ObjectivesThe course has been designed to produce graduates who, as environmental scientists, are specialists in a major area of applied science and possess well developed skills to liaise with other groups of scientific and environmental specialists to arrive at solutions to environmental problems. It aims: * to promote a project and problem-oriented and transdisciplinary approach to the application of science to environmental issues; * to produce environmental professionals who are specialists in a major area of environmental concern and who are experienced in working in teams which draw on and communicate a variety of expertise; * to develop the role of basic science in the identification, assessment, monitoring and treatment of environmental problems; * to promote an understanding of the public policy contexts and social organisations within which environmental issues arise and are dealt with. Learning outcomes On completion of their degree, students will have developed a comprehensive and well-founded knowledge in their science discipline and a range of transferable professional skills. Subject knowledge Graduates of the course are expected to be able to: * demonstrate specialist skills in a major area of environmental concern; * organise environmental projects using problem-based and transdisciplinary approaches; * employ scientific method to identify, assess, monitor and treat environmental problems; * recognise the public policy contexts and social organisations within which environmental issues arise and are dealt with. Transferable professional skills Graduates of the course are expected to be able to: * employ scientific methodologies such as experimental design, and the critical analysis of data; * communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms; * interact effectively as part of a team in order to work towards a common outcome; * work and learn independently; * reason critically and logically and make independent judgements; * engage effectively with information and communication technologies; * demonstrate research skills appropriate for further study and employment; and * appreciate the need for continuing professional development.
Entry requirementsThe minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements. There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, but a knowledge of Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at Year 12 level is desirable.
Academic titleBachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Course descriptionThe Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science is unique in Australia because it offers 3 areas of specialisation.
You can choose to concentrate your studies within one of the following streams:
* Coasts and Catchments: which trains scientists in coastal and catchment hydrology and ecology.
* Environmental Forensics: which will give you the skills to identify and trace the source of environmental contamination.
* Global Water Resources: which examines the interactions, relationships and cycles between water, ecosystems and the environment.
Whichever stream you choose, you will take an interdisciplinary program that combines biology, earth science and chemistry with state-of-the-art technologies such as computer simulation and prediction and forensic identification.
Teamwork and communication skills are emphasised in professionally focussed topics designed to promote a smooth transition between university study and professional careers in environmental science.
What will I study?
Refer to the program of study.
What is Environmental Science?
To protect our environment we need to fully understand how it works, what impact we can have and how we should set our priorities.
As the name suggests, Environmental Science focuses on the underlying science that underpins environmental monitoring, assessment and improvement. It is distinct from, but complementary to, areas such as environmental management and environmental health and opens up a variety of career opportunities.
Why study Environmental Science at Flinders?
* We have a proud tradition of excellence in research and teaching across the environmental sciences and related fields.
* Our environmental science staff are involved in a wide variety of research ranging from groundwater-surface water interactions on the Eyre Peninsula, tree physiology studies, catchment hydrology in the Mt Lofty Ranges and sustainability of wetlands in the lower southeast of SA. In addition, studies on global climate change in southern Australia and studies on the impacts of the two proposed desalination plants in SA are currently underway.
* We are a key partner in the National Centre for Groundwater Studies, which has its main office on our campus.
* We are a leader in groundwater hydrology education in Australia and our hydrology staff are conducting research in many areas that are critical to the management of our water resources. These include: surface water and groundwater interaction, salinity investigations, the sustainability of groundwater aquifers, coastal hydrology, and irrigation and soil hydrology.
* Much of our work is carried out in collaboration with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and other state government agencies. We also have formal links with prestigious institutions in Europe and North America.
* The Environmental Science program has existed for over 10 years and has many graduates and contacts in numerous agencies and consulting firms in South Australia and nation-wide.
Combined degree options
Combine with
Duration (full-time equivalent)
Bachelor of Innovation and Enterprise
4 years
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice
6 years
Refer to Science and Technology combined degrees for further information.
