Undergraduate Courses
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Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours)

The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only. 

Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.

Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.

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:

Course Finder

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:

1. Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the trends, processes and impacts that shape the Earth and its environment including local, national, global, cultural, Indigenous and spatial perspectives.  

2. Critically evaluate information and data to assess scientific methods and frameworks in the environmental sciences and environmental management.  

3. Develop hypotheses and experiments to test against evidence-based scientific facts, laws, principles and evidence. 

4. Identify and articulate real world problems derived from the environmental sciences and environmental management.  

5. Apply knowledge and appropriate techniques, including those associated with fieldwork, to evaluate possible solutions to real world problems and defend choice of solution against alternatives. 

6. Locate, synthesise and evaluate data, information, results and literature pertaining to the environmental sciences using appropriate methods, measurements, tools and technologies to produce an applied research project in a specific area of environmental sciences and/or environmental management.

7. Communicate environmental science perspectives and knowledge effectively to a range of audiences using appropriate technologies and communication skills. 

8. Demonstrate ethical, professional, public and personal conduct and capacity to reflect on and direct own learning and practice and participate constructively in decision-making within the context of environmental sciences and environmental management.      

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 have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science major.

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 EESC320 plus 3 strand/discipline related 300-level subjects] for entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) course. 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) course will normally be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Science (Environment) course. 

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
Autumn
BIOL104 Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment 6 Autumn
EESC101 Planet Earth 6 Autumn
EESC103 Earth's Dynamic Surface 6 Autumn
Please select ONE subject from the following list:
Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM105.
CHEM101 Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry 6 Autumn
CHEM104 Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter 6 Autumn
Spring
BIOL103 Molecules, Cells and Organisms 6 Spring
EESC102 Earth's Interconnected Spheres 6 Spring
EESC105 Introductory Geospatial Analysis 6 Spring
Please select ONE subject from the following list:
CHEM102 Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life 6 Spring
CHEM105 Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures 6 Spring
Summer Session
Students who wish to complete the Environmental Chemistry strand in Third Year and are enrolling in CHEM105, must also enrol in CHEM106.
CHEM106 Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter 6 Summer
Year 2
Autumn
BIOL251 Principles of Ecology 6 Autumn
PHYS233 Introduction to Environmental Physics 6 Autumn
EESC207 Advanced Geospatial Analysis 6 Autumn. First offered in 2017
Select ONE subject from the following list:
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 Earth Sciences, Environmental Chemistry or Land Resources 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
PHIL256 Environmental Philosophy 6 Spring
STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences 6 Spring
Year 3 
Please select ONE of the following four majors:
Land Resources
EESC320 Capstone in Earth and Environmental Sciences 6 Annual. Autumn, Spring. First offered in 2018
EESC323 Fluvial Geomorphology and Sedimentology 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
GEOG222 Environmental Impact of Societies 6 Spring
EESC322 Coastal Environments: Process and Management 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
Plus TWO subjects from the following list:
EESC209 G-cubed:Geochemistry, Geochronology, Geophysics 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
EESC331 Changing Global Environments 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
EESC332 Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleoenvironments 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
GEOG332 Environmental and Heritage Management* 8 Spring
Earth Sciences
EESC320 Capstone in Earth and Environmental Sciences 6 Annual, Autumn, Spring. First offered in 2018
EESC201 Earth's Inferno 6 Autumn
EESC321 Plate Tectonics, Macrotopography and Earth History 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
EESC326 Resources and Environments 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
EESC250 Field Geology 6 Summer
Plus ONE subject from the following list:
EESC209 G-cubed:Geochemistry, Geochronology, Geophysics 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
EESC332 Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleoenvironments 6Autumn. First offered in 2018
Life Sciences
EESC320 Capstone in Earth and Environmental Sciences 6 Annual, Autumn, Spring. First offered in 2018
BIOL240 Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms 6 Autumn
BIOL361 Conservation Biology: Marine and Terrestrial Populations 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
BIOL252 Evolution and Behaviour 6 Spring
BIOL241 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms 6 Spring
BIOL365 Marine and Terrestrial Ecology 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
Environmental Chemistry
EESC320 Capstone in Earth and Environmental Sciences 6 Annual, Autumn, Spring. First offered in 2018
CHEM211 Inorganic Chemistry II 6 Autumn
CHEM212 Organic Chemistry II 6 Autumn
CHEM337 Environmental Chemistry 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures 6 Autumn. First offered in 2018
CHEM213 Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change 6 Spring
LAW 381 Law for Environmental Managers 6 Spring. First offered in 2017
Plus ONE subject from the following list:
CHEM370 Modern Inorganic & Bio-inorganic Chemistry 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
CHEM360 Organic Synthesis III 6 Spring. First offered in 2018
Year 4
ENVI402 Research Report 36 Annual, Autumn, Spring. First offered in 2019
ENVE385 Environmental Engineering* 8 Autumn
MGNT208 Introduction to Management for Professionals A 6 Autumn

*Subject is expected to be replaced with a 6 credit point version from 2018

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

Last reviewed: 21 April, 2016