Courses

8-Unit Second Majors

Biological Sciences

This major is available to students enrolled in the Environmental Management course only and is designed to cover the key concepts and skills in Biological Sciences.  The core units give an overview of the biodiversity of animals and plants and the evolutionary processes which underlie this diversity. A variety of elective units provide opportunities to explore additional important biological areas and extend important laboratory and field skills. Environmental Management students who complete this major would be likely to expand their employment opportunities into areas involving biodiversity monitoring and biological consultancies.

Biological Sciences Second Major

(for Environmental Management students)

Core Units   Points/unit
SCB2222 Cellular and Molecular Biology 15
SCB2322 Genetics and Evolution 15
SCB2423 Plant Diversity 15
or  
SCB2424 Animal Diversity 15
SCB3523 Plant Physiology and Adaptation 15
or  
SCB3524 Comparative and Environmental Physiology 15

Recommended Electives		  
SCB2423 Plant Diversity  15
SCB2424 Animal Diversity   15
SCB3325 Advanced Ecology 15
SCI1188  Biotechnology 15
SCI2101  Australian Plants 15
SCI2102  Australian Animals 15
SCI2103  Assessing Technologies 15
SCI2201  Invertebrates: Conservation and Ecology 15
SCI3101  Public Understandings of Conservation 15
SCI3120  Natural Sciences Project 

Conservation Biology

Australia's plants, animals and natural communities are not only unique, but are some of the most rich and diverse in the world. Yet, after only 200 years of European colonisation, we have one of the worst species extinction records in the world. There is increasing awareness that the loss of species associated with the degradation of our terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is not only a serious biological loss, but is impacting on Australia's economy and future opportunities. A broader working knowledge of our natural communities, as well as the monitoring practices and applied technologies which assist the conservation of our biodiversity is the focus of this Second Major. The core units are natural complements to your biology or environmental management units, providing you with in-depth knowledge of the Australian fauna and flora and the issues associated with the public understanding of biological conservation and the communication of this increasingly important topic. The electives are wide-ranging, allowing you to add relevant breadth to your skills and knowledge in areas of most interest to you.

Conservation Biology Second Major

Core Units Points/unit
SCB2322 Genetics and Evolution
(for non-Biological Sciences students)		 15
SCI2101  Australian Plants 15
SCI2102  Australian Animals 15
SCI2201  Invertebrates: Conservation and Ecology  15
SCI3101  Public Understandings of Conservation 15
SCM3201 Conservation Biology
(for non-Environmental Management students)		 15

Recommended Electives		  
ACS2122 Aboriginal Perspectives and the Environment  15
MAT1114 Introductory Statistics 15
SCB2423 Plant Diversity 15
SCB2424 Animal Diversity 15
SCI1188  Biotechnology 15
SCI1189  Sustainable Energy Use 15
SCI2103  Assessing Technologies 15
SCI3120  Natural Sciences Project  
SCM2101 Environmental Mapping 15
SCM2201 Soil and Land Processes 15
SCM2202 Applied Aquatic Processes 15

Environmental Chemistry

The well-being of our ecosystems relies not only on the monitoring and conservation of our fauna and flora, but also on the monitoring and maintenance of the chemical balances of nutrients and other naturally-occurring chemicals in our physical environment. Effective maintenance of our wetlands and the fertility of our soils, the prevention of salinity of our agricultural lands all rely on sophisticated chemical measurement. This Second Major focuses on developing your skills and knowledge in the area of environmental monitoring. You will develop expertise with a variety of high-level analytical equipment used to measure a range of important environmental chemical parameters. Project work gives you an opportunity to experience real-world problem-solving within an environmental monitoring context.

Environmental Chemistry Second Major

Core Units Points/unit/
SCC1111 General Chemistry 15
SCC2211 Organic Chemistry 15
SCC2212 Physical Chemistry 15
SCC3313 Analytical Chemistry 1 15
SCC3414 Environmental and Analytical Chemistry 15

Recommended Electives		  
SCC1112 Inorganic Chemistry 15
SCI1188  Biotechnology 15
SCI1189  Sustainable Energy Use 15
SCM2201 Soil and Land Processes  15
SCM2202 Applied Aquatic Processes 15
SCB2222   Cellular and Molecular Biology 15
SCC3415  Project Unit  
SCC3314 Analytical Chemistry 2 15
SCI3120  Natural Sciences Project  

Environmental Management

This major is available to students enrolled in the Biological Sciences course only and is designed to cover the key aspects of environmental management.  Many of the units concentrate on the ecology and management of important environments, such as the marine environment, wetlands, forests and agricultural lands.  Other units enable students to learn general skills and knowledge needed to manage the environment, such as geographic information systems, community liaison, planning and environmental valuation.   Biology students who complete this major would be likely to expand their employment opportunities into areas involving the management of natural resources.

