Apply for Earth Sciences Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)

Earth Sciences
MJRH-ADESC

Earth Sciences (Advanced)

Undergraduate major

This course provides a flexible and personalised approach to studying Earth sciences.

This offering version is phasing out and no longer taking applications. You may be able to apply for a later version.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Guaranteed ATAR 95
  • Qualification
    Earth Sciences Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)
  • Credit

    Credit

    800
Course outline

Outline

Outline

Earth scientists are essential to the safe management of the environment, and to the discovery and sustainable extraction of mineral and energy resources. They use sophisticated instruments to determine the properties of Earth and planetary materials, and to help understand the evolution of the Earth and the controls and direction of its climate and biosphere.

This course provides a body of knowledge in Earth sciences and the skill sets for careers in a range of industries involved with Earth materials and planetary systems. These skills are gained in Curtin’s Earth sciences research groups and laboratories that are among the most highly ranked and best-equipped in Australia.

This course's flexible and personalised approach to learning enables you to explore the field of Earth sciences through opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects.

In your capstone experience you’ll have the opportunity to pursue Earth and planetary science projects ranging from pure research through to translational (entrepreneurial) science.

This is a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) course, designed for high-performing science students. If students do not maintain the academic standard required, they will be recommended to transition to the Bachelor of Science (Applied Geology).

See our handbook for more course information. 

How this course will make you industry ready

You'll have opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects. Your capstone experience offers the opportunity to pursue an earth and planetary science research project.

What jobs can the Earth Sciences (Advanced) lead to?

Careers

  • Environmental geoscientist
  • Geochemist
  • Geologist
  • Geotechnical engineer
  • Hydrogeologist

Industries

  • Environmental consultancy
  • Climate science
  • Geotechnical services
  • Mineral exploration and mining
  • Petroleum exploration
  • Research and development

What you'll learn

  • demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the nature of science, its methods and processes, and apply advanced scientific principles and concepts to contribute new knowledge in Earth Science
  • analyse challenging and multi-faceted problems in Earth Science using practical and theoretical methods to find solutions that integrate new and established knowledge
  • access and make judgements on the value and reliability of existing Earth Science data, and use them to plan, conduct and communicate their own research
  • communicate approaches, ideas, findings and solutions concisely and coherently to professional audiences
  • employ appropriate technologies to address complex research questions in Earth Science, recognising their strengths and limitations
  • demonstrate intellectual independence and take advantage of continuing education and professional training opportunities in Earth Science
  • consider Earth Science problems from a global perspective and demonstrate compliance with international ethical and professional standards
  • work collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues from a range of backgrounds and recognise the cultural issues that impact research in Earth Science
  • work independently and in teams as a research leader or collaborator, managing time and other resources efficiently and effectively

Why study Earth Sciences (Advanced)

Get the Curtin edge

Learn in highly ranked and exceptionally equipped research groups and laboratories.

Cutting-edge

You’ll be taught by passionate academics who are also active researchers making important contributions to their field.

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 95

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Chemistry ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7.0

Speaking

7.0

Reading

7.0

Listening

7.0

Overall band score

7.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 95

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Chemistry ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7.0

Speaking

7.0

Reading

7.0

Listening

7.0

Overall band score

7.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    Not accepted. VET study cannot meet the equivalent ATAR requirement.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 95

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Chemistry ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7.0

Speaking

7.0

Reading

7.0

Listening

7.0

Overall band score

7.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  • Attained an ATAR of 95; or
  • Completed 200 credits over one year, with a course weighted average (CWA) of 80% or higher; and
  • Met the prerequisites.

Maths Methods prerequisites can be met with:

  • Maths Methods ATAR or equivalent; or
  • MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus
  • MATH1015 Linear Algebra 1 with a final mark of at least 70; or
  • MATH1016 Calculus 1 or
  • MATH1017 Accelerated Mathematics 1

The Chemistry prerequisite can be met with:

  • Chemistry ATAR or equivalent; or
  • CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry and CHEM1005 Introduction to Biological Chemistry.

Higher education course switcher criteria

This course has a semester one intake only. Please refer to the TISC website for more information.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 95

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Chemistry ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7.0

Speaking

7.0

Reading

7.0

Listening

7.0

Overall band score

7.0

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool
Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and charges

Please view the degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

Frequently asked questions

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  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: MJRH-ADESC
  • Last updated on: 28 March 2024

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Apply for Earth Sciences Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)