Bachelor of Environmental ScienceInformation for students commencing 2013

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About this Course

The Bachelor of Environmental Science produces graduates who can manage the environment for future generations and focuses on building scientific knowledge and practical skills in land, water, and flora and fauna conservation.

Students can elect to complete an internship as part of the course to gain workplace experience.

As well as lectures and tutorials, students undertake classes in the School’s scientific laboratories that are equipped with advanced analytical equipment and supported by technical staff.

Field trips feature in many units offered in this course, with the University favourably located near a variety of unique study environments including significant wetlands and estuaries, forests, coastal and inland national parks, and urban and rural development.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are employed in national parks and protected area management, environmental protection, environmental impact assessment and monitoring, environmental education and interpretation, sustainable forestry, fisheries management, aquaculture, ecotourism, and land/river/coast care programs; and in the private sector and all tiers of government.

As a combined degree with Education — Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) — career opportunities include secondary teacher of science and an additional teaching subject such as English, mathematics, geography or modern history.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.

Professional Placement

Students can elect to complete an eight-week industry internship with government and industry partners for practical experience, to supplement the theory components of the course.

Major Areas of Study

Bachelor of Environmental Science students can choose from a relevant range of environmental science Majors, including:

Coastal Management provides insights into processes that affect our use of the coastal zone. Students explore the impact of climate change, land use planning, protected area management, economics, and people in the coastal environment.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Management integrates fisheries biology, stock management, habitat protection, and aquaculture studies with environmental management. Students focus on developing strategies to maintain a sustainable fishery/aquaculture enterprise. Some third year subjects for this major will be taught as intensive residential courses at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour.
Environmental Resource Management prepares graduates to work in areas such as protected area management, catchment management and environmental restoration. Students learn how to conduct wildlife surveys, conserve fauna and flora and rehabilitate degraded land for future generations.

Course Structure and Units (Subjects)

Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Environmental Science a total of 288 credit points (usually 24 units) must be completed.

This course offers intermediate awards (early exit points) at Diploma and Associate Degree levels.

Please note that some majors and units may not be available at each location. Unit availabilities are published for each study period and vary from year to year. Please contact the School for further information.

For course rules and a full list of units, please refer to the Specific Award Rules below.

Course Summary

Locations	Distance education students must attend the compulsory on-campus residential workshops in Lismore for specific units that include lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes and field trips.
Distance Education	Session 1 Session 2
Lismore	Session 1 Session 2
Coffs Harbour	Unavailable
Gold Coast Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga	Unavailable
Course Duration	3 years full-time; 6 years part-time * May be completed in a shorter duration subject to unit availabilities.
Fees and Charges	• Domestic fees • International fees • Additional fee information
School	School of Environment, Science and Engineering
Admission, Enrolment and General Enquiries	scu.edu.au/enquiries
Further Information	Domestic applicants: Ph: 1800 626 481 International applicants: Ph: +61 2 6620 3876; E: intoff@scu.edu.au

Total Units:	Award Abbreviation:	2013 ATAR equivalent/OP:
24	BEnvSc	68/15
UAC Course Code	QTAC Course Code	CRICOS Course Code
Lismore: 334100	Lismore: 054001	Lismore NSW: 016152G

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Teaching Methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes, field trips, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our distance education study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Distance education students must also attend the compulsory on-campus residential workshops in Lismore for specific units that include lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes and field trips.

Learning Resources

MySCU is a student’s point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.

The web-based program Blackboard Collaborate delivers advanced on-line learning environments for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces and classrooms. They can share files, presentations, and applications. If the session is recorded, students can view it afterwards.

Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and books of readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.

The SCU library provides a wide range of services including librarian assistance, print and electronic resources, a document delivery service, catalogues, databases, ebooks, ereadings, and full-text journal literature.

The Academic Skills Development team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one support.

Assessment Methods

Assessments vary for each unit and may comprise a mix of assessment types, including laboratory and readings-based assignments, seminar presentations, field and investigation reports, and formal practical and written examinations.

Equipment and Facilities

Southern Cross University provides students with modern well equipped teaching spaces such as lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs of specific study disciplines. Contemporary audiovisual equipment is standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for individual study purposes.

