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Environmental Science
MJRH-ADENV

Environmental Science (Advanced)

Undergraduate major

The Environmental Science major (BAdvSci) (Honours) provides a flexible and personalised approach to studying environmental science with students able to explore the field through opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects.

See full course structure
  • ATAR
    Minimum ATAR 95
  • Qualification
    Environmental Science Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)
  • Credit
    800
See full course structure

Check the application deadline for the parent course

See full course structure

Why study Environmental Science (Advanced) at Curtin?

Top 1 %

Curtin is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.

Academic Ranking of World Universities 2022.

Get the Curtin edge

Access to leadership programs, specialist facilities and industry placements give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Global education

You’ll have access to a range of international study opportunities.

Outline

Outline

Global environmental problems require innovative solutions from creative thinkers with a deep scientific understanding of the environment, including its underlying physical, chemical and biological processes. Environmental scientists focus on applying scientific techniques to study interactions between people and the rest of the world, including living and non-living environments.

This major is part of the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours). It provides a flexible and personalised approach to studying environmental science. You'll be able to explore the field through immersive research experiences, industry placement and/or interdisciplinary team-based projects. You'll have opportunities to undertake internal and external internships and source immersive work experience, which can be used for course credit.

Your first years of study provide a foundation for studying the physical, chemical and biological conditions of various environments and their effects on organisms.

Later, you’ll cover topics such as conservation biology and sustainability, chemical structure and spectroscopy, ecotoxicology, analytical chemistry, environmental impact assessment, environmental restoration, ecology and environmental geoscience.

You'll complete your studies with a capstone experience.

See our handbook for more course information. 

How this course will make you industry ready

  • You'll have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of industry experts.
  • Through embedded research and industry engagement you'll have the opportunity to investigate multiple areas of specialisation and tailor you final year experience that prepares you for the industry of your choice.

What jobs can the Environmental Science Major (BAdvSci) (Honours) lead to?

  • Conservation scientist
  • Environmental scientist
  • Life scientist
  • Mine restoration consultant
  • Natural resource manager
  • Remediated lands consultant

What you'll learn

  • Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the nature of science, its methods and processes, and an advanced knowledge in environmental science area; contribute new knowledge to the field of Environmental Science.
  • Critically analyse challenging and multi-faceted environmental problems, address them by applying practical and theoretical tools; critically evaluate findings within the current body of disciplinary knowledge.
  • Access and make judgements on the value of available knowledge using a variety of tools, and incorporate them into the planning, conduct and communication of their own work.
  • Communicate approaches and solutions, ideas and findings to informed professional scientific and industry audiences.
  • Use established and emerging technologies related to Environmental Science and apply them within the context of the profession.
  • Engage in self-driven continuous discipline and professional education and training in Environmental Science.
  • Participate in the generation and application of science in addressing global problems; demonstrate compliance with international ethical and professional standards.
  • Work collaboratively and respectfully with scientists from a range of cultural backgrounds and understand the cultural issues that impact research in Environmental Science or the broader profession.
  • Be able to work as an independent environmental scientist and collaboratively within teams either as a professional leader or collaborator using effective problem solving and decision making skills within the professional context of their area of study.

Professional recognition

Depending on the area of specialisation, graduates will be eligible for membership of the Australian Institute of Biology, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Australian Mathematics Society or the Australian Institute of Physics.

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

  • Minimum ATAR 95

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Biology ATAR

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

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

    Not accepted

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

    Not accepted

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 95

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Biology 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

    Not accepted

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 95

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Biology 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

  • Minimum ATAR 95

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR, Chemistry ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Biology 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 Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

Apply now