C10223v3 Bachelor of Environmental Biology
Award(s): Bachelor of Environmental Biology (BEnvBio)UAC code: 607033 (Autumn session, Spring session, Summer session, Spring session)
CRICOS code: 079561C
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus
Notes
For international students, mid-year (July/August) intake may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the faculty.
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Pathway course
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
The Bachelor of Environmental Biology focuses strongly on ecosystem protection and management, and in practical experience undertaken during field excursions. Students are introduced to the latest findings by lecturers actively engaged in research solutions to environmental problems such as climate change and sustainability. Studies focus on the foundation components of the natural systems, how these systems work, and how detrimental impacts on them can be assessed and recovered.
This course gives students a thorough understanding of the way living organisms function in terrestrial and aquatic environments, acquisition of skills to study them and the ability to detect and assess detrimental effects on the environment such as climate change, pollution and human resource use. Students learn these skills and concepts through a dynamic combination of theory, field and laboratory experiences. Excursions undertaken in the seniors years are particularly valued for the opportunities they provide to consolidate knowledge, apply new skills and learning through experience.
Course aims
This course aims to produce professional environmental scientists with a solid scientific background. Graduates gain skills to detect and assess detrimental effects on their function and the environment through a dynamic combination of theory, laboratory experience and field trips.
Career options
Career options include scientific officer or research scientist in organisations concerned with environmental protection, national parks and wildlife, water and coastal resources, CSIRO, and at universities in research, or as an environmental analysts and consultants. Graduates are also employed by local, state or Commonwealth agencies as education officers, environmental officers or managers of parks, reserves and bushland and consulting firms, as teachers at schools and TAFE, and in the private sector as environmental and sustainability consultants.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 1.1 | Apply: Illustrate the fundamental principles of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and the evolution of life on Earth. |
| 1.2 | Analyse: Assess how ecological processes are influenced by human activity. |
| 1.3 | Synthesise: Design interventions combining the principles of sustainability and conservation to support the protection and management of the environment. |
| 2.1 | Apply: Demonstrate the application of research methods to design appropriate ecological field and laboratory studies to test scientific questions. |
| 2.2 | Analyse: Investigate and critically evaluate scientific evidence and literature. |
| 2.3 | Synthesize: Discover and hypothesize solutions to new and emerging environmental problems. |
| 3.1 | Apply: Demonstrate proficient time management, personal organization, teamwork skills, data collection, laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative modelling, and computer literacy skills. |
| 3.2 | Analyse: Select and use mathematical and statistical approaches to problem-solving and ethical decision-making for biological, ecological, and conservation purposes. |
| 3.3 | Synthesise: Explain the requirements of compliance with workplace health and safety procedures, animal ethics, and environmental impact assessments. |
| 4.1 | Apply: Demonstrate the ability to reflect and make effective judgments about one's own work as a professional environmental scientist. |
| 4.2 | Analyse: Evaluate and use appropriate technological and scientific skills to investigate ecological issues and use initiative to adapt to new situations. |
| 4.3 | Synthesise: Appraise evolving concepts in environmental science, including mainstream and alternative sources of knowledge and technology, to enhance the application of scientific practice and skills in a professional context. |
| 5.1 | Apply: Communicate effectively across a range of technologies, matching the structure and level of communication to the target audience. |
| 5.2 | Analyse: Examine and articulate the role of environmental science within local, regional, and global settings. |
| 5.3 | Synthesise: Use evidence-based approaches to actively engage with communities on complex issues around environmental science matching the structure and level of communication to the target audience. |
| 6.1 | Apply: Demonstrate an appreciation of historical and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges relevant to environmental science. |
| 6.2 | Analyse: Develop cultural awareness for ethical and respectful practices, and when developing community relations. |
| 6.3 | Synthesise: Integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, as both experience and analysis, into professional practice. |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Pathway course
Successful completion of the Insearch Diploma of Science (Life Science) guarantees entry into the course with 48 credit points of recognition of prior learning.
Assumed knowledge
Mathematics; any two units of English; any two units of science.
Course duration and attendance
Students can complete the course over three years of full-time or six years of part-time study. Part-time students are required to attend some classes in daytime hours.
Course structure
Students must complete a total of 144 credit points, made up of 120 credit points of core subjects and 24 credit points of elective subjects. The elective subjects enable students to increase their expertise in other areas of science or in other disciplines in the University. This can be in the form of a specialised 24-credit-point sub-major or by a varied selection of subjects. Students must satisfactorily complete all core subjects and the required number of credit points of elective/sub-major subjects for award of the degree.
Industrial training/professional practice
There are many subjects with a major fieldwork component, and opportunities for practical experience also exist through electives which include a substantial research component or internship.
Students studying this course have an opportunity to undertake an internship subject and receive academic credit for their placement off campus (an external business or research institute) or on campus (UTS research institutes or departments), in a capacity relevant to their academic studies.
Course completion requirements
| STM91002 Foundation stream (Environmental Sciences) | 48cp | |
| STM90739 Core disciplinary subjects (Environmental Biology) | 36cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options: | 6cp | |
| 91118 Fisheries Resources | 6cp | |
| 91170 Microbial Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91126 Coral Reef Ecosystems | 6cp | |
| 91156 Marine Productivity and Climate Change | 6cp | |
| 91157 Marine Communities | 6cp | |
| CBK90577 Sub-major/Electives (Environmental Science) | 24cp | |
| 91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology | 6cp | |
| 91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology | 6cp | |
| Total | 144cp |
Course diagram
Course program
The following example shows a typical full-time program.
| Autumn commencing | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91123 Biocomplexity | 6cp | |
| 68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91149 Geological Processes | 6cp | |
| 91110 Experimental Design and Sampling | 6cp | |
| 91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of electives | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology | 6cp | |
| 91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points of electives | 12cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91120 GIS and Remote Sensing | 6cp | |
| 91116 Wildlife Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91121 Aquatic Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91309 Biodiversity Conservation | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91155 Stream and Lake Assessment | 6cp | |
| 91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
| Select one of the following: | 6cp | |
| 91371 Forest and Mountain Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91370 Semi-arid Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91163 Alpine and Lowland Ecology | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of electives | 6cp | |
| Spring commencing | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| 91161 Cell Biology and Genetics | 6cp | |
| 91123 Biocomplexity | 6cp | |
| 65111 Chemistry 1 | 6cp | |
| 60001 Principles of Scientific Practice | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91107 The Biosphere | 6cp | |
| 91154 Ecology | 6cp | |
| 33116 Statistical Design and Analysis | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of electives | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91363 Animal Behaviour and Physiology | 6cp | |
| 91270 Plant Physiology and Ecophysiology | 6cp | |
| 68041 Physical Aspects of Nature | 6cp | |
| 65621 Environmental Chemistry | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91149 Geological Processes | 6cp | |
| 91110 Experimental Design and Sampling | 6cp | |
| 91116 Wildlife Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91121 Aquatic Ecology | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 91155 Stream and Lake Assessment | 6cp | |
| 91145 Environmental Protection and Management | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 91163 Alpine and Lowland Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91370 Semi-arid Ecology | 6cp | |
| 91371 Forest and Mountain Ecology | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of electives | 6cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 91120 GIS and Remote Sensing | 6cp | |
| 91309 Biodiversity Conservation | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points of electives | 12cp | |
Honours
Honours is available as an additional year to meritorious students.
Professional recognition
Australian Institute for Biology, Australian Ecological Society, Australian Society for Plant Physiology, Australasian Society for Ecotoxicology, Australasian Marine Science Association.
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS