Environmental Science
Impact on the Earth’s environment arise from human activities, including land degradation and industrial pollution, as well as naturally occurring phenomena, such as earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis. Environmental science gives you the skills to identify and understand the causes of environmental problems triggered by human activity. It provides robust, scientifically sound and practical solutions to these problems.
Despite Australia's status as a first-world economy, scarcity of resources begins to impact on our lives. Environmental science studies teach you how to make efficient use of our dwindling natural resources and how to manage and conserve the environment.
Course Planning for an Environmental Science Major
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Environments should take no more than 125 points of 1st year level subjects. Students must complete at least 75 points worth of 3rd year level subjects, including at least one 3rd year level breadth subject. Students will need to be mindful of this when course planning.
The Environmental Science Major has three streams which you may undertake: Mathematics, Chemistry or Ecology. In order to complete a major in Environmental Science, you will need to undertake the following subjects:
1st year level
- 880-101 Natural Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 880-102 Reshaping Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
2nd year level
- 654-219 Ecology (Sem 2)
3rd year level
- 600-303 Environmental Risk Assessment (Sem 1)
- 600-301 Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (Sem 2)
AND 75 pts (6 subjects) chosen from:
1st year level
- 610-102 Chemistry 2 (Sem Summer or 2)
2nd year level
- 625-223 Field Mapping and Sedimentary Geology (Sem 2) (207-250 Earth Surface Processes in 2009)
- 610-283 Reactions and Synthesis (Sem 1)
- 610-285 Structure and Properties (Sem 2)
- 610-284 Practical Chemistry (Sem 2)
- 620-205 Probability for Statistics (Sem 1)
- 620-202 Statistics (Sem 2)
- 220-290 Leaves to Landscape (Sem 1)
- 610-280 Environmental Chemistry (Sem 2)
3rd year level
- 625-307 Hydrogeology (Sem 1)
- 610-360 Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (Sem 1)
- 654-323 Applied Ecology (Sem 2)
- 451-351 Imaging the Environment (Sem 1)
- 620-328 Linear Statistical Models (Sem 2) (620-371 Linear Models in 2009)
- 606-305 Vegetation Management and Conservation (Sem 2)
- 121-034 Rivers: Hydrology and Ecology (Sem 1)
Highly recommended first year breadth:
We have included highly recommended breadth for each stream in the course plans provided below – you are not obligated to complete these subjects, however it may affect your options in the future if you choose not to.
Students should familiarise themselves with the Bachelor of Environments Course Structure.
Breadth information for Environmental Science major
The Melbourne Model aims to produce graduates who are trained in a particular discipline (depth) as well as knowledgeable across disciplines (breadth). The breadth component of the new degrees aims to build multiple competencies in students by exposing them to different ways of knowing through cross-disciplinary learning and teaching.
In the first year of the Bachelor of Environments, students can take any two 100-Level subjects from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science as well as the University Breadth Subjects and the non core subjects available as breadth. Students must undertake prerequisites for any subjects they are interested in the second and third year.
In the second and third years of the Bachelor of Environments, students will choose their major field of study and they must choose breadth studies that contrast with their major. The eleven major areas of study are grouped into four clusters based on the types of knowledge they represent: scientific, socio-cultural, design and business.
For example, a student taking a Scientific major such as Environmental Science will take breadth studies that contrast with the scientific way of knowing, such as commerce, languages, politics, arts, music and design. Due to the Environmental Science major falling under the scientific category, students are not permitted to take maths, science, technology or engineering subjects as breadth.
A search engine of breadth subjects available to Bachelor of Environments students may be found here. Some students may also choose to take breadth study from within the Bachelor of Environments as long as these subjects come from a different cluster to their major area of study – see breadth elective subjects for a list of approved subjects.
Environments Electives
Bachelor of Environments students will undertake 37.5 (3 subjects) of Environments electives within their degree. A list of possible Environments Electives can be found here.
