Bachelor of Environmental Science

Why study the Bachelor of Environmental Science at UNE?

The Bachelor of Environmental Science is a unique undergraduate program directly integrated to the protection and conservation of our regional, rural and national environment. It provides graduates with a strong scientific understanding of local to global environmental issues and their management. The program offers a wide range of flexible and personal learning opportunities to develop advanced scientific knowledge and field and laboratory skills related to ecological conservation, air, land, water, plant and wildlife management and protection. Students will engage and work with environmental practitioners, industry and regulators to solve the problems of today with innovative solutions whilst gaining the core attributes to be job ready in a wide range of careers. Local and international field trips give valuable hands on experience.

The Bachelor of Environmental Science provides opportunity for specialisation or majors in conservation ecology, envirobusiness, natural resources management, and remediation and restoration. The program allows a wide choice of elective units in soil, ecological restoration, conservation biology, water, wildlife or vegetation. A fourth year is required for Honours.

An Honours year is available to students with a GPA of 5.5 or better, or a credit average in at least 24 credit points at 300-level in environmental science units. Study leads to the award of Bachelor of Science with Honours with specialisation in the environmental science discipline chosen for study. The BSc(Hons) degree can lead to further postgraduate study.

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Career Opportunities

Examples include positions in museums and herbaria, zoos and botanic gardens; commercial industry and government planning departments; environmental protection agencies; national policy departments, conservation groups, national parks and wildlife management; forestry; water and soil conservation; environmental consultancies; environmental managers, mining (rehabilitation, waste control and treatment); ecotourism, research careers with CSIRO, university and industries.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

3 Years Full-time
Up to 10 years Part-time

FEES

CSP
International

2017 ATAR / OP

72.55 / 12

2018 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 1, On Campus
Trimester 2, Online
Trimester 2, On Campus
Trimester 3, Online

Official Abbreviation BEnvSc
Course Type Undergraduate
CRICOS Code 030480G
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 3 Online
Course Duration
  • 3 Years Full-time
  • Up to 10 years Part-time
2017 ATAR 72.55
2017 OP 12
Fees CSP / International
Total Credit Points 144
Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements.

Entry Requirements

A candidate shall be qualified for admission (see Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Rule and Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Procedures).

Assumed knowledge is dependant on degree subjects chosen, any two units of English, Chemistry, Mathematics.

Recommended studies: Biology.

For students without the recommended background knowledge, the School offers introductory units in Chemistry and Mathematics.

Additional Requirements

Inherent Requirements: Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Advanced standing will not be granted for units ERS381 or SCI395 or WORK300.

Scholarships

The University offers a number of Faculty/College and country scholarships available to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Academic Colours

Malachite Green (BCC 23)

Further Information

You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE

These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Bachelor of Environmental Science in 2018.

Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall be qualified for admission (see Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Rule and the Admission Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework) Procedures).

Additional Requirements

Inherent Requirements

Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.
Advanced standing will not be granted for units ERS381 or SCI395 or WORK300.

Period of Candidature

The period of candidature shall be:
(a) three years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to ten years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 144 credit points with a maximum of 60 credit points at 100-level, at least 36 credit points at 300-level and a maximum of 12 credit points at 400-level.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 72 cps
Complete General Program
OR
ONE Major
72 cps
OR
72 cps
Total 144 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Approved Major

General Program
Conservation Ecology
Envirobusiness
Natural Resources Management
Remediation and Restoration

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements including shall be awarded the Bachelor of Environmental Science.

Exit Pathways

Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates who discontinue their studies in the Bachelor of Environmental Science may be eligible to exit with the Diploma in Science on completion of 48 credit points or the Advanced Diploma in Science on completion of 72 credit points.

Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies must apply for re-admission and will be subject to current course requirements of the Bachelor of Environmental Science. This may mean that students may not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements or external accreditation body requirements.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

The Bachelor of Environmental Science will provide students with a systematic and sound scientific understanding of regional, national and global environmental issues and their management. The course provides for flexible and personal learning with students gaining generic and specialist skills to be job ready in a range of career pathways including environmental protection, conservation, land, wildlife and water management, and further postgraduate study.

Fundamental knowledge, and well-developed field and practical skills, are gained in core units of the degree with four majors (conservation ecology, envirobusiness, natural resources management, remediation and restoration) enabling specialisation.

Industry engagement and experiential opportunities will enable students to operate as competent professionals in a wide range of different environmental science careers.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate a coherent understanding of environmental science by articulating the scientific basis for environmental science and explaining why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry; and explaining the role and relevance of environmental science in society;
  2. exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge of Environmental Science by demonstrating well-developed knowledge of the conceptual and theoretical scientific basis of environmental science; and demonstrating a broad knowledge of multi-disciplinary scientific principles relevant to environmental science;
  3. critically analyse and solve scientific problems by gathering, synthesising and critically evaluating information from a range of sources; designing and planning an investigation; selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical field and/or laboratory techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation; and collecting, accurately recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data;
  4. be effective communicators of environmental science by communicating scientific results, information or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes, and using both written and oral delivery modes; and
  5. be accountable for their own learning and scientific work by being independent and self-directed learners; working effectively, responsibly and safely in an individual or team context; and demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to their disciplinary area and personally practising ethical conduct.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Students will develop a strong multi-disciplinary scientific understanding of regional, national and global environmental issues and principles, and a well-developed capacity for analysis. They will obtain knowledge from lectures, reading materials and by direct experience in practicals and field excursions. Students will be expected to know key terms and concepts to the extent that they can demonstrate and apply them in assessments. Knowledge will be assessed in examinations for some units, and in online tests, practical tasks, oral presentations, essays and reports.

Communication Skills

Students are taught and assessed on a range of different communication types appropriate to science graduates. There is emphasis on the ability to provide clear and accurate descriptions of environmental issues; on writing reports of technical and scientific investigations; and on presenting critical reviews of knowledge. Within the core and prescribed units communication tasks address a range of different audiences and use oral, written and electronic presentation.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is taught in the scientific context of researching the background to a problem, formulating one or more hypotheses in environmental science to be tested, and drawing conclusions from the results of those tests. Many practical assignments are based around this approach. Problem solving skills are also developed in field and laboratory settings where students decide the best approach to performing tasks. This will prepare students for dealing with and solving real-world problems that arise in environmental science and management.

Information Literacy

Students will be taught how to access the literature (especially on-line resources), how to evaluate the robustness of literature sources (discrimination skills) and how to critique available information. Students will then practise these skills through the generation of reports and oral presentations in relation to environmental science.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Students are taught ethical practices in relation to the discipline, including respecting intellectual property rights, ethical behaviour in fieldwork and assessment tasks, and honesty and trust as the basis of the cooperative endeavour of science. Students will be encouraged to act ethically and be socially responsible. These are underlying principles of the discipline of environmental science which reduce, minimise or prevent harm to the environment and its multiple inhabitants. Legal obligations and responsibility will also be integrated into the teaching content.

Lifelong Learning

Students gain confidence in their ability to search for and find sources of information relevant to the discipline. Students will develop the ability to identify, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies and/or study skills in pursuit of ongoing personal and professional development.

Independence and Collaboration

Teamwork is used in classes at all levels, especially in practical work in the field and laboratory. Students develop the skills to work cooperatively, define and achieve common goals, take initiative and assume responsibility for tasks. Students will learn in a professional forum to discuss, calmly and rationally, ideas and concepts, sometimes controversial and sometimes from different points of view. This, in addition to the ability to use the language of the discipline in reasoned argument, is one of the aims of online discussions.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International

For more information, click here

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