Faculty of Science Environmental science

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Faculty of Science

Table of Contents

1. Career opportunities
2. Suggested subjects
3. Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)
Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions

Environmental science is the discipline of detecting and solving environmental problems. Human impacts on the natural world span geology, chemistry, and the mathematical and natural sciences. The program in environmental science is oriented towards teaching analytical and problem-solving skills that take advantage of a student's major science discipline. The subjects that lead to a major in environmental science provide the necessary training to make the graduate effective at finding solutions to a variety of environmental problems. This will provide graduates with the opportunity to make valuable contributions to industry, regulatory authorities and education.

Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts and Sciences or a BSc combined course with law, commerce or arts can follow a course of study which results in the award of a major in environmental science. For students enrolled in these courses the environmental science major is only available when completed in conjunction with a second science major. Students enrolled in a BSc combined course with engineering, geomatics or forestry can follow a course of study which results in the award of a major in environmental science without a second science major.

Studies in environmental science provide training in scientific skills and disciplines that may be used to identify and solve environmental problems. The program teaches students how to make efficient use of scarce resources available for management and conservation of the environment. In particular, the skills developed by studying environmental science will enable graduates to:

• evaluate physical, chemical and ecological components of the environment;

• identify environmental problems;

• construct models of ecological processes;

• undertake risk analyses;

• assess environmental impacts;

• design experiments and monitoring programs;

• undertake quantitative analysis of environmental data; and

• provide solutions for environmental problems.

1. Career opportunities

Studying environmental science provides an opportunity for laboratory, outdoor and indoor careers dealing with environmental issues. Graduates work in areas such as:

• consulting in environmental impact assessment;

• the mining, agriculture, land development and forestry sectors;

• science and management of soil, water and air pollution;

• environmental education;

• parks and wildlife research and management; and

• natural resource development and management.

Potential employers include local, state and federal government, environmental and regulatory agencies, environmental groups, and resource and development departments at the state and federal level, environmental, natural resource and engineering consulting companies and a number of major chemical and mining companies.

2. Suggested subjects

Please note that for students in all courses (except BSc combined courses with engineering, geomatics and forest science) the environmental science major is only available when completed with another science major.

To undertake an environmental science major students should complete the environmental sciences first year package see First-year packages.

Suggested 200-level subjects are identified below in Suggested 200-level subjects.

It is also suggested that students complete social and applied science subjects to the value of at least 25 points to complement the environmental science subjects. Examples are given below in Table 4.

These subjects are not available to students in some science courses.

3. Bachelor of Science (Degree with Honours)

There is no specific honours program in environmental science. Students are encouraged to pursue an environmental science honours project as part of the normal honours program in a science department. For further information, contact the Environmental Science Coordinator.

Subject descriptions

600-301 Problem Solving in Environmental Science
600-303 Environmental Risk Assessment
121-030 Applied Ecology
121-033 Environmental Hydrology A
451-312 GIS & Remote Sensing for Enviro Science
606-301 Applied Ecology (Theory)
610-360 Analytical & Environmental Chemistry
620-371 Linear Models
654-308 Conservation Biology

Search : Index : Faculty of Science

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