Marine Science major
Western Australia's marine estate is unique globally. It features a vast array of marine and coastal environments, oceanographic conditions, and is a biodiversity hotspot with up to 80 per cent of fish, invertebrates and other organisms found nowhere else in the world. This makes WA an ideal living laboratory for your marine studies. This double major will expose you to the full breadth of the marine science discipline, allowing deeper understanding of both the physical and biological components through the marine biology and coastal processes majors. It combines knowledge of marine life with a solid understanding of the physical process across all coastal marine environments. Through experimental design and research, both in the field and in laboratories, you will learn to appreciate the complex interactions that occur between marine ecosystems and physical processes. During the course of your studies you will gain practical experience through field trips (several of which are overnight) and computer based labs. This double major is the ultimate multi- and inter-disciplinary learning environment that will best place you to continue your studies as a postgraduate student or pursue a career in a marine related discipline after graduation.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) recognise the relationship between structure, function and process at all biological levels: molecular, cellular, organismal, population, community and ecosystem; (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 diversity, life history strategies and functional traits of marine biota; (4) demonstrate a solid understanding of the physical processes that operate in marine and coastal environments; (5) demonstrate an understanding of complex interactions between the physical and biotic components of marine environments and the range of scales at which these interactions can occur.; (6) recognize how the interactions between the physical and biotic components can influence decisions about marine and coastal management; (7) develop skills in computational, mathematical, programming and statistical techniques commonly used in marine research; (8) conduct quantitative marine research in a safe, ethical and professional manner; and (9) apply relevant employability skills for 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. 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. If you are completing this major in a Combined Bachelor's masters Course, you have elected to pursue a highly specialised and in-depth program of study in your chosen field. While you are encouraged to use the free elective units available in your course to study in other disciplines offered at UWA, your formal requirement to broaden your course will be met through the Honours and Postgraduate units which form an integral part of your course.
Prerequisites
Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.
Marine Science 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
Marine Science is a degree-specific double major comprising:
- six Level 1 units
- seven Level 2 units
- five Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Level 1
Take all units (36 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology | |
| S2 | BIOL1131 | Plant and Animal Biology | |
| S1, S2 | CITS1401 | Computational Thinking with Python |
|
| S1 | EART1105 | Dynamic Planet |
|
| S1, S2 | SCIE1104 | Science, Society and Data Analysis | |
| S1 | SCOM1101 | Communicating Science |
|
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. 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 MATH1721. 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 |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1720 | Mathematics Fundamentals |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1721 | Mathematics Foundations: Methods |
|
Level 2
Take all units (42 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | BIOL2204 | Marine Biology | |
| S2 | CITS2402 | Introduction to Data Science | |
| S2 | EART2204 | Coastal Processes | |
| S2 | ENVT2221 | Global Climate Change and Biodiversity | |
| S1 | ENVT2250 | Ecology | |
| S1, S2 | GEOG2201 | Geographic Information Systems |
|
| S1 | SCIE2204 | Marine Systems |
Level 3
Take all units (30 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | BIOL3305 | Fisheries Science: Foundation and Application |
|
| S1 | ENVT3306 | Coastal Conservation and Management |
|
| S2 | ENVT3307 | Oceanography |
|
| S2 | ENVT3362 | Environmental Dynamics | |
| S1 | SCIE3304 | Field Techniques in Marine Science |
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a double major.
General degrees
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.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .