- Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.
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Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours)
Testamur Title of Degree: | Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) |
Abbreviation: | BEnvSc(Hons) |
UOW Course Code: | 1880 |
CRICOS Code: | 085261J |
Total Credit Points: | 192 |
Duration: | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Home Faculty: | Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health |
Intake Session(s): | Autumn |
Delivery Mode: | On-campus (Face-to-face) |
Delivery Campus / UAC Code: | Wollongong / 757612 |
Additional Information: |
Overview
Environmental Science is the study of the interaction of the living and non-living elements of the environment and how humans impact on these elements. Environmental scientists assess, research and manage resources, together with a wide range of environmental issues.
The Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) degree integrates material from a wide variety of disciplines relevant to the environment and its management - these include engineering, management, law, science and technology studies and philosophy. You will be equipped to understand the ethical, social, economic and political aspects of environmental issues as well as to be able to work with engineers, lawyers and other professionals.
In the first and second years of the degree you will learn the basic "building blocks" of science in the form of introductory biology, chemistry, geography, geology and physics, as well as incorporating the 'language' of science through introductory mathematics and statistics.
In the third and fourth years, you will specialise in one of the following four majors:
- Earth Sciences
- Environmental Chemistry
- Land Resources
- Life Sciences
An Honours research report with an external organisation is a major component of the fourth year.
Those who do not qualify for direct entry to the degree may gain admission via the Bachelor of Science, subject to satisfactory performance in the first year and approval of the Course Co-ordinator and the Head of Students.
Entry Requirements
Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) will be able to:
- Describe and synthesise advanced knowledge from several disciplines about the multifaceted and interrelated nature of environmental science.
- Apply advanced knowledge of the complex interplay of relevant processes to addressing environmental problems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods associated with environmental science through an applied research project.
- Adapt and integrate technical and cognitive skills in reviewing, analysing and synthesising information to independently assess the basis of complex environmental problems.
- Exercise critical thinking and judgement in understanding the basis of an environmental problem.
- Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to a variety of audiences through seminars, meetings with professional practitioners and preparation of the major research report.
- Demonstrate initiative and judgement to adapt knowledge and skills to independently plan and execute a piece of research in a specific area of environmental science
Course Structure
Students who have not completed HSC Mathematics at Band 4 or higher (or equivalent) are required to complete a mathematics subject (MATH151 or equivalent) normally in the first year.
Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.
Students must complete a minimum of 32 credit points of 300-level subjects.
Students must have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in at least 24 credit points of 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science strand.
This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects, as set out below.
Progression Requirements
Satisfactory performance must be achieved [normally a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% or greater in ENVI391/491 plus 2 strand/discipline related 300-level subjects] for entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) degree. Students with a WAM below 70% in the relevant 300-level subjects may only progress into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) with the approval of the Environmental Science Coordinator.
Students who do not gain entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) degree will normally be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Science (Environment) degree.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Common First Year | |||
Autumn | |||
BIOL104 | Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment | 6 | Autumn |
EESC103 | Landscape Change and Climatology | 6 | Autumn |
EESC101 | Planet Earth | 6 | Autumn |
Please select ONE of the following two subjects: | |||
CHEM101 | Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry* | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM104 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter* | 6 | Autumn |
*Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101. All other students must select CHEM104. | |||
Spring | |||
BIOL103 | Molecules, Cells and Organisms | 6 | Spring |
EESC102 | Earth Environments and Resources | 6 | Spring |
GEOG122 | Human Geography II: Living in a Material World | 6 | Spring |
Please select ONE of the following two subjects: | |||
CHEM102 | Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life | 6 | Spring |
CHEM105 | Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures | 6 | Spring |
Summer Session | |||
MATH151 | General Mathematics 1A | 6 | Autumn |
Students who wish to complete the Environmental Chemistry strand in Third Year and are enrolling in CHEM104 and CHEM105, must also enrol in CHEM106. | |||
CHEM106 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter# | 6 | Summer |
# NOTE: Completion of CHEM106 does NOT count towards the minimum 192 credit points for this course. | |||
Common Second Year | |||
Autumn | |||
BIOL251 | Principles of Ecology | 6 | Autumn |
PHYS233 | Introduction to Environmental Physics | 6 | Autumn |
PHIL256 | Ethics and the Environment | 6 | Autumn |
Select ONE of the following two subjects in Autumn Session. | |||
For students wishing to take the Life Sciences strand in Year 3. | |||
BIOL105 | Functional Biology of Animals and Plants | 6 | Autumn |
For students wishing to take the Land Resources, Earth Sciences or Environmental Chemistry strands in Year 3. | |||
EESC203 | Biogeography and Environmental Change | 6 | Autumn |
Spring | |||
CHEM214 | Analytical and Environmental Chemistry | 6 | Spring |
EESC202 | Shaping Earth's Surface | 6 | Spring |
EESC204 | Introductory Spatial Science | 6 | Autumn, Spring |
STAT252 | Statistics For the Natural Sciences | 6 | Spring |
Year 3 & 4 - Specialisation in one of four majors: | |||
1. Year 3 Land Resources Major | |||
EESC303 | Fluvial Geomorphology and Sedimentology | 8 | Autumn |
STS 300 | The Environmental Context: Imagining a Zero Carbon Future | 8 | Autumn |
GEOG222 | Environmental Impact of Societies | 6 | Spring |
EESC302 | Coastal Environments: Process and Management | 8 | Spring |
ENVI491 | Environmental Science and Systems | 8 | Spring |
Plus TWO subjects from the following: | |||
EESC201 | Earth's Inferno | 6 | Autumn |
EESC305 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 8 | Autumn |
EESC304 | Geographic Information Science | 8 | Spring |
2. Year 3 Earth Sciences Major | |||
EESC201 | Earth's Inferno | 6 | Autumn |
EESC301 | Plate Tectonics, Macrotopography and Earth History | 8 | Autumn |
STS 300 | The Environmental Context: Imagining a Zero Carbon Future | 8 | Autumn |
EESC306 | Resources and Environments | 8 | Spring |
ENVI491 | Environmental Science and Systems | 8 | Spring |
EESC250 | Field Geology | 6 | Summer |
Plus ONE subject from the following: | |||
EESC305 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 8 | Autumn |
GEOG222 | Environmental Impact of Societies | 6 | Spring |
EESC304 | Geographic Information Science | 8 | Spring |
3. Year 3 Life Sciences Major | |||
BIOL240 | Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms | 6 | Autumn |
BIOL351 | Conservation Biology: Marine and Terrestrial Populations | 8 | Autumn |
EESC203 | Biogeography and Environmental Change | 6 | Autumn |
STS 300 | The Environmental Context: Imagining a Zero Carbon Future | 8 | Autumn |
BIOL241 | Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms | 6 | Spring |
BIOL355 | Marine and Terrestrial Ecology | 8 | Spring |
ENVI491 | Environmental Science and Systems | 8 | Spring |
4. Year 3 Environmental Chemistry Major | |||
CHEM211 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM212 | Organic Chemistry II | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM327 | Environmental Chemistry | 8 | Autumn |
STS 300 | The Environmental Context: Imagining a Zero Carbon Future | 8 | Autumn |
CHEM213 | Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change | 6 | Spring |
ENVI491 | Environmental Science and Systems | 8 | Spring |
Plus ONE subject from the following: | |||
CHEM314 | Instrumental Analysis † | 8 | Autumn |
CHEM321 | Organic Synthesis and Reactivity | 8 | Spring |
CHEM340 | Chemistry Laboratory Project | 8 | Autumn, Spring, Summer |
EESC304 | Geographic Information Science | 8 | Spring |
† Students wishing to take CHEM314 should consult the Coordinator of Environmental Science at the start of Year 3. | |||
Year 4 - Common for all majors | |||
ENVI403 | Research Report | 24 | Annual, Spring/Autumn |
ENVE385 | Environmental Engineering | 8 | Autumn |
MGMT208 | Introduction to Management for Professionals A | 6 | Autumn |
LAW 380 | Law for Environmental Managers | 8 | Spring |
Honours
The degree of Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) is awarded for performance in third and fourth year subjects, based on a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) formula in accordance with Method 3 in the General Course Rules Section 8.
Credit Arrangements
Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.
Professional Recognition/Accreditation
Graduates are eligible for full membership of the Environment Institute of Australia & New Zealand and other relevant professional bodies depending on their disciplinary orientation.
Other Information
Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au