Geochemistry [not available in 2020] major

Geochemistry is the application of chemistry to understanding Earth's systems and processes. It is very broad in its scope, extending to the deep Earth, its continents and oceans, as well as to the atmosphere and biosphere through time. Exploration of other planets also focuses on geochemical characterisation of materials to understand planetary evolution. Geochemistry is also widely applied to exploration for a wide range of resources, especially in Western Australia. This major focuses on enabling students to gain critical skills in earth science and chemistry to take advantage of employment opportunities arising from technological advances. It will also enable students to learn how to gather and apply geochemical data to environmental and mineral exploration and production contexts in an increasingly digital world.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate understanding of key geological concepts and application of knowledge and skills in the interpretation of major geological processes operating at local to global scales; (2) demonstrate practical skills in the recognition and interpretation of Earth materials, and solve earth science problems using field-based and laboratory-based skills in analysis and interpretation of geoscientific datasets; (3) demonstrate teamwork and professional conduct skills including understanding of fieldwork and laboratory safety; (4) demonstrate knowledge of the properties of common classes of chemicals and matter, and the principles of chemical safety


; (5) solve basic chemical problems; (6) demonstrate essential knowledge of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms, equilibria and periodic properties; (7) analyse chemical data, develop and test hypotheses and interpret experimental results; (8) demonstrate developed skills in communicating knowledge and interpretations in appropriate oral, written and graphical formats; (9) apply knowledge and practical skills in geochemistry, including integration of geoscientific datasets to solve fundamental and applied earth science problems; and (10) apply relevant employability skills for geochemistry.

Degree-specific major

Geochemistry [not available in 2020] can only 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

Geochemistry [not available in 2020] is a degree-specific double major comprising:

  • five Level 1 units
  • five Level 2 units
  • eight Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (30 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—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
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—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
S2 EART1104 Discovering Earth
Incompatibility:
CIVL2121 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics
S1 EART1105 Dynamic Planet
Incompatibility:
CIVL2121 Engineering Geology and Geomechanics
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.

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (30 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites:
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (may be substituted with CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry provided a mark of at least 70 percent is achieved)
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility:
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
S1 EART2231 Earth Materials
Prerequisites:
EART1104 Introduction to Geology
NS EART2232 Field Geology
Prerequisites:
EART1104 Introduction to Geology
Co-requisites:
EART2231 Earth Materials
S2 EART2234 Earth Processes
Prerequisites:
EART1104 Introduction to Geology

Level 3

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (48 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM3309 Chemistry in the Workplace
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3005 Chemical Spectroscopy and Structure
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3304 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3006 Chemistry Beyond the Laboratory
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3310 Environmental Chemistry
S1 EART3342 Geochemistry and Petrology
Prerequisites:
EART2231 Earth Materials
and
EART2234 Earth Processes
NS EART3343 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Prerequisites:
EART2232 Field Geology
and
EART2231 Earth Materials
and
EART2234 Earth Processes
Incompatibility:
EART8348 Geological Mapping Part 1/EART8349 Geological Mapping Part 2; EART3348 Geological Mapping Part 1/EART3349 Geological Mapping Part 2; EART3347 Field Methods for Earth Scientists
S2 EART3344 Basin Analysis
Prerequisites:
EART2231 Earth Materials
and
EART2234 Earth Processes
S2 EART3353 Geological Mapping
Prerequisites:
EART2232 Field Geology
and
EART2231 Earth Materials
and
EART2234 Earth Processes

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 Geochemistry [not available in 2020] degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course .

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