Career opportunities
What can I do with my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree?
Study a language
Flinders also offers all students the opportunity to major in a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide students with competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to their qualifications. You will complete a total of one extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language. You can apply for this at time of enrolment.
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time) and the honours program an additional year (or the equivalent part-time).
The course is offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Enrolment in the honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the school/department being able to supervise the program of study.
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science may also be studied in a combined degrees program with the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (six years of full-time study or the equivalent part-time) or the Bachelor of Laws (five-and-a-half years of full-time study or the equivalent part-time).
PROGRAM OF STUDY [January, 2009]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study for one of the three major sequences below:
* Coasts and Catchments
* Environmental Forensics
* Global Water Resources
Except with the permission of the Faculty Board, students may not enrol in Second Year topics until they have completed the 18 units of First Year topics required for their designated major and may not enrol in Third Year topics until they have completed all First Year requirements.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
FIRST YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CORE
36 units comprising:
BIOL1102
Molecular Basis of Life
4.5
BIOL1101
Evolution of Biological Diversity
4.5
EASC1101
Earth and Environment 1
4.5
EASC1102
Marine Sciences 1
4.5
ENVR1101
Environmental Sciences 1
4.5
STAT1512
Quantitative Methods for Earth and Environmental Science, or
4.5
CPES1102
Science and Society
4.5
and either
CHEM1101
Chemistry 1A, and
4.5
CHEM1102
Chemistry 1B
4.5
or
CHEM1201
Introduction to Chemistry A, and
4.5
CHEM1202
Introduction to Chemistry B
4.5
SECOND YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CORE
CPES2131
Coasts and Oceans
6
CPES2152
Global Climate Change and Natural Hazards
6
ENVR2100
Environmental Science 2
3
STAT2306
Statistics for Earth and Environmental Science
3
and either
CPES2020
Geological Processes^, or
6
CPES2023
Sedimentary Processes^^
6
THIRD YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CORE
ENVR3100
Environmental Science 3
6
GEOG3013
Geographical Information Systems
6
^ = Offered in odd years only | ^^ = Offered in even years only.
In order to meet the requirements of one of the streams, students must follow one of the following programs over their Second and Third Years. Not all topics will be offered every year.
COASTS AND CATCHMENTS
30 units selected from the following list:
BIOL2112
Aquatic Life Histories
3
BIOL2161
Algal Biology: From Environment to Biotechnology
6
BIOL2171
Behaviour and Ecology
6
BIOL2271
Marine and Terrestrial Animal Diversity, or
3
BIOL2172
Animal Diversity
6
BIOL2272
Marine Biology and Ecology
3
BIOL2330
Basic Microbiology
3
BIOL2341
Animal Disease and Defence
3
BIOL3101
Marine Ecological Processes
6
BIOL3102
Marine Vertebrates
6
BIOL3152
Conservation and Restoration
6
BIOL3380
Animal Behaviour
3
BIOL3390
Vertebrate Palaeontology
6
CPES2019
Earth Sciences Field Camp 1^^, or
(6)
CPES3023
Earth Sciences Field Camp 2^
(6)
CPES3131
Surface Water Hydrology
6
CPES3151
Groundwater and Soil Hydrology
6
CPES3152
Hydrochemistry
6
MATH1201
Introductory Mathematics 1A, or
4.5
MATH1121
Mathematics 1A
4.5
MATH1202
Introductory Mathematics 1B, or
4.5
MATH1122
Mathematics 1B
4.5
and a further 6 units selected from below
ENVS2704
Environmental Systems
6
ENVS3708
Coastal Studies
6
ENVS3722
Environmental Impact Assessment
6
GEOG2006
Australian Environmental Change
6
GEOG3014
Introduction to Remote Sensing
6
GEOG3017
Advanced GIS
6
Some topics not available every year.
^ = Offered in odd years only | ^^ = Offered in even years only.
ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSICS
30 units selected from the following list:
BIOL2122
Comparative Physiology, or
6
BIOL2424
Physiological Systems
3
BIOL2341
Animal Disease and Defence, or
3
BIOL2142
Disease and Immunology
6
BIOL3390
Vertebrate Palaeontology
6
CPES2019
Earth Sciences Field Camp 1^^, or
(6)
CPES3023
Earth Sciences Field Camp 2^
(6)
CPES3131
Surface Water Hydrology
6
CPES3151
Groundwater and Soil Hydrology
6
CPES3152
Hydrochemistry
6
ENVH2004
Biological Chemistry
3
ENVH2009
Legal Studies
3
LEGL3027
Law, Public Health and the Environment
6
MMED3928
Toxicology for Environmental Health*
3
MATH1201
Introductory Mathematics 1A, or
4.5
MATH1121
Mathematics 1A
4.5
MATH1202
Introductory Mathematics 1B, or
4.5
MATH1122
Mathematics 1B
4.5
and a further 6 units selected from below
ENVS2704
Environmental Systems
6
ENVS3708
Coastal Studies
6
ENVS3722
Environmental Impact Assessment
6
GEOG2006
Australian Environmental Change
6
GEOG3014
Introduction to Remote Sensing
6
GEOG3017
Advanced GIS
6
Some topics not available every year.
^ = Offered in odd years only | ^^ = Offered in even years only.
* Students wishing to undertake this topic must complete the prerequisite topics ENVH2004 and (BIOL2260 or BIOL2424).
GLOBAL WATER RESOURCES
Core topics
MATH1201
Introductory Mathematics 1A, or
4.5
MATH1121
Mathematics 1A
4.5
MATH1202
Introductory Mathematics 1B, or
4.5
MATH1122
Mathematics 1B
4.5
24 units selected from the following list:
BIOL2232
Foundations in Microbiology
6
CPES2019
Earth Sciences Field Camp 1^^, or
(6)
CPES3023
Earth Sciences Field Camp 2^
(6)
CPES3131
Surface Water Hydrology
6
CPES3151
Groundwater and Soil Hydrology
6
CPES3152
Hydrochemistry
6
CPES3172
Earth Fluid Dynamics and Modelling
6
and a further 3 units selected below
BIOL2112
Aquatic Life Histories
3
BIOL2271
Marine and Terrestrial Animal Diversity
3
BIOL2272
Marine Biology and Ecology
3
BIOL2330
Basic Microbiology
3
GEOG3015
Digital Image Analysis
3
HONOURS DEGREE
A student who has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, or completed another qualification which the Faculty Board agrees is equivalent, may be accepted for admission to the honours program provided a sufficiently high standard (usually a credit or better) has been achieved in fulfilling the requirements of the bachelors degree. Students who complete the Bachelor of Science with no area of specialisation, or who hold a lesser qualification, may be admitted after completing additional work as prescribed by the Board. Students who withdraw during the honours year will not be permitted to re-enrol as an honours student except with the permission of the Board.
To qualify for the honours degree a student must complete the following program:
36 units comprising:
CPES7005 Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (24 units). Students should enrol in a combination of sub-topics chosen from the following, ensuring that they enrol in 24 units overall.
CPES7005A
Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (6/24 units)
6
CPES7005B
Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (9/24 units)
9
CPES7005C
Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (18/24 units)
18
CPES7005D
Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (12/24 units)
12
CPES7005E
Honours Research Project in Environmental Science (15/24 units)
15
plus two of the following topics:
CPES7030
Professional Practice in Hydrology
6
CPES7106
Advanced Topics in Hydrology
6
CPES7105
Advanced Computational Fluid Modelling
6
CPES7107
Advanced Ocean and Climate Sciences
6
Students may also choose 6 units from other honours level topics approved by the Honours Committee of the School of Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences. In special cases 6 units may be a Third Year level topic if the topic deals with subject matter particularly relevant to the student's research project. This option is subject to approval by the above committee.