Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Marine Science

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Marine Science

Abbreviation:

BMarSc

UOW Course Code:

789

CRICOS Code:

039553A

Total Credit Points:

144

Duration:

3 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 / 757622

Additional Information:

Course Finder

Overview

Marine Science is the area of science that deals with the study of the ocean. You will study the biological nature and capacity of oceans, their impact on human society and the conservation and environmental management of marine and coastal regions.

You will learn the skills required for a career in government, industry and environment-related companies.

The program has core subjects in each year plus flexible optional subjects.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Marine Science will be able to:

  1. Describe and appraise broad knowledge of the principles and concepts of Marine Science.
  2. Demonstrate skills in analysing, interpreting and synthesising data, methodologies and other information.
  3. Exercise critical thinking and independent problem solving in experimental design and data analysis.
  4. Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to others.
  5. Synthesise the application of knowledge and skills in Marine Science through the development of scientific works and the completion of practical exercises.
  6. Appreciate the role, relevance and ethical implications of science in society.

 

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 major.

This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects as set out below.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
Core
Autumn
BIOL104 Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment 6 Autumn
BIOL105 Functional Biology of Animals and Plants 6 Autumn
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
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.
CHEM101 Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry 6 Autumn
CHEM104 Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter 6 Autumn
Plus ONE Autumn session subject from the following subjects:
EESC101 Planet Earth 6 Autumn
EESC103 Landscape Change and Climatology 6 Autumn
Spring
BIOL103 Molecules, Cells and Organisms 6 Spring
EESC102 Earth Environments and Resources 6 Spring
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
Plus ONE Spring session subject from the following subjects:
GEOG122 Human Geography II: Living in a Material World 6 Spring
MATH111 Applied Mathematical Modelling 1 6 Spring
MGMT110 Introduction to Management 6 Autumn, Spring, Summer
SCIE103 Climate Change 6 Spring
STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences 6 Spring
STS 112 The Scientific Revolution 6 Spring
STS 216 Environment in Crisis 6 Spring
Year 2
Core
BIOL240 Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms 6 Autumn
BIOL251 Principles of Ecology 6 Autumn
MARE200 Introduction to Oceanography 6 Autumn
MATH151 General Mathematics 1A# 6 Autumn
# Note: MATH151 must be completed by any student who has not completed NSW HSC Mathematics or equivalent at Band 4 or higher.
EESC204 Introductory Spatial Science 6 Autumn, Spring
EESC216 Sediments and Fuels 6 Spring
STAT252 Statistics For the Natural Sciences* 6 Spring
* If not completed in Year 1.
Options
Select from the following subjects to total 48 credit points in Second Year:
BIOL213 Principles of Biochemistry 6 Autumn
EESC201 Earth's Inferno 6 Autumn
EESC203 Biogeography and Environmental Change 6 Autumn
PHYS233 Introduction to Environmental Physics 6 Autumn
BIOL215 Introductory Genetics 6 Spring
BIOL241 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Organisms 6 Spring
BIOL252 Evolution and Behaviour 6 Spring
CHEM214 Analytical and Environmental Chemistry 6 Spring
GEOG222 Environmental Impact of Societies 6 Spring
STS 216 Environment in Crisis 6 Spring
EESC250 Field Geology 6 Summer
Year 3
Core
BIOL351 Conservation Biology: Marine and Terrestrial Populations 8 Autumn
EESC305 Remote Sensing of the Environment 8 Autumn
BIOL355 Marine and Terrestrial Ecology 8 Spring
EESC302 Coastal Environments: Process and Management 8 Spring
MARE300 Fisheries and Aquaculture 8 Spring
Options
Plus ONE of the following subjects:
BIOL303 Biotechnology: Applied Cell and Molecular Biology 8 Autumn
BIOL332 Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology 8 Autumn
EESC301 Plate Tectonics, Macrotopography and Earth History 8 Autumn
EESC303 Fluvial Geomorphology and Sedimentology 8 Autumn
EESC304 Geographic Information Science 8 Spring
STAT355 Sample Surveys and Experimental Design (with Project) 8 Autumn
EESC306 Resources and Environments 8 Spring
MARE357 Advances in Molluscan Biology 8 Summer
MARE393 Advanced Marine Science Project 8 Autumn, Spring, Summer
Or other subjects approved by the Coordinator.

Honours

Students may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Marine Science (Honours) (Dean’s Scholar) after the requirements of the Pass degree have been fulfilled and the required entry standard has been achieved (a minimum WAM of 75% in at least three 300-level subjects that comprise a coherent specialisation, as determined by the coordinator). Alternatively, students may apply to enrol in a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (a major in Marine Science is an option).

Admission to Honours is by recommendation of the Degree Coordinator and approval of the Head of School of the student’s primary supervisor.

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.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 27 November, 2014