Physical Systems (Environmental Engineering)
Environmental Engineering involves the planning, design and management of the natural environment. Environmental Engineers require an understanding of the complexity and variability of natural systems. They focus on land and water engineering, examining issues such as land use and management, salinity, water resources management, water quality, and soil rehabilitation.
An understanding of the interaction between the built and natural environments is essential to Environmental Engineers and they regularly work with biologists, ecologists and resource managers in order to problem-solve with regard to ecologically sustainable development.
Course Planning for a Physical Systems Major
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Environments are limited to 125 points of 100 level (1st year) subjects. Students must complete at least 75 points worth of 300 level (3rd year) subjects, including at least one 300 level breadth subject. Students will need to be mindful of this when course planning.
In order to complete a major in Physical Systems, 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)
- 880-103 Constructing Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 620-155 Calculus 2 (Taken as Breadth)
- 620-156 Linear Algebra (Taken as Breadth)
2nd year level
- 436-291 Engineering Mechanics (sem 1 or 2)
- 421-289 Earth Processes for Engineering (Sem 2)
- 421-290 Engineering Materials (Sem 2)
- 620-293 Engineering Mathematics (Sem 1, 2 or summer)
3rd year level
- 400-306 Fluid Mechanics (Sem 2)
- 421-302 Risk Analysis (Sem 1)
- 421-301 Systems Modelling and Design
AND - Two 2nd or 3rd year level subjects chosen from the following disciplines:
- GEOMATICS
- BIOLOGY
- ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
Please find a sample listing of subjects below:
- 451-217 Applications of GIS (Sem 1)
- 451-237 Surveying and Mapping (Sem 2)
- 451-238 Residential Field Course (Sem 2 – Intensive)
- 451-352 Programming Geomatics Applications (Sem 1)
- 451-351 Imaging the Environment (Sem 1)
- 451-342 Integrated Spatial Systems (Sem 2)
- 451-350 Land, People and Sustainability (Sem 2)
- 451-353 Computational Methods in Geomatics (Sem 2)
- 654-219 Ecology
- 654-313 Ecology in Changing Environments**
- 207-250 Greening Landscapes
- 208-279 Plants in the Environment**
- 625-335 Global Climates of the Past**
- 121-018 Geomorphology*
- 316-208 Economics of the Environment**
- 325-220 Business in the Global Economy
- 207-209 Land Water and Food Economy 1
- 207-203 Techniques of Resource Assessment
- 451-203 Land Law
*Available 2010
** Prerequisites and/or co-requisites apply. Please check that you meet the entry requirements for this subject.
Students should familiarise themselves with the Bachelor of Environments course structure.
Breadth information for Physical Systems 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 will need to complete as breadth subjects:
- 620-155 Calculus 2
- 620-156 Linear Algebra
If you have not completed VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 with a study score of 27+, you will need to complete further 100 level mathematics studies. Please refer to the sample course plans provided below for information on how to complete these required subjects.
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 Physical Systems will take breadth studies that contrast with the scientific way of knowing, such as commerce, languages, politics, arts, music and design. Due to the Physical Systems 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.
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Specialist Maths 3/4 (study score of 27+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Constructing
Environments 880-103 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 2 620-155 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Engineering Maths 620-293 |
Earth Processes for Engineering 421-289 | Engineering
Materials 421-290 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Engineering Mechanics 436-291 | Risk Analysis 421-302 | Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Fluid
Mechanics 400-306 |
Systems Modelling & Design 421-301 |
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 |
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Maths Methods 3/4 (study score of 25+)
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Constructing
Environments 880-103 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 2 620-155 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Engineering Maths 620-293 |
Earth Processes
for Engineering 421-289 |
Engineering
Materials 421-290 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Engineering Mechanics 436-291 | Risk
Analysis 421-302 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Fluid
Mechanics 400-306 |
Systems Modelling & Design 421-301 |
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 |
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1 with Maths Methods 1/2 only
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 |
Constructing
Environments 880-103 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Introduction to
Mathematics 620-173 |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Calculus 2 620-155 |
Linear Algebra 620-156 |
Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Engineering Maths 620-293 |
Earth Processes for Engineering 421-289 | Engineering
Materials 421-290 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Engineering Mechanics 436-291 | Risk
Analysis 421-302 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Fluid
Mechanics 400-306 |
Systems Modelling & Design 421-301 |
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 |
Physical Systems
Sample course plan for students commencing mid-year with Specialist Maths 3/4 (study score of 27+)
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 |
Constructing
Environments 880-103 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 2 620-155 |
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Natural Environments 880-101 | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Linear Algebra 620-156 |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Engineering Materials 421-290 | Earth Processes for Engineering 421-289 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Engineering Maths 620-293 |
Engineering Mechanics 436-291 |
Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Fluid Mechanics 400-306 |
Major Selective | Systems Modelling & Design 421-301 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Risk Analysis 421-302 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | 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 |
Physical Systems
Sample course plan for students commencing mid-year with Maths Methods 3/4 (study score of 25+) (can complete within 3 years)
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 |
Constructing
Environments 880-103 |
First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject | Calculus 1 620-154 |
| 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 2 | Engineering Materials 421-290 | Earth Processes for Engineering 421-289 | Linear Algebra 620-156 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Engineering Maths 620-293 |
Engineering Mechanics 436-291 | Major Selective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Fluid Mechanics 400-306 | Major Selective | Systems Modelling & Design 421-301 |
Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Risk Analysis 421-302 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | 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 |
How to Study Environmental Engineering
Students pursuing a career in Environmental Engineering will complete the Bachelor of Environments with a major in Physical Systems, followed by the two-year Master of Engineering (Environmental). The five-year Bachelor-Masters combination leads to professional accreditation by Engineers Australia, the Institution of Engineers.
Careers and Graduate Outcomes
Environmental Engineers may specialise in land, water or waste management, site contamination, river and stream rehabilitation, soil erosion or any of a wide variety of other environmental issues.
Graduates usually work with local and international engineering consulting firms, urban and rural water agencies, conservation and natural resources departments, environmental protection agencies, catchment management authorities, local, state and federal government agencies, mining companies and industries, management consulting firms, and research and academic organisations.
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