Major Overview

Description

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
  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.

Incompatibilities

MJD-ENVDM Environmental Science and Management and MJD-ENVEM Environmental Science and Ecology

Courses

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

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

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 None
S1 ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology None
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Mathematics Applications or equivalent
or Mathematics Methods or equivalent
or Unit(s) MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Co-requisites
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
or SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D or equivalent
Co-requisites
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
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
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
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 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods
and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2220 The Climate System None
S1 ENVT2236 Soil Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
any one CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
and Successful completion of
any one EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
and Successful completion of
any one SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
or STAT1400 Statistics for Science
or STAX1400 Statistics for Science
or STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
Incompatibility
Unit(s) EART2222 Geomorphology and Soils
S2 ENVT2251 Hydrology and Water Resource Management
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
or GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
or GENG1014 Earth Systems Engineering
or GEOG1106 Climate Change: Environment and Society
or prior approval
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites
36 points of prior study

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
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
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
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