Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours)
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) |
| Deakin course code | S465 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment |
| Campus | For students who commenced prior to 2024 |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 095002A Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
*Online students will be required to undertake a compulsory Trimester 3. | |
The final intake to this course version was in 2023. From 2024 please refer to S467 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) handbook entry. 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
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Become a highly skilled graduate ready to tackle global environmental issues such as climate change, sustainability and pollution when you study the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) at Deakin. Gain knowledge across environmental engineering industry areas including waste management, water engineering, catchment management and soil and water remediation. Develop solutions-led technical and professional skills to put you in high demand in this future-focused field.
Environmental engineers address global issues such as climate change, sustainability, waste disposal, water security, utility distribution, pollution and more. Graduates are highly sought after in government and private sectors to provide innovative solutions to these environmental challenges. You will be equipped to assess project impacts on air, water and soil, and to design strategies that minimise adverse effects.
Want to design groundbreaking engineering solutions for a sustainable future?
This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to develop sustainable engineering solutions through project-oriented design-based learning and lab-based practical classes.
You will gain in-depth knowledge across a range of environmental engineering disciplines related to environmental health, water, air and soil quality, water resource management and waste management. This is underpinned by the fundamentals of environmental engineering and the natural and physical sciences, including geography, chemistry, mathematics, environmental science, ecology and hydrology.
By undertaking authentic engineering projects using project-oriented design-based learning (PODBL) in collaboration with industry, you will have the chance to apply scientific and engineering principles to develop innovative, ethical solutions to real-world environmental problems. This type of project-based learning ensures you will gain the practical expertise – as well as the communication, teamwork and project management skills – to graduate job ready for future roles across industry, government or the humanitarian sector.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
In total, expect to dedicate about 10 hours per week to each single credit point unit, and 20 hours per week to each double credit point unit.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) has been designed in accordance with Engineers Australia professional accreditation requirements. Deakin has been awarded provisional accreditation for the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) by Engineers Australia (EA).
Career opportunities
Graduates will be in high demand in this rapidly evolving discipline, addressing global issues like climate change, sustainability and water security across a range of industries:
- air pollution and emissions control
- natural resource management
- environmental protection
- engineering consultancy
- government departments - local, state, and federal
- resources - mining, oil and gas
- waste management and recycling
- water and wastewater treatment.
Participation requirements
In order to satisfy course accreditation requirements, as specified and administered by Engineers Australia, all online enrolled students, or students enrolled online in specific units are required to participate in campus-based learning activities at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) during intensive week each trimester in order to ensure that graduates possess and have demonstrated the minimum necessary knowledge and skill base, engineering application abilities, and professional skills, values and attitudes at successful completion of the course to be sufficiently prepared to enter professional engineering practice.
Attendance and participation in learning activities during intensive week is linked to assessment requirements within the Engineering programmes, and failure to attend may result in students not meeting the hurdle requirement of the respective assessment. This may result in a fail grade being awarded for the respective affected unit(s) for that particular trimester.
International students: Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online. To participate in the mandatory campus based scheduled sessions during the trimester intensive week, it is suggested that you apply for a tourist visa to enter Australia. Please be advised that Deakin University cannot guarantee that you will be granted a tourist visa by the Australian Government.
International students studying online may not be granted a visitor visa to complete mandatory components of the course at a campus.
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.
Articulation and credit transfer
Flexible entry into the course allows students to upgrade their qualifications and to obtain credit for previous studies/experience. Applicants with appropriate TAFE qualifications or other approved post-secondary studies may apply for Recognition of prior learning. Credit may be considered for skills obtained in the workforce or by informal means.
Equipment requirements
Students must have access to a suitable computer and a network connection. The learning experiences and assessment activities within this course may also require that students have access to a range of software. Access to high-cost specialist equipment is provided but students may be required to purchase minor equipment for particular unit(s) as detailed in unit site.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Design, develop, manage and evaluate the sustainability of established and innovative engineering solutions for real-world environmental problems by integrating and applying well-developed knowledge and skills in natural and physical sciences, engineering and project management, and by assessing environmental, social and economic consequences of implementation. Apply professional engineering and scientific techniques to study environmental engineering problems, evaluate the benefits, risks and uncertainty associated with the use of specific environmental engineering approaches and tools, and evaluate the effectiveness of designs and experiments that are used to determine a remedy. Plan and execute practice-based research projects to show capacity for advanced knowledge and skills in the discipline of environmental engineering and thereby demonstrate the ability to continue professional development and scholarship. |
| Communication | Apply effective communication skills in a professional context to interpret, evaluate and present technical engineering information using oral, written, visual modes. Demonstrate proficiency and accuracy in comprehending diverse viewpoints from technical and non-technical stakeholders and present arguments and justifications for representing an engineering position. |
| Digital literacy | Identify, select and use digital technologies and tools relevant to environmental engineering to use, manage, generate and share information, evaluate its reliability, and use the information for engineering design, problem solving and research purposes. Demonstrate the ability to independently and systematically locate and share information, laws, policies and regulations that pertain to the air, water and land environment and its management. |
| Critical thinking | Demonstrate autonomy and judgement through balanced application of logic, intellectual and research criteria to review, analyse, and synthesise information for engineering problem solving. |
| Problem solving | Apply knowledge of natural and physical sciences, and environmental engineering skills and techniques to identify and define complex problems in a variety of contexts. Evaluate and use established engineering methods to identify potential solutions to independently and collaboratively resolve complex, real-world environmental engineering problems and realise solutions. Demonstrate innovative and creative approaches and solutions to environmental engineering problems that are constrained by local, national, global and contemporary issues and show capacity for planning, designing, executing and managing environmental engineering projects. |
| Self-management. | Evaluate own knowledge and skills, professionalism and ethical development using frameworks of reflection and take responsibility for learning and performance. Work responsibly and safely in engineering environments to demonstrate professionalism. |
| Teamwork | Undertake various team roles, work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and utilise effective teamwork skills in order to achieve team objectives. Apply interpersonal skills to interact and collaborate to enhance outcomes through shared knowledge and creative capacity to optimise engineering outcomes. |
| Global citizenship | Formulate sustainable engineering practices by integrating aspects of design, development, management and research competencies through concern for economic, environmental, social and cultural perspectives and values. Evaluate impacts to global environmental systems, engage with global traditions and current trends in environmental engineering practice in order to appreciate diversity, seek equity in outcomes and adopt ethical and professional standards. |
Approved by Faculty Board 27 June 2021
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate.
