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; and (3) demonstrate the knowledge to manage and rehabilitate disturbed systems such as natural and agricultural catchments, post mining landscapes, contaminated sites, urban environments, etc.

Degree-specific major

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

BP004 Bachelor of Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Overview of unit sequence

Environmental Science is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
  • three Level 1 complementary units
  • one Level 2 complementary unit
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
S2 GEOG1104 Disasters!
Complementary units
Take all complementary units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
ATAR Mathemematics Applications;WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher
Co-requisites:
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (only required if students haven't completed ATAR Mathemetics Applications; WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher). Please note that there will be a delay in validating your enrollment in SCIE1104 after you have enrolled in MATH 1720
Incompatibility:
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites:
ATAR Mathematics Applications
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher
Co-requisites:
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (only required if students haven't completed Maths Applications
or
WACE Mathematics 2C/2D
or
TEE Discrete Mathematics
or
equivalent
or
higher). Please note that there will be a delay in validating your enrollment in SCOM1101 after you have enrolled in MATH 1720.
Incompatibility:
SCIE1103 Science, Society and Communication
Biology specialisation
Complementary units
Take the following complementary unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Earth specialisation
Complementary units
Take the following complementary unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
Incompatibility:
CIVL2121 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics

Level 2

Biology specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology;
for pre-2012 courses: any Level 1 BIOL unit
or
any Level 1 EART unit
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
Complementary units
Take complementary units to the value of 6 points. Students from the Albany campus take GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Incompatibility:
EART2230 Soil Science Essentials
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S1 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Incompatibility:
EART2201 Geographic Information Systems
Earth specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Incompatibility:
EART2230 Soil Science Essentials
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S2 ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
GEOG1103 Geographies of a Global City
Complementary units
Take complementary units to the value of 6 points.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2220 The Climate System
Prerequisites:
none;
for pre-2012 courses: none
S1 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Incompatibility:
EART2201 Geographic Information Systems

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (18 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3338 Land Capability Assessment
Prerequisites:
ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils (formerly EART2222 Earth Surface Processes and Soils)
or
EART2231 Earth Materials
or
EART2234 Earth Processes
or
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
ENVT2250
Incompatibility:
EART3323 Land, Soil and Water Systems, EART8823 Land, Soil and Water Systems, EART3338 Land Capability Assessment
S1 ENVT3361 Environmental Assessment
Prerequisites:
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
ENVT2250 Ecology
Incompatibility:
ENVT3336 Land, Soil and Water Research Project; ENVT8336 Land, Soil and Water Research Project
S2 ENVT3362 Environmental Dynamics
Prerequisites:
ENVT2250 Ecology
or
ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
EART2204 Coastal Processes
Biology specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT3363 Ecological Processes
Prerequisites:
one of ENVT2250 Ecology
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Earth specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT3339 Land Rehabilitation
Prerequisites:
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils (formerly EART2222 Earth Surface Processes and Soils)
or
EART2231 Earth Materials
or
EART2234 Earth Processes
or
ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management (formerly ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology)
Incompatibility:
ENVT3333 Land and Water: Case Studies in Land and Water Management, ENVT8333 Land and Water: Case Studies in Land and Water Management, EART3339 Land Rehabilitation

Choosing your degree-specific major

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.

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

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

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. or Bachelor of Science course, 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 .

Environmental Science can also be taken as a second major.

Second major

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

Overview of unit sequence

The Environmental Science second major is a single major comprising:

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

Level 1

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
S2 GEOG1104 Disasters!

Level 2

Biology specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology;
for pre-2012 courses: any Level 1 BIOL unit
or
any Level 1 EART unit
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
Earth specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Incompatibility:
EART2230 Soil Science Essentials
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S2 ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or
GEOG1103 Geographies of a Global City

Level 3

Second major units
Take all units (18 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3338 Land Capability Assessment
Prerequisites:
ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils (formerly EART2222 Earth Surface Processes and Soils)
or
EART2231 Earth Materials
or
EART2234 Earth Processes
or
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
ENVT2250
Incompatibility:
EART3323 Land, Soil and Water Systems, EART8823 Land, Soil and Water Systems, EART3338 Land Capability Assessment
S1 ENVT3361 Environmental Assessment
Prerequisites:
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
ENVT2250 Ecology
Incompatibility:
ENVT3336 Land, Soil and Water Research Project; ENVT8336 Land, Soil and Water Research Project
S2 ENVT3362 Environmental Dynamics
Prerequisites:
ENVT2250 Ecology
or
ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
EART2204 Coastal Processes
Biology specialisation
Second major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT3363 Ecological Processes
Prerequisites:
one of ENVT2250 Ecology
or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Earth specialisation
Second major units
Take the following unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 ENVT3339 Land Rehabilitation
Prerequisites:
ENVT2236 Soil Science
or
EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils (formerly EART2222 Earth Surface Processes and Soils)
or
EART2231 Earth Materials
or
EART2234 Earth Processes
or
ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management (formerly ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology)
Incompatibility:
ENVT3333 Land and Water: Case Studies in Land and Water Management, ENVT8333 Land and Water: Case Studies in Land and Water Management, EART3339 Land Rehabilitation

Choosing a second major

The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.

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 Environmental Science can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.

Earth specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-ENVSC-1
Biology specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-ENVSC-2

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

Environmental Science can also be taken as a degree-specific major.