Environmental Science major

Environmental Science assesses the impact of human activity on the global environment and develops scientific, risk-based solutions to help secure a sustainable future. This major encompasses both the biological and the earth sciences. Environmental issues are many and varied so the use of an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving is essential. Students develop techniques in scientific modelling to achieve practical solutions to these problems. Environmental scientists deal with issues such as climate change, carbon trading, greenhouse gas emissions, water resource management, salinity, land degradation and rehabilitation, flora and fauna, habitat destruction, deforestation, energy and mineral depletion, air and water pollution, soil erosion, and groundwater contamination. It is envisaged there will be up to three overnight field trips (there will be a cost of up to $500 per student to cover the cost of food and accommodation for around 10 nights).

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate the skills and knowledge to assess environmental systems, using field, laboratory, modelling and statistical methodologies; (2) integrate ecological, physical and chemical processes to guide decision making with respect to human intervention in the environment; (3) demonstrate the knowledge to manage and rehabilitate disturbed systems such as natural and agricultural catchments, post mining landscapes, contaminated sites, urban environments, etc; and (4) demonstrate competency in laboratory practice, fieldwork study, report writing, oral presentation and team work skills suited to gain employment in the disciplines of Environmental Science.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.
Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Environmental Science can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

Environmental Science is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • four Level 1 units
  • four Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
equivalent
Co-requisites:
Enrolment in
Or
Successful completion of MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility:
Nil
Bridging units
Bridging units must be successfully completed within the first 48 points of study. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and SCIE1500. Note: Students who have completed MATH1721, are not required to complete SCIE1500. Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or
equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50]
Or
with permission
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50
or
greater]
or
Equivalent
or
higher
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or
Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2220 The Climate System
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry and Successful completion of one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or
Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Unit(s) BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology and Successful completion of one Unit(s) SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or
Unit(s) STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S2 ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or
Unit(s) ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites:
36 points of prior study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3338 Land Capability Assessment
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
Unit(s) ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
Unit(s) EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
or
Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
or
Unit(s) EART2234 Earth Processes
or
Unit(s) ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
or
Unit(s) ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3339 Land Rehabilitation
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
or
Unit(s) EART2234 Earth Processes
or
Unit(s) ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 ENVT3361 Environmental Assessment
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
Unit(s) ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
or
Unit(s) ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3362 Environmental Dynamics
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of one Unit(s) ENVT2250 Ecology
or
Unit(s) ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
Unit(s) ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
or
Unit(s) SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
Unit(s) EART2204 Coastal Processes
or
Unit(s) SCIE2267 Quantitative Methods in Environmental Management
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Environmental Science degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Example 1:
Course Study Plan: CSP004-ENVSC

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Environmental Science degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science course.

Earth specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-ENVSC-Generic-1
Biology specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-ENVSC-Generic-2

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .