Course structure
A first-year sequence in physical geography is comprised of GES1000 followed by GES1020. A second-year sequence is made up of subjects to the value of at least sixteen points drawn from those listed below. A third-year sequence comprises subjects to the value of at least twenty-four points chosen from those listed below.
It is strongly recommended that students wishing to major in environmental science take a core course sequence comprising two first-year subjects from geography (GES1000 and GES1020) together with two from biology (BIO1011 and BIO1022; BIO1042 if available). Subjects to the value of a further twenty-four points should be drawn from other disciplines such as mathematics, chemistry, geology or physics. At least twelve points should be from one of these disciplines.
At second-year level, it is recommended that students take GES2130 in the first semester and GES2250 in the second semester along with life science subjects LSC2011 and LSC2022 as the core, together with a further sixteen points from related disciplines.
At third-year level the choice of majoring discipline is left open, but it is recommended that students major in one of the core subjects, or in subjects consistent with that core. It is also recommended that students should become conversant with the social, political and economic context of environmental problems by including in their degree at least some subjects chosen from the human geography range of offerings, particularly GES1040 and GES3350. (See the Faculty of Arts handbook for details).
Students may major jointly in physical geography and environmental science.
Credit may be given for subjects at other institutions which offer either relevant subjects in environmental science or environmental studies and/or closely allied disciplines.
Geography subject offerings
Available to both physical geography and environmental science streams.
First year
Coordinator: Mr Stephen Legg
* GES1000
* GES1020
Second year
Coordinator: Associate Professor Jim Peterson
Prerequisites: GES1000 and GES1020, or permission of head of department.
Students must choose at least two of the following subjects:
* GES2130
* GES2150
* GES2170
* GES2190 (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES2250
* GES2390
Third year
Coordinator: Dr Nigel Tapper
Prerequisites: Sixteen points of second year physical geography or permission of head of department.
Students must choose at least two of the following subjects:
* GES3350
* GES3360
* GES3390
* GES3510
* GES3530 (subject to staff availability)
* GES3550
Fourth year
Coordinator: Associate Professor James S Whitelaw
Students who have achieved a standard of at least a credit level in the third-year subjects in physical geography or environmental science may enrol for the honours degree. There are three different parts of the honours year course: GES4820, GES4840 and GES4860
Students wishing to take a BSc honours degree in environmental science will normally be required to attend ENV8160 in the fourth year. Course programs in the honours year will be approved by the coordinator in conjunction with advice from related disciplines.
An honours degree in environmental science with a final grade of IIA or better will allow students wishing to take the MEnvSc degree offered by the Graduate School of Environmental Science to enter that degree program on an accelerated basis. Such students will be credited with the equivalent to the first year of the MEnvSc, subject to their satisfying course requirements in group decision-making and in the philosophy of environmental issues.