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- SEJ010 Introduction to Safety and Project Oriented Learning
- SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction
- STP010 Career Tools for Employability.
- thirty 1 (31) credit points of core units *
- one (1) elective unit (1 credit point)
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
*Students without year 12 Chemistry (or equivalent) are required to take 32 credit points of core units, including SLE133 Chemistry in our World.
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin replaces STP050 Academic Integrity from 2025.
Course structure
Core
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points) |
| SEJ010 | Introduction to Safety and Project Oriented Learning (0 credit points) |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| SLE103 | Ecology and the Environment |
| SIT199 | Applied Algebra and Statistics |
| SEB101 | Engineering Physics + |
| SET111 | Sustainable Design |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| SLE155 | Chemistry for the Professional Sciences * |
SEV101 Global Environmental Systems [no longer available for enrolment, alternate unit SEJ104]
| SIT194 | Introduction to Mathematical Modelling |
| SEP105 | Introduction to Programming for Engineers |
* This unit has an assumed strong knowledge of Chemistry. Students without VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 or an equivalent are strongly encouraged to undertake
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
Molecular science is integral to modern environmental engineering. For this reason, knowledge of chemistry is important for all students in the Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) course. Students who have a weak or no knowledge of year 12 Chemistry should study SLE133. Students who have a strong knowledge of Chemistry may proceed directly to SLE155, and choose an elective later in the degree.
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| SEJ202 | Field Investigation (2 credit points)+ |
| SEP291 | Engineering Modelling |
| SEM218 | Fluid Mechanics + |
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| SEV201 | Environmental Health Engineering (2 credit points)+ |
SLE239 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems [No longer available for enrolment, alternate unit SLE245]
| SLE240 | Quantitative Marine Science |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| SEV301 | Water Engineering Design (2 credit points)+ |
| SEV311 | Air Pollution and Control + |
| SEV322 | Hydrology and Hydraulics + |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| SEV331 | Waste Engineering and Transformation Systems (2 credit points) |
SLE319 Environmental Protection and Planning [No longer available for enrolment, alternate unit SLE207]
| SLE342 | Risks to Healthy Environments |
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| SEJ441 | Engineering Project A (2 credit points)~ |
| SEV401 | Integrated Catchment Systems |
Plus 1 elective (one credit point)
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| SEJ446 | Engineering Project B (2 credit points)~+ |
| SEN770 | Infrastructure Engineering |
| SEL703 | Professional Practice #^ |
^ Students are encouraged to complete this unit in Trimester 3 of the third year of study.
# Must have successfully completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point unit)
~ It is recommended students undertake SEJ441 and SEJ446 in consecutive trimesters.
+ Students enrolled online for these units are required to attend campus mode conducted activities during the corresponding Intensive Activities in a trimester. Attendance at campus mode activities is linked to assessment requirements within the Engineering programs, failure to attend will result in not meeting the hurdle requirement of the respective assessment. Thus, a fail grade shall be awarded for the respective affected unit(s) for that particular trimester.
Work experience
Through SEL703 Professional Practice, you will gain industry experience by completing at least 30 to 60 days of practical work experience in an engineering workplace with assessment tasks designed to develop and enhance your understanding of the engineering profession, professional practice and continuing professional development, possible career outcomes, and the opportunity to establish valuable professional networks.
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
You may apply to undertake a study tour to explore and engage in a structured program of study overseas to gain discipline expertise as well as be challenged to develop your personal qualities and global understanding.
Research and research-related study
The key assessment of research and research skills in the programme is through the two linked 2 credit point units in the final year of the course. The first of these units is for students to develop a detailed research proposal and undertake preliminary proof-of-concept or testing of their experimental methods. The second unit is designed to undertake the proposed research and critically evaluate the outcomes of the project. The project is predominantly student-led with direction from an academic supervisor that has expertise in the research field.
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.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.