relevant scientific principles in the area of coastal and marine processes and environments
critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to coastal and ocean processes and the drivers of coastal change
appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of marine and coastal systems, and engage positively with people and ideas beyond the discipline
work cooperatively and productively within a team
work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
appreciate the societal contexts of coastal conservation and issues relating to climate change and sea level rise
undertake an individual research project, from planning to execution.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

demonstrate familiarity with theories, subject content, professional methodologies, ethical frameworks and research procedures in coastal and marine sciences and management and be able to critically apply them in the real world and in science generally
understand and describe the processes through which current knowledge about coastal and marine sciences and management and its related disciplines were developed
analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data in coastal and marine sciences and management, and applying relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
competently design studies and research in coastal and marine sciences and management employing methods, techniques and equipment that work effectively in the field and laboratory, and applying quantitative and qualitative skills for data analysis
demonstrate skill at identifying landforms and landform units found in marine and coastal environments
develop management solutions appropriate to the social, political, legal, economic and environmental contexts in which they are applied
understand the dynamics of coastal and marine ecosystems and their potential responses to changes, and understand the large scale connections extending from the catchment to the coast and into the deep ocean
apply conservation and management principles for coastal and marine conservation and
sustainable use
communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
appreciate that coastal and marine sciences and management is multidisciplinary and has connections to other science and non-science disciplines
work and learn independently and appreciate the need for continuing professional development
interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals
plan and execute an individual research project, applying relevant methodologies and
knowledge.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Coasts and Oceans) 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.

Upon completion of at least 103.5 units and with a GPA of 5 or more in the last 36 units of study, students may commence the Fourth Year Honours program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Science (Coasts and Oceans) on completion of 108 units.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the Program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Science (Coasts and Oceans).

Specialisation - Coasts and Oceans - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
GEOG1001 Environment and Society (4.5 units)
SPOC1701 The Nature of Science I (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

One of:
MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A (4.5 units)
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units)
NMCY1001 Academic and Professional Numeracy (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Coasts and Oceans - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

EASC2701 Oceans and Estuaries (4.5 units)
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS2731 Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
STEM2001 Remote Sensing for all Disciplines (4.5 units)

Option - Year 2 topics

4.5 units from Option A ^
Plus 4.5 units from Option B ^^

Elective - Year 2 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Coasts and Oceans - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 topics

ENVS3702 Applied Practice in Environment (9.0 units)
ENVS3711 Introduction to Managing Coastal and Marine Environments(4.5 units)
ENVS3791 Coastal Environments (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

4.5 units from Option A ^
Plus 4.5 units from Option B ^^

Elective - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics# from across the University where entry requirements are met.

#Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third-year elective.

List Option A ^

ARCH2204 Australian Maritime Archaeology (4.5 units)
BIOL2742 Marine Ecology (4.5 units)#
EASC3742 Earth Fluid Modelling (4.5 units)
ENVS3732 Environmental Impact Assessment (4.5 units)
ENVS3742 Emerging Issues in Australian Environmental Management (4.5 units)
STEM1003 GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)
STEM3003 Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS (4.5 units)

List Option B ^^

BIOL3701 Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology (4.5 units)#
ENGR2751 Fluid Mechanics (4.5 units)#
ENVS2761 Hydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM1003 GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)
STEM3003 Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS (4.5 units)

#These topics may require pre-requisites to be taken as electives to be eligible for enrolment

Specialisation - Coasts and Oceans - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 4 topics

ENVS7700A Honours Research Project in the Environment (4.5/22.5 units)
ENVS7700B Honours Research Project in the Environment (4.5/22.5 units)
ENVS7700C Honours Research Project in the Environment (4.5/22.5 units)
ENVS7700D Honours Research Project in the Environment (4.5/22.5 units)
ENVS7700E Honours Research Project in the Environment (4.5/22.5 units)
STEM7001 Honours Research Methods (4.5 units)

Option - Year 4 topics

Select two of*:

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)
STEM8004 Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS GE (4.5 units)

*or another topic approved by the Course Co-ordinator, appropriate to a student’s program.

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Coasts and Oceans) may also be studied in a combined degree program with another Bachelor degree in the College of Science and Engineering where the combination meets the requirements of the credit transfer policy.