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)
SPOC1701 The Nature of Science I (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)
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- Environmental Science - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 topics

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)

Option - Year 2 topics

Select one of:

GEOG2711 Australian Environmental Change (4.5 units)
BIOL2711 Ecology (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)
ENVS3702 Applied Practice in Environment (9.0 units)
ENVS3731 Ecohydrology (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
ENVS3752 Geology of Australia (4.5 units)

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.

Specialisation- Environmental Science - 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) (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.