Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology)
Deakin course code	S399
Faculty	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Campus	For students who commenced prior to 2023
Online	No
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	053749E Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
The final intake to this course version was in 2022. Students should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central for course and enrolment information. Further course structure information can be found in the handbook archive.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study Deakin’s Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology) at our Warrnambool Campus and gain extensive hands-on experience exploring coastal ecosystems and marine environments in an area that has some of the richest biodiversity in Australia. With a biological and ecological focus, this course equips you with the skills and knowledge to sustainably manage precious marine environments in the classroom and through hands-on field trips in beautiful surrounds.

Gain practical experience with hands-on field trips in beautiful surroundings and improve your skills through placement opportunities with prominent marine and environmental organisations. Develop a deep understanding of how marine ecosystems function and skills in modern scientific research methods under the guidance of established scientists, while building professional relationships that can help you when you graduate.

Want to study marine biology in some of the best natural marine and coastal environments in Australia?

Learning through extensive fieldwork in natural marine environments and ecosystems along the Victorian coast, you will gain a distinct advantage over marine biology students studying elsewhere. You will conduct fieldwork in estuaries, intertidal rocky shores, shallow marine habitats and sandy beaches, and develop professional skills in modern scientific research methods, ecological impact assessments and marine and coastal management.

Through this exposure to real-life experiences, you will discover the great diversity that exists in coastal and oceanic ecosystems and learn how to use scientific methods and tools to sustainably manage precious marine environments and resources, relevant in Australia and overseas.

You will have the opportunity to leverage our extensive industry connections to undertake volunteer projects and placements with government and industry organisations including:

Parks Victoria
Catchment Management Authorities
aquaculture industries
environmental consultants
aquariums
Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre

Placements allow you to kickstart your career by networking with potential employers. For those looking to expand their global network, there are also opportunities to gain a broader view of the world by electing to study and volunteer overseas.

This course has a strong ecological focus, linking biological and oceanographic processes in the study of marine environments. You will learn about a range of marine and coastal ecosystems from coral reefs to icebergs, estuaries to oceans, and surf zones to the deep abyss. Through fieldwork you will also directly observe, and investigate, how marine ecosystems function, how marine organisms interact with their living and non-living environments, and how we can identify and measure human impacts on these environments. This will prepare you for the challenges you will face after graduation, so you can enter the workforce with the skills needed to tackle industry problems.

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 graduate with far-reaching knowledge of marine biology and extensive fieldwork experience you will be sought-after in a wide range of roles including:

marine educator (e.g. marine aquaria or ecotourism)
park ranger
fisheries officer
aquaculture technician or manager
marine biology consultant
laboratory technician
local government environmental officer
sustainability project officer
employee of local water authorities and GIS analysts.

The development of transferable soft skills, research skills and critical thinking also makes graduates more broadly employable across the environmental science and management sectors.

Once you’ve gained five years’ experience working in the environmental industry, you may be eligible to become a Certified Environmental Practitioner through the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). Membership details are available on the EIANZ website.

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

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. More information available at Disability support services.

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.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Appreciate the structural make up of coastal and marine environments, their physical and chemical characteristics and interaction to recognise how organisms live and exist in dynamic environments. Articulate the form and functions of organisms and how they manage environmental challenges in highly diverse and dynamic environments. Assess habitats and organisms and recognise sustainability issues and concerns to manage and conserve animals and plants within marine environments and to evaluate sustainability.
Communication	Use appropriate scientific language and formats including written, visual, oral and graphical forms to communicate with a range of audiences, including the general public, environmental managers and scientists. Generate, analyse and present key information in a professional manner with evidence from local, national, and international contributions and contexts.
Digital literacy	Use well developed technical skills and judgement to locate, analyse and synthesise information and responsibly disseminate information using a variety of tools and techniques.
Critical thinking	Locate and evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation, fieldwork investigations and to undertake environmental impact and risk assessment. Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles in the context of aquatic environment.
Problem solving	Identify possible causes, effects and underlying environmental problems, brainstorm potential solutions, and develop criteria for evaluating those solutions. Provide specialist advice to solve environmental problems by designing and planning investigations and using scientific tools and techniques to apply systems and management perspectives to formulate future sustainability and conservation solutions to problems.
Self-management	Work independently and responsibly with initiative and judgement to function safely and professionally in a manner that assimilates feedback and incorporates refection for future learning and ethical practice.
Teamwork	Collaboratively work with others in order to critically analyse, problem solve, develop and manage plans for generating sustainable processes and solutions to manage and conserve the environment.
Global citizenship	Adopt and value multidisciplinary knowledge and perspectives for evaluating, integrating and incorporating strategies and solutions in scoping, planning and managing alternative sustainable solutions from local to global environmental problems. Adopt, appreciate and respect scientific morals and ethics, including working with animals.

Approved by Faculty Board 27 June 2019

Course structure

Core

Level 1 - Trimester 1

STP050 Academic Integrity (0 credit points) [No longer available for enrolment from 2024, alternate unit DAI001]

SLE010

Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

SLE103

Ecology and the Environment

SLE104 The Blue Planet: Water and Life [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE108]

SLE111

Cells and Genes

SLE133

Chemistry in Our World

Level 1 - Trimester 2

STP010

Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points)

SLE121

Environmental Sustainability

SLE105 Marine Pollution and Water Quality [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE128]

SLE163 Marine and Coastal Ecosystems [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE107]

Plus one elective unit (one credit point)

Level 2 - Trimester 1

SLE219 Marine Invertebrates [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE238 or elective]

SLE265 Marine Botany [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE238 or elective]

SLE201

Society and Environment

SLE251

Research Methods and Data Analysis #

Level 2 - Trimester 2

SLE291 Marine Vertebrates [No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE350]

SLE244

Marine Ecology

SLE262 Aquaculture and the Environment {No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE243]

Plus one elective unit (one credit point)

Level 3 - Trimester 1

SLE301

Professional Practice #

SLE304 Geographic Information Systems for Marine Environments {No longer offered for enrolment, alternate unit SLE245]

SLE305

Integrating Marine, Coastal and Catchment Management

Plus one elective unit (one credit point)

Level 3 - Trimester 2

SLE325

Marine Disturbance and Remediation

SLE349

Catchments to Coasts

Plus two elective units (two credit points)

# Must have successfully completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point unit)

Electives

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. Explore the SEBE WIL program.

Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

To broaden your experience of the world, you will have an opportunity to participate in overseas placements and study tours as an elective option in your course.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.