Environmental Science students have access to science laboratories across a range of scientific disciplines. The laboratories feature advanced analytical equipment, especially for geochemistry, microscopy and genetic analysis. The University also provides a large collection of general sampling and field equipment including: several boats and 4WD vehicles, fish and animal sampling equipment, sediment samplers, diving equipment and an underwater video recorder, geotechnical and geochemical data collection equipment, and a portable weather station and data loggers.

How to Apply

Pre-requisite Year 12 subjects

There are no pre-requisite subjects required for this course.

On-campus Undergraduate applications

To apply to study an undergraduate degree at a SCU campus, apply online through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). For more information please visit either the UAC or QTAC websites: www.uac.edu.au or www.qtac.edu.au. A late fee applies for UAC and QTAC applications received after the 30th of September.

Apply with QTAC

Apply with UAC

Direct Applications

Apply Online

The following applications to study can be made online, directly to SCU:

Undergraduate courses by distance education and all honours courses
All postgraduate by coursework courses
Higher degrees by research

Online applications for the Bachelor of Environmental Science involve four key steps:

Register your details to create an account or login to access your applications
Select the exact course you want to apply for
Answer the questions and submit documents
Submit your application

Once registered you can exit and return to your application at any time.

International Applicants

Please refer to the International Office website.

International Applicants

Advanced Standing

At Southern Cross University, your previous study or work experience may help you cut time off your degree.

Recognition of Previous Study
Advanced standing may be granted to a student for tertiary studies successfully completed within the last ten years at this university or at another approved post secondary institution including TAFE, private providers or other universities.
Recognition of Professional Experience
Advanced standing may be granted on the basis of current professional-level experience, skills or expertise that are deemed to be equivalent to Southern Cross University units available in this course.

We recommend that you apply for advance standing at the same time as you apply for admission into this course, because the amount and type of credit awarded will determine your study plan.

For more details and how to apply please visit the Advanced Standing website.

Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Management
Bachelor of Environmental Science with Honours
Bachelor of Forest Science and Management
Bachelor of Marine Science and Management
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Master of Environmental Science and Management

Specific Award Rules

Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

4.1 Requirements for an Award

To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Environmental Science a candidate shall successfully complete not less than twenty four (24) units comprising:
1. all units listed in Part A of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
2. for candidates undertaking a major in either Coastal Management, Environmental Resource Management or Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, the relevant eight (8) unit major sequence from Part B and seven (7) elective units, which may include units from Parts B and C of the Schedule of Units, or other approved units.
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Environmental Science with a double major a candidate shall successfully complete not less than twenty-eight (28) units comprising:
1. twenty-four (24) units as defined in Rules 4.1(a) above; and
2. four (4) units from a major not already completed, listed in Part B of the Schedule of Units.
A candidate who, while enrolled for a Bachelor of Environmental Science:
1. has successfully completed eight (8) units from Part A of the Schedule of Units, with no more than four (4) units awarded as Advanced Standing may elect to be awarded the Diploma of Environmental Science following withdrawal from candidature for the Bachelor Degree; or
2. has successfully completed the requirements for the Associate Degree of Environmental Science may elect to be awarded the Associate Degree of Environmental Science following withdrawal from candidature for the Bachelor Degree.

4.2 Advanced Standing

Candidates who, within three months of:
1. successfully completing all the requirements for the Associate Degree of Environmental Science elect to enrol for the Bachelor of Environmental Science may be granted advanced standing for up to sixteen (16) units; or
2. successfully completing the requirements for the Diploma of Environmental Science, elect to enrol for the Bachelor of Environmental Science may be granted advanced standing for eight (8) units.
Candidates who have vocational, employment or other relevant work experience may be granted advanced standing for up to four (4) units provided that the work, units or experience so completed are considered to be equivalent to a unit or units in the Schedule attached to these Rules.
Candidates who, within three months of completing all the requirements for the bachelor of Environmental Science, elect to enrol for the Bachelor of Environmental Science with a double major may be granted advanced standing for up to twenty-four (24) units.