Environmental Management Second Major

(for Biological Sciences students)

Core Units Points/unit
SCM2201 Soil and Land Processes   15
SCM2202 Applied Aquatic Processes 15
SCM3201 Conservation Biology 15
SCM3204 Ecosystem Management  15

Recommended Electives  		  
SCI2257  Water and Wetlands Management  15
SCI2269  Silviculture 15
SCI2369  Timber Harvesting and Utilisation 15
SCI3101  Public Understandings of Conservation 15
SCI3256  Coastal and Marine Management 15
SCM2101 Environmental Mapping 15
SCM2203 Valuing the Environment 15
SCM3202 Environmental Planning  15

Catchment Management

Over the last 200 years our land has been widely exploited for its natural resources.  Much of Australia's temperate woodlands have been cleared for agriculture, the majority of our forests have been logged for timber, and vast areas of our arid and semi-arid lands have had a long history of grazing by imported livestock.  Land degradation associated with this exploitation is well documented - environmental problems such as salinity, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and tree decline are among our most serious.  With this in mind, the major in Catchment Management concentrates on two aspects - the repair of degraded land, vegetation and habitat so that they again become productive and functional in a ecosystem sense, and, secondly, the sustainable usage of land and vegetation resources so that they will supply us with valuable goods and services over the long term.  The last few years has seen a huge increase in employment related to land management, particularly in the areas of catchment management and co-ordination, landcare advice and facilitation, remnant bushland conservation, hands-on revegetation and mine-site management.  The major also has electives related to forest management for those interested in working as forest rangers/officers or plantation workers/managers.  

Catchment Management Second Major

Core Units

Points/unit
SCI2257 Water and Wetlands Management 15
SCI2269 Silviculture 15
SCI3206 Environmental Investigation and Monitoring 15
SCI3301 Catchment Health and Management 15
SCI3302 Ecological Water Requirements 15
SCI2202 Revegetation: Principles and Practices 15

Recommended Electives		  
ACS2122 Aboriginal Perspectives and the Environment  15
SCI2201  Invertebrates: Conservation and Ecology 15
SCI2369  Timber Harvesting and Utilisation  15
SCI3120  Natural Sciences Project 15

Marine & Freshwater Management

Australia's aquatic systems are highly varied and include our rivers, creeks, wetlands, estuaries and a range of marine environments from coral reefs to deep sea environments.  They have been widely exploited and often poorly managed.  This major enables students to learn more about aquatic environments and how they can be more effectively and sustainably managed.   Emphasis is given to the links between aquatic systems and their surrounding landscape, and the need to protect aquatic resources and biodiversity through wisely managing whole catchments.  The main source of employment for those completing this major is with the many government agencies involved in managing aquatic systems, working as researchers, officers, technicians etc.  Students may also find work with research agencies, consulting firms and community groups. 

Marine & Freshwater Management Second Major

Core Units Points/unit
SCM2202 Applied Aquatic Processes
(for non-Environmental Management students)
 15
SCI2257  Water and Wetlands Management  15
SCI3256  Coastal and Marine Management 15
SCI3301  Catchment Health and Management 15
SCI3302 Ecological Water Requirements   15
SCI3356 Fisheries and Aquaculture 15

Recommended Electives		  
ACS2122 Aboriginal Perspectives and the Environment 15
SCB2423 Plant Diversity 15
SCB2424 Animal Diversity 15
SCB3325 Advanced Ecology 15
SCB3523 Plant Physiology and Adaptation 15
SCI1188  Biotechnology 15
SCI2123  Astronomy 15
SCI2201  Invertebrates: Conservation and Ecology 15
SCI2202  Revegetation: Principles and Practices 15
SCI3101  Public Understanding of Conservation 15
SCI3120  Natural Sciences Project 15
SCI3162  Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation  15
SCI3362 Environmental Spatial Information Systems and Modelling 15