Major Overview

Description

Geology is an applied science that aims to understand all aspects of our planet, from Earth's surface to the deep interior. It strives to discover how the Earth system has evolved during the past 4.4 billion years including the origin of continents, oceans, atmosphere and life itself. Geology students learn how to apply knowledge of Earth processes, and the time scales over which these processes operate, to discovering the origin and distribution of important resources such as groundwater, petroleum and minerals, and understanding climate and other environmental changes. As most of Australia's mineral and petroleum resources are in Western Australia, UWA is the ideal place to study Geology. The Geology major is underpinned by the development of fieldwork skills and geological mapping and includes three 7-day field trips to areas in Western Australia (there will be a cost of up to \$1200 per student, to cover the cost of food and accommodation for ~21 nights).

The Geology major is underpinned by the development of fieldwork skills and geological mapping and includes three 7-day field trips to areas in Western Australia (there will be a cost of up to \$1200 per student, to cover the cost of food and accommodation for ~21 nights).

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of key geological concepts and major geological processes operating at local to global scales
  2. use relevant practical skills to gather geoscientific data in the field and in the laboratory
  3. interpret and integrate geoscientific data to solve fundamental and applied geoscience problems related to ancient and modern environments
  4. communicate knowledge, interpretations and summaries in appropriate graphical, oral and written forms
  5. demonstrate competency in fieldwork, critical thinking, analytical and communication skills suited to gaining employment in geoscience.
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.

Courses

Geology 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
NS
non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 EART1104 Discovering Earth None
S1 EART1105 Dynamic Planet 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 either MATH1721 or 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 either MATH1721 or SCIE1500.

MATH1721 should be taken if also considering majors that require it for progression to level 2 (e.g. Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science.):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
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 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1
and MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2 and
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
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 (18 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 EART2231 Earth Materials
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) EART1104 Discovering Earth
NS EART2232 Field Geology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) EART1104 Discovering Earth
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
S2 EART2234 Earth Processes
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) EART1104 Discovering Earth
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 EART2204 Coastal Processes
Prerequisites
6 points Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
or Unit(s) GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability (ID 5929)
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GEOG3307 Coastal Environments
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

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 EART3342 Geochemistry and Petrology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
and Unit(s) EART2234 Earth Processes
NS EART3343 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) EART2232 Field Geology
and Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
and EART2234 Earth Processes
S2 EART3344 Basin Analysis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
and Unit(s) EART2234 Earth Processes
S2 EART3353 Geological Mapping
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
three Unit(s) EART2232 Field Geology
and Unit(s) EART2231 Earth Materials
and Unit(s) EART2234 Earth Processes
Co-requisites
For students in CM009 Bachelor of Earth Sciences and Master of Geoscience
or CM012 Bachelor of Earth Sciences and Master of Oceanography: EART2234 Earth Processes