Bachelor of Marine Science
2019 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2019 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Marine Science |
| Campus | Offered at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Cloud Campus | No |
| Duration | 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Deakin course code | S337 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
New course commencing Trimester 1 2020 | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
Course overview
Study Marine Science at Deakin’s Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus and you will gain essential knowledge and skills in ocean systems and resources through a multidisciplinary approach in the areas of marine microbiology and genomics, oceanography, coastal processes, marine modelling, marine biology, marine ecology, fisheries and aquaculture. This course will provide you with the skills required to join the greater marine science community using new marine technologies and innovative approaches to help protect and drive the sustainable future of the world’s oceans.
Learn from expert marine science teaching staff in well-equipped laboratories and facilities; equipped for analytical chemistry, molecular biology, genomics and microbiology. The course incorporates hands-on practical activities located at Queenscliff, which gives you direct access to the Great Southern Reef; where rocky shores, seagrass beds, mangroves, subtidal reefs, and iconic surf beaches will become your classroom.
Indicative student workload
Students can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, field trips, practicals and online interaction. Individual unit details in the course structure provide specific information relating to teaching activities in each unit. Students also need to study and complete assessment tasks in their own time.
Career opportunities
As a marine scientist, you will gain skills across multi-disciplinary areas which allow for a diverse range of career opportunities in both research and applied fields in areas such as oceanography, marine biochemistry and biotechnology, fisheries, remote sensing, marine biology and ecology, microbiology and genomics, mathematics or economics. Further postgraduate studies including research training can lead to students becoming research scientists in a specific field of marine science.
Participation requirements
Students are required to complete units in Trimester 3.
Students enrolled at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus will be required to undertake some of their practical learning experiences at the Queenscliff Marine Research Centre.
Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.
Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Course expenses
In addition to student contribution fees, students should be aware that they may be required to meet their own expenses in connection with travel, food and accommodation while on fieldwork.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Contribute scientific predictions, observations, innovation and knowledge towards a world-wide, sustainable blue economy by integrating and applying well-developed, multidisciplinary knowledge in the marine science field. Apply technical capabilities, including emerging marine technology and innovation and use them in a range of problem solving activities in a professional and/or academic setting within the field of marine science. |
| Communication | Use appropriate scientific language and formats including written, visual, oral and graphical forms to communicate and engage with a broad spectrum of society, such as those in industry, policy, regulation and the community. Generate, analyse and present key information in a professional manner with evidence from local and global contributions and contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Use well developed technical skills and judgement to retrieve, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information using a variety of tools and techniques. Apply quantitative skills in marine science using software programs associated with computational science and system dynamics |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation, fieldwork investigations. Use analytical thinking and judgement to evaluate, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles in the field of marine science. |
| Problem solving | Apply traditional, emerging and innovative approaches and information to scope and solve real world (authentic) problems in marine science. Evaluate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions for authentic marine science issues taking in account human dimensions of conservation management. |
| Self-management | Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices. |
| Teamwork | Work in various team roles and also work collaboratively in a team to contribute towards achieving team goals. Apply interpersonal skills to interact and collaborate effectively to enhance outcomes in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts. |
| Global citizenship | Recognise the role, relevance and ethical implications of marine science in society and apply cultural, economic and social awareness, including those of indigenous people. Adopt, appreciate and respect scientific morals and ethics, including working with animals. |
Approved by Faculty Board 14 March 2019
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Marine Science, students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 24 credit points, you’ll need to study and successfully complete 24 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises a total of 24 credit points which must include the following:
- 17 core units (totalling 17 credit points)
- 7 credit points of elective units
- level 1 - maximum of 10 credit points
- levels 2 and 3 - minimum of 14 credit points over both levels
- Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit point compulsory unit)
- Completion of SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit point compulsory unit)
- Completion of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.
Course structure
Core
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| STP050 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| SLE107 | Marine Environments |
| SLE111 | Cells and Genes |
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
Plus one elective unit
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| SLE108 | Ocean Processes |
| SIT190 | Introductory Mathematical Methods |
| STP010 | Introduction to Work Placements (0 credit points) |
Plus two elective units
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| SLE236 | Marine Microbiology |
| SLE238 | Marine Biology |
| SLE251 | Research Methods and Data Analysis |
Plus one elective unit
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| SLE240 | Analysing Marine Dynamics |
| SLE262 | Aquaculture and the Environment |
Plus one elective unit
Level 2 - Trimester 3
| SLE242 | Quantitative Marine Ecology |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| SLE301 | Professional Practice # |
| SLE304 | Geographic Information Systems: Uses in Aquatic Environments |
| SLE345 | Oceanography + |
Plus one elective unit
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| SLE315 | Marine Animal Physiology |
| SLE327 | Fisheries Science + |
| SLE328 | Oceans, Coasts and Climate Change |
Plus one elective unit
+ available at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) from 2021
# Must have successfully completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point unit)
Course structure
Recommended elective
SIT194 Introduction to Mathematical Modelling
Select from a range of elective units offered across many courses. In some cases you may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).
It is important to note that some elective units may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.
Work experience
The course includes a compulsory professional practice unit that requires you to undertake at least 80 hours of work experience in a course-related host organisation. You’ll gain practical experience by completing a two week placement at a course-related host organisation to provide you with opportunities for workplace visits, field trips, industry learning and to establish valuable networks – giving you better insight into your possible career outcomes.
You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a discipline-specific industry placement as part of your course. deakin.edu.au/sebe/wil.
Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.