2009 Undergraduate Courses
2009 Postgraduate Courses
Bachelor of Science (Physical Geography)
Geography is the study of the earth and its features, inhabitants and phenomena with particular emphasis on their spatial arrangement over time. Such knowledge is the basis for informed concern about the earth and its people, which is essential to understanding and managing our world. Physical Geography focuses on understanding physical landscapes and the dynamics of environmental processes acting on the surface of the earth, which is essential for the identification, assessment and management of environmental issues. Thus, physical geographers work in a range of settings from managing natural hazards to monitoring pollution in the environment to mapping natural resources. The Physical Geography major provides students with the key theoretical and applied skills necessary to gain employment in these areas. To strengthen the focus on field skills or to broaden the focus to include the human dimension, the Physical Geography major can be combined with a Geology or Human Geography major.
Subjects |
Session |
Credit Points | |
100-Level | |||
Planet Earth |
Autumn |
6 | |
Landscape Change and Climatology |
Autumn |
6 | |
The Human Environment: Problems and Change |
Spring |
6 | |
Total for major at 100-level |
18 | ||
Recommended options: | |||
Earth Environments and Resources |
Spring |
6 | |
Climate Change |
Spring |
6 | |
200-Level | |||
Biogeography and Environmental Change |
Autumn |
6 | |
Soils, Landscapes and Hydrology |
Spring |
6 | |
Introductory Spatial Science |
Autumn or Spring |
6 | |
Plus at least one other subject chosen from Earth and Environmental Sciences schedule at 200-level. Recommended options include: | |||
Discovering Downunder: A Geography of Australia |
Spring |
6 | |
Environmental Impact of Societies |
Spring |
6 | |
Field Geology |
Summer |
6 | |
Total for major at 200-level |
24 | ||
300-Level | |||
Fluvial Geomorphology and Sedimentology |
Autumn |
8 | |
Coastal Environments: Process and Management |
Spring |
8 | |
Plus one of the following two subjects: | |||
Remote Sensing of the Environment |
Autumn |
8 | |
Geographic Information Science |
Spring |
8 | |
Recommended options: | |||
Remote Sensing of the Environment |
Autumn |
8 | |
Geographic Information Science |
Spring |
8 | |
Dung, Death and Decay: Modern scientific methods in archaeology |
Autumn |
8 | |
Water Resources and Management |
Spring |
8 | |
Total for major at 300-level |
24 | ||
Sub-total for major |
66 | ||
Plus additional subjects chosen from the Science Schedule |
24 | ||
Total for major |
90 | ||
Plus elective subjects chosen from the Science or General Schedules |
54 | ||
Degree Total |
144 | ||
Honours
Students may apply to enrol in an Honours degree, Bachelor of Science (Honours) (741), after the requirements of the pass degree have been fulfilled, normally at the prescribed academic standard. This standard is normally a credit average in the area of specialisation. The Honours year provides students with the opportunity to integrate their geography skills with project management. Completion of Honours commonly leads to more rapid advancement in a chosen career. Admission to Honours is by recommendation of the Head of School and approval of the Dean or Associate Dean.
Other Information
The Degree Coordinator is Dr Marji Puotinen - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, telephone (02) 4221 3589, email: marji@uow.edu.au