Marine Science major

Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.

If you are fascinated by our amazing marine and coastal environments then Marine Science is the major for you. Western Australia's marine environment is a biodiversity hotspot with up to 80 per cent of fish, invertebrates and other organisms found nowhere else in the world, making WA an ideal living laboratory for your studies. This major includes marine biology and ecology, marine and coastal management, and oceanography. It combines knowledge of marine aquatic life with a solid understanding of the physical environment. Through experimental design and research you will learn to appreciate the complex interactions that occur in marine ecosystems. It is envisaged that there will be up to three overnight field trips (cost of food and accommodation of up to $500 for around 10 nights to be borne by the student).

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) appreciate the complex interactions between the physical and biotic components of marine ecosystems; (2) understand the range of scales at which these interactions can occur; (3) demonstrate a knowledge of the diversity, life history strategies and functional traits of marine biota; (4) appreciate how the interactions between the physical and biotic components can influence decisions about sustainable management; and (5) conduct quantitative marine research in a safe and professional manner.

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.

Marine 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

Marine Science is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
  • two Level 3 complementary units
  • two Level 4 complementary units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Coastal and Ocean Systems specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 EART1105 Dynamic Planet
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
Complementary units
Take all complementary units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications ATAR
Or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Incompatibility:
Unit STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics (ID 397)
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.
Incompatibility:
Nil
Marine Biology specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 EART1105 Dynamic Planet
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
Complementary units
Take all complementary units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 SCIE1104 Science, Society and Data Analysis
Prerequisites:
Nil
Co-requisites:
ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications ATAR
Or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals (ID 5107)
Incompatibility:
Unit STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics (ID 397)
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.
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 2

Coastal and Ocean Systems specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 EART2204 Coastal Processes
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
GEOG1103 Geographies of a Global City
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
EART3337 Coastal Environments; GEOG3307 Coastal Environments
S1 SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
Complementary units
Take the following complementary unit:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites:
36 points of prior study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
Complementary units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL2204 Marine Biology
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit SCIE2204 Marine Systems (ID 1524) And ATAR Subject Chemistry
Or
6 Points Unit CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or
Equivalent
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
Or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
Or
EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
Or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology (ID 5950)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
Marine Biology specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOL2204 Marine Biology
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit SCIE2204 Marine Systems (ID 1524) And ATAR Subject Chemistry
Or
6 Points Unit CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or
Equivalent
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
Complementary units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT2250 Ecology
Prerequisites:
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology)
or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S1, S2 GEOG2201 Geographic Information Systems
Prerequisites:
36 points of prior study
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
Complementary units
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 EART2204 Coastal Processes
Prerequisites:
EART1105 The Dynamic Planet
or
GEOG1103 Geographies of a Global City
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
EART3337 Coastal Environments; GEOG3307 Coastal Environments
S2 ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254)
Or
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology (ID 1244)
Or
EART1105 Dynamic Planet (ID 1247)
Or
ENVT1104 Environmental Science and Technology (ID 5950)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil

Level 3

Coastal and Ocean Systems specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3306 Coastal Conservation and Management
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3307 Oceanography
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3362 Environmental Dynamics
Prerequisites:
ENVT2250 Ecology
or
ENVT2220 The Climate System
or
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
EART2204 Coastal Processes
or
SCIE2267 Quantitative Methods in Environmental Management
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S1 SCIE3304 Field Techniques in Marine Science
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
ENSC3012 Data Collection and Analysis
or
equivalent;
and
completion of at least 72 points
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
Marine Biology specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ENVT3306 Coastal Conservation and Management
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3307 Oceanography
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 ENVT3363 Ecological Processes
Prerequisites:
6 Points Unit ENVT2250 Ecology (ID 1228)
Or
ENVT2221 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (ID 1293)
Or
SCIE2204 Marine Systems (ID 1524)
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 SCIE3304 Field Techniques in Marine Science
Prerequisites:
SCIE2204 Marine Systems
or
ENSC3012 Data Collection and Analysis
or
equivalent;
and
completion of at least 72 points
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.

Choosing your degree-specific 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.

The following example illustrates how the Marine Science degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Coastal and Ocean Systems specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-MARSC-1
Marine Biology specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-MARSC-2

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

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 require you to choose a degree-specific major.

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. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Marine Science degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science course.

Coastal and Ocean Systems specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-MARSC-Generic-1
Marine Biology specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-MARSC-Generic-2

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .