Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Environmental Science)

To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Specialisations).

The Environmental Science (Honours) Specialisation is offered by the College of Science and Engineering.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
• Combined degrees
  
  

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 together with specialisation in Environmental Science.

Environmental science is a multidisciplinary science examining how natural processes and their changes impact human society and how human activities interact with and modify environments. This course will focus on understanding, monitoring, and improving the environments. It enables students to expand knowledge, obtain skills, and learn critical thinking about environmental issues and problems and undertake an individual research project, from planning to execution.

Learning outcomes 

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

• understand broadly the components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere) of the earth system, their functioning and interactions
• demonstrate awareness of global environmental and climate changes, and understand the potential environmental consequences
• demonstrate familiarity with and understand major environmental issues at the global, national and local scales
• understand hydrological and/or ecosystem processes in catchments, and relevant environmental issues
• measure and quantify selected environmental conditions and fluxes on and near land surface 
• demonstrate familiarity with and be skilled at obtaining commonly available environmental data 
• display, present, and analyse spatial data
• competently undertake basic data analysis to understand the relationship between environmental variables, and to identify trends
• solve problems by designing experiments and applying quantitative and qualitative skills for data analysis
• plan and conduct a research project, applying relevant methodologies and knowledge
• develop arguments based on evidence
• communicate technical data, analysis results, and findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form 
• 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) (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.

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 (Environmental Science) 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 (Environmental Science).

Specialisation - Environmental Science - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 topics

BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Science (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
STEM1001  Nature of STEM (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Select one of:

MATH1701 Mathematics Fundamentals A (4.5 units)
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units)
STAT1122 Biostatistics (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

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

Specialisation- Environmental Science - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

BIOL2711 Ecology (4.5 units)
EASC2702 Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
ENVS2752 Geological Processes (4.5 units)
ENVS2761 Hydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
STEM2001 Remote Sensing for all Disciplines (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

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

Specialisation- Environmental Science - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 topics

ENVS2741 Zombie Apocalypse: Microbes and Toxins (4.5 units)
ENVS3731 Ecohydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3752 Geology of Australia (4.5 units)
STEM3100 Research Project in Science (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 3 topics

Plus 13.5 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.

Recommended Electives

While students are able to select elective units from anywhere across the University, these are Recommended Electives.

BIOL3701 Restoration Ecology (4.5 units)
EASC3741 Physical Hydrogeology (4.5 units)
EASC3782 Contaminant and Tracer Hydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3742 Emerging Issues in Australian Environmental Management (4.5 units)
ENVS3760 Environmental Agency Placement (4.5 units)
STEM2001 Remote Sensing for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM2002 Applied Problem Solving with Computers (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)
STEM2004 Advanced Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)

Specialisation- Environmental Science - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising#:

Core - Year 4 topics

  BIOL7710  Honours Critical Readings  (4.5 units)
  BIOL7720  Honours Statistics and Research Design  (4.5 units)
  STEM7001  Research Methods for Honours  (4.5 units)
  STEM7000A  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000B  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000C  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000D  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000E  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)

# With the permission of the Course Coordinator a 7xxx level topic that is appropriate to the student’s program may be substituted.

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Environmental Science) 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.