Undergraduate Certificate in Earth Science

The fully online Undergraduate Certificate in Earth Science provides knowledge and experience that gives insight into how our planet works, the time and spatial scales on which geological processes operate, and how society uses the Earth's valuable natural resources. These units provide hands-on, transferable scientific, problem-solving, and communication skills that enhance student's employability and opportunities further study in the earth sciences.

Course overview

Course code
CU004
Status
current / 2020
Intake periods
beginning of year and mid-year
Administered by
Faculty of Science; Graduate Research School
Credit points required
24
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Full-time
6 months
Part-time
1 year (maximum 2 years)
Attendance type
full- or part-time
Delivery mode
internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Available to international students
No
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

For students without ATAR Mathematics or equivalent, take all units this group (12 points) with either MATH1720 or PACM1101 to be taken in the winter teaching period.

AvailabilityUnitcodeUnitnameUnit requirmentsContact hours
NS, S1, S2MATH1720Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or with permission.
Incompatibility:
Mathematics Applications ATAR (with a scaled score of 50 or greater) or equivalent or higher.
3 x 1 hr lectures and 1 x 1hr workshop
NS, S1, S2PACM1101Communication in Practice
Incompatibility:
ENGL2280 Professional Writing; COMM1901 Communication in Practice; SOCS1901 Communication in Practice
3 hours per week

For students with ATAR Mathematics or equivalent, take all units from this group (6 points). Please note: PACM1101 to be taken in the winter teaching period.

AvailabilityUnitcodeUnitnameUnit requirmentsContact hours
NS, S1, S2PACM1101Communication in Practice
Incompatibility:
ENGL2280 Professional Writing; COMM1901 Communication in Practice; SOCS1901 Communication in Practice
3 hours per week

Take all units (12 points):

AvailabilityUnitcodeUnitnameUnit requirmentsContact hours
S2BIOL1131Plant and Animal Biology
lectures: 2 hours per week; practical or group work sessions: 3 hours per week (approximately)
S2EART1104Discovering Earth
Incompatibility:
CIVL2121 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics
lectures: 3 hours per week; practicals: 3 hours per week from week 2; field courses: 2 x 1-day after week 2

For students with ATAR Mathematics or equivalent, take one unit from this group (6 points). Note: ATAR or equivalent prerequisites are required for some units.

AvailabilityUnitcodeUnitnameUnit requirmentsContact hours
S2ANHB1102Human Biology II: Being Human
lectures: approximately 3 hours per week, delivered live and also all available online; tutorials: approximately 1.5 hours per week.
S1, S2CHEM1001Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry or WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or TEE Chemistry or equivalent or CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
lectures: 3 hours per week; labs: 3 hours per week (for 6 weeks) (unsatisfactory attendance and/or performance at the laboratory sessions leads to a laboratory mark of zero)
S1, S2CHEM1002Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry or WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or TEE Chemistry or equivalent or CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry, CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry
lectures: 3 hours per week; labs: 3 hours per week (for 6 weeks) (unsatisfactory attendance and/or performance at the laboratory sessions leads to a laboratory mark of zero)
S1, S2CHEM1003Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
This unit is not available to students who have a satisfactory performance (scaled score of 50 per cent or more) in Chemistry ATAR or WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or TEE Chemistry, or equivalent.
lectures: 3 hours per week; labs: 18 hours per semester (unsatisfactory attendance and/or performance at the laboratory sessions leads to a laboratory mark of zero)
S2CHEM1004Biological Chemistry
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry, WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or TEE Chemistry or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry or equivalent
lectures: 3 hours per week; labs: 4 x 3 hours (unsatisfactory attendance and/or performance at the laboratory sessions leads to a laboratory mark of zero)
S1, S2ECON1120Environmental Economics 1
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1 hour per week
S2NEUR1001Neuroscience in Society
lectures: 2 x 1 hour per week; online activities: 2.5 hours per week
S2PSYC1102Psychology: Behaviour in Context
lectures: 2 hours per week; labs/tutorials: 2 hours per week (6 weeks face to face, 6 weeks online)
S2SCIE1104Science, Society and Data Analysis
Co-requisites:
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (only required if students haven't completed ATAR Mathematics Methods; WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B; or equivalent or higher.
Incompatibility:
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1 hour per week; computer labs: 2 hours per week
S2SCIE1106Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites:
(Human Biology: ATAR or equivalent; or Biology: ATAR or equivalent; or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human; or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human; or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology; or IMED1001 Form and Function) and (Chemistry: ATAR or equivalent or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry)
Incompatibility:
SCIE2225 Molecular Biology passed in or before 2004
lectures: 3 hours per week; labs: 12 hours per semester
S1, S2SSEH1104Active Leadership 1: Developing Leadership Skills
online lectures/seminars/pracs: 2 hours per fortnight; planning and execution of leadership experience: 30 hours