Major Overview

Description

Coastlines globally face unprecedented threats from continued development and climate change. Majoring in Marine and Coastal Processes will provide you with the understanding of how our coastal and marine environments operate such that you can apply this knowledge to ensure coastal communities and marine ecosystems remain resilient in the future. Western Australia's coastal and nearshore seascape includes a diversity of morphology, habitats, and environmental forcing which will allow you to gain first-hand experience in the field. You'll learn about the processes that drive coastal changes, the importance of ocean currents in determining our sea level and climate, the links and feedbacks between physical and biological processes, and about strategies to manage the coast as a resource for all. During the course of your studies you will gain practical experience through hands-on laboratory-based exercises, field trips (several of which are overnight) and computer based labs.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. demonstrate a solid understanding of the physical processes that operate in marine and coastal environments
  2. apply scientific principles, incorporating theoretical concepts, keen observation, sound experimental design, analysis and insightful interpretation into marine research
  3. demonstrate a knowledge of the linkages and feedbacks between physical and biotic processes
  4. explain how the interactions between the physical and biotic components can influence decisions about marine and coastal management
  5. conduct quantitative marine research in a safe, ethical and professional manner
  6. develop skills in modelling, programming, and numeracy as relevant to marine research
  7. apply high-level critical thinking, fieldwork, teamwork and communication and skills required for employment and further studies in the field of coastal and marine 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

ATAR Mathematics Methods or equivalent or higher or ATAR Mathematics Applications with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics unit.

Courses

Marine and Coastal Processes 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):

Students can take CITS1501 Introduction to Programming with Python OR CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation

Students can take CITS1501 Introduction to Programming with Python OR CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology None
S2 CITS1501 Introduction to Programming with Python 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
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 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.

Note: MATH1721 should be taken if also considering majors or minors 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 (24 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
S1 ENVT2220 The Climate System None
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites
36 points of prior study
S1 SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) EART1105 Dynamic Planet
or Unit(s) BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3306 Coastal Conservation and Management
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or GEOG2202 Reading Landscapes: People and Processes
or permission of the unit coordinator
S2 ENVT3307 Oceanography
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) SCIE2204 Marine Systems
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
S1 SCIE3304 Field Techniques in Marine Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
72 points and one Unit(s) SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or ENSC3012 Data Collection and Analysis or equivalent