Example course plan for Environmental Science major – Chemistry stream – no Chemistry Background
| Semester 1, Year 1 |
Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Fundamentals of Chemistry 610-171 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 |
Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Chemistry 1 610-101 |
| Summer | Major Selective: Chemistry 2 |
|||
| Semester 1, Year 2 |
Major Selective: Reactions and Synthesis 610-283 |
Major Selective: Environmental Chemistry 610-280 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 |
Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective: Practical Chemistry 610-284 |
Major Selective: Structures and Properties 610-285 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 |
Environmental Risk
Assessment 600-303 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Major Selective: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry 610-360 |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 |
Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Example course plan for Environmental Science major – Chemistry stream – Students who have Completed VCE Chemistry 3&4 or Equivalent
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Chemistry 1 610-101 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Chemistry 2 610-102 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Major Selective: Reactions and Synthesis 620-283 |
Major Selective: Environmental Chemistry 610-280 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective: Practical Chemistry 610-284 |
Major Selective: Structures and Properties 610-285 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Major Selective: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry 610-360 |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Example course plan for Environmental Science major – Mathematics Stream – VCE Maths Methods 3&4 or Higher
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Introduction to Mathematics 620-173 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Calculus 2 | Major Selective | Linear Algebra | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 | Major Selective: Probability for Statistics 620-205 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective: Statistics 620-202 |
Breadth | |
| Semester 1, Year 4 | Major Selective: Linear Statistical Models 620-328 |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Example course plan for Environmental Science major – Mathematics Stream – VCE Maths Methods 3&4
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 2 620-155 |
| Summer, Year 2 |
Linear Algebra 620-156 |
|||
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Major Selective: Probability for Statistics 620-205 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective | Major Selective: Statistics 620-202 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 | Major Selective: Linear Statistical Models 620-328 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Example course plan for Environmental Science major – Mathematics Stream – VCE Specialist Maths 3&4 (study score 27+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 2 620-155 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Major Selective: Probability for Statistics 620-205 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective | Major Selective: Statistics 620-202 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 |
Major Selective: Linear Statistical Models 620-328 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Example Course plan for Environmental Science major – Ecology stream – Students with Maths Methods 1&2 or equivalent
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Introduction to Mathematics 620-173 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Highly Recommended breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Major Selective: Leaves to Landscape 220-290 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective: Field Mapping and Sedimentary Geology 625-223 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 | Major Selective | Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective | Major Selective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Highly recommended breadth (please check prerequisites):
- 620-154 Calculus 1
- 610-101 Chemistry 1
- 625-104 The Earth, Atmosphere and Oceans
- 620-159 Data Analysis 1
- 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry (semester 1 only – move a first year Bachelor of Environments subject to the second semester)
- 625-101 The Global Environment (semester 1 only – move a first year Bachelor of Environments subject to the second semester)
Example Course plan for Environmental Science major – Ecology stream with VCE Maths Methods 3&4 or higher
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural
Environments 880-101 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Highly Recommended Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping
Environments 880-102 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Highly Recommended breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Major Selective: Leaves to Landscape 220-290 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Ecology 654-219 |
Major Selective: Field Mapping and Sedimentary Geology 625-223 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Environmental Risk Assessment 600-303 | Major Selective | Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Problem-Solving in Environmental Science (capstone) 600-301 | Major Selective | Major Selective | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Highly recommended breadth (please check prerequisites):
- 620-154 Calculus 1
- 620-155 Calculus 2
- 610-101 Chemistry 1
- 610-102 Chemistry 2
- 620-156 Linear Algebra
- 625-104 The Earth, Atmosphere and Oceans
- 620-159 Data Analysis 1
- 610-171 Fundamentals of Chemistry
- 625-101 The Global Environment
Careers and Further Study
A major in Environmental Science opens doors to laboratory, outdoor and indoor careers. Environmental scientists draw upon a range of specialisations across a broad field of science disciplines. Specialisations can include studies in hydrogeology, marine and terrestrial ecology, conservation biology and assessing and measuring environmental risk.
The Environmental Science stream gives students an understanding of the nature of conflicts surrounding environmental issues, and the capacity to resolve them.
The Environmental Science major also provides a pathway to the new Master of Science (Environmental Science) which will be launched in 2009. The Master of Science will offer training for students who wish to pursue a career in scientific research or enter the workforce armed with both scientific knowledge and industry relevant business skills. This program offers a mix of research, science core discipline and professional tools training.
The Master of Science has been designed to advance your entry into the employment market. This degree combines vital job-relevant modules in business and communication skills with core science discipline study.
For more information, please visit the Master of Science website.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact the Environments Student Centre on:
Ph: 8344 6432 | 8344 6417 | 8344 8150
Web: envs-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Visit: Environments Student Centre
Ground Floor, Old Commerce Building
University of Melbourne