Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability)

2016 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Career opportunities
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

Environmental management is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on finding solutions to the world's most pressing environmental problems. Throughout the degree, you’ll explore ways to manage the interaction between people and the environment, as well as how to satisfy society’s needs for clean water, fresh air and healthy soils through the sustainable use of natural resources.

You’ll learn valuable field skills in environmental science: assessing and interpreting data, and using techniques such as global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. You’ll also look at climate systems and the impact of human activity on these systems, explore the role that science plays in environmental sustainability and examine the historical and contemporary context of Indigenous people’s engagement in natural resources management. Plus, we’ll teach you how to plan, manage and evaluate environmental projects.

You’ll also have the opportunity to steer your studies towards your interests and career aspirations by choosing elective units in areas such as wildlife management, coastal and marine management, environmental health and environmental sustainability.

With an emphasis on fieldwork and industry-based learning, you’ll graduate with practical skills that can be directly applied to your future career. You’ll be qualified to work in areas such as wildlife and conservation, environmental management, pollution control, land rehabilitation and marine and freshwater biology.

Once you’ve gained experience working in the environmental industry, you’ll be eligible to become a Certified Environmental Practitioner through the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.

Units in the course may include assessment hurdle requirements.

Career opportunities

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability) degree you may choose to pursue opportunities in a wide variety of careers such as environmental planning, environmental policy, sustainability, environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation, industry-based environmental management, waste management, environmental education, catchment management, water resource management,  land rehabilitation, pollution control, environmental science, conservation, and coastal and park management.

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 food and accommodation while on fieldwork.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability), 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 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:

• 15 core units
• 9 elective units
• Completion of SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit-point compulsory unit)
• Completion of STP010 Introduction to Work Placements (0 credit-point compulsory unit)
• No more than 10 credit points at level 1
• At least 14 credit points over levels 2 and 3 with a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3

Course structure

Core

Level 1 - Trimester 1

plus two elective units 

Level 1 - Trimester 2

plus two elective units

Level 2 - Trimester 1

plus one elective unit

Level 2 - Trimester 2

plus two elective units

Level 3 - Trimester 1

plus one elective unit

Level 3 - Trimester 2

plus

plus one elective unit

# Must have successfully completed STP010 Introduction to Work Placements (0 credit point unit)

Course structure

Electives

Select from the range of elective units offered across many courses, including, in some cases, the option to choose elective units from a completely different field (subject to meeting unit requirements).