1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Science
  3. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  4. Environmental Science

Environmental Science

Bachelor of ScienceMajorYear: 2019

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Overview

Environmental science is an integrative discipline across biological, physical and social sciences. Environmental Science major graduates will be prepared to enter careers or research in one of the following major environmental challenge areas:

  • Conservation and Ecosystems
  • Climate Change
  • Energy (only in 2020)
  • Natural Resources and Hazards
  • Sustainability Science (only in 2020)

The integrative specialisations focused on environmental challenges will equip graduates with disciplinary skills and perspectives drawing upon the methodologies employed in the different biological, physical and social sciences. Graduates will develop core skills in problem framing, communication, risk assessment, environmental monitoring and environmental modelling, which are crucial to environmental assessment, consulting and management roles. These integrated subjects develop core skills of the application of scientific principles to solving current environmental problems. Students will gain experience preparing them for the workplace by participating in group-based reviews of environmental management plans and by conducting multidisciplinary practical assessments of environmental issues.

Intended learning outcomes

Graduates with an Environmental Science major should demonstrate:

All specialisations

  • ability to apply current conceptual, mathematical, logical and modelling tools used in risk assessment and environmental monitoring;
  • expertise in a specialisation focussed on a major environmental challenge;
  • an ability to synthesise and integrate methodologies found in physical, biological and social scientific disciplines in a multidisciplinary environmental science framework;
  • ability to use an integrated scientific, economic and social approach to analyse and make major decisions about natural and human environments;
  • ability to apply scientific methods to frame and provide solutions to the world's environmental challenges at both local and global scales.

Conservation and Ecosystems specialisation

Students completing this specialisation will additionally:

  • appreciate the relevance of ecological and conservation science principles and demonstrate their application for conservation and management of species, biodiversity and ecosystems.

Natural Resources and Hazards specialisation

Students completing this specialisation will additionally:

  • use chemical or geological methodologies to evaluate air, water, soil and mineral resources and identify hazards.

Climate Change specialisation

Students completing this specialisation will additionally:

  • appreciate the functioning of the atmosphere and ocean in the climate system and apply this to determine climate impacts in the formulation of appropriate responses to climate change.

Last updated: 18 December 2020