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 3 complementary units
- one Level 4 complementary unit
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Students who have not completed ATAR Mathematics Methods: WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721 (and MATH1720 prerequisite if required). Students who have not completed ATAR Chemistry are required to take CHEM1003. Students are advised to take mathematics and chemistry bridging units in their first year of study.
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT1104 | Environmental Science and Technology | |
| S2 | GEOG1104 | Disasters! |
Take all complementary units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | SCIE1104 | Science, Society and Data Analysis | |
| S1 | SCOM1101 | Communicating Science |
|
Biology specialisation
Take the following complementary unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | BIOL1131 | Plant and Animal Biology |
Earth specialisation
Take the following complementary unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | EART1105 | Dynamic Planet |
|
Level 2
Biology specialisation
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ENVT2221 | Global Climate Change and Biodiversity | |
| S1 | ENVT2250 | Ecology |
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 |
|
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
Earth specialisation
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT2236 | Soil Science |
|
| S2 | ENVT2251 | Hydrology and Water Resource Management |
Take complementary units to the value of 6 points.
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT2220 | The Climate System |
|
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
Level 3
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT3338 | Land Capability Assessment |
|
| S1 | ENVT3361 | Environmental Assessment |
|
| S2 | ENVT3362 | Environmental Dynamics |
Biology specialisation
Earth specialisation
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ENVT3339 | 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:
- BP001 Bachelor of Arts
- BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- BP002 Bachelor of Commerce
- BP003 Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students.
- BP004 Bachelor of Science
- BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
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 |
Students who have not completed ATAR Mathematics Methods: WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721 (and MATH1720 prerequisite if required). Students who have not completed ATAR Chemistry are required to take CHEM1003. Students are advised to take mathematics and chemistry bridging units in their first year of study.
Level 1
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
Earth specialisation
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT2236 | Soil Science |
|
| S2 | ENVT2251 | Hydrology and Water Resource Management |
Level 3
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ENVT3338 | Land Capability Assessment |
|
| S1 | ENVT3361 | Environmental Assessment |
|
| S2 | ENVT3362 | Environmental Dynamics |
Biology specialisation
Earth specialisation
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ENVT3339 | 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.