wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Oct 28 14:26:02 EST 1998
Auth: C Whip, University Webmaster's Office
Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
Students enrolling in earth sciences subjects will gain an understanding of:
Earth
science is an interdisciplinary science comprising the sub-disciplines of
geology, geochemistry, geophysics, environmental geoscience, computational
geoscience and palaeontology. These subjects are fully interdisciplinary and
reflect the diverse nature of geological and geophysical science.
The application of chemical, physical, mathematical, biological and computing
principles forms the basis of these subjects, and allows students to identify
specific aspects of earth sciences, and the sciences in general, which may be
pursued in detail in the later years of study. Earth science-based careers span
fuel and mineral exploration and extraction industries, engineering geology and
hydrogeology, government surveys, environmental studies, marine science,
teaching and research in universities and many other organisations.
First-year students should include twelve-point options in each of earth
sciences and mathematical methods, and at least one of chemistry, physics,
biology and physical geography. Those with an ultimate aim to specialise in
palaeontology preferably should take biology. Those with interests in
environmental science are advised to take biology and chemistry. Those with
interests in geophysics are advised to take physics. First-year students who
intend to major in geology are strongly advised to discuss their curriculum
with members of the Earth Sciences staff.
Second-year geology studies should include at least sixteen points of geology
by combining ESC2011 (Crustal processes) with ESC2022 (Petrology). Both of
these are prerequisites for third-year geology studies. In addition at least
one other second-year coherent package of sixteen points from another
department (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Computer
Science, Geography) should be taken. The remaining sixteen points of the
forty-eight credit points may also be taken in this way, or made up of
individual eight and/or four-credit point subjects. Additional options in the
Department of Earth Sciences are four-point subjects ESC2031, ESC2061, ESC2042.
It is strongly recommended that ESC2061 and at least one other of these
four-point subjects be taken by students proceeding to third-year earth
sciences studies. BSc(Environmental) and Bachelor of Environmental Science
students may choose ESC2042 as part of the environmental geoscience stream.
Students intending to major in geophysics are recommended to take sixteen
points in each of earth sciences, mathematics and physics.
Third-year geology studies can involve forty-eight point or twenty-four point
programs. If twenty-four points are taken in geology or geophysics the
remaining twenty-four points may be made up according to faculty course
requirements. BSc(Environmental) and Bachelor of Environmental Science students
or geology and geophysics students interested in the environment may choose the
environmental geoscience subject .
Students majoring in geology may combine geophysics with geology in third year.
Those requiring a smaller geophysics component may take geophysics subjects as
part of their geology studies concentrating on resource subjects (ore deposits,
petroleum) which include a basic geophysics component.
Geophysics involves the application of physics, mathematics and computing to
the interpretation of the subsurface structure and distribution of rock types
and resources using electronic instrumentation and computational data
processing techniques. Students majoring in geophysics are encouraged to choose
a second major in either geology, mathematics or physics.
Upon satisfactory completion of third-year degree requirements, honours or
masters stage one programs are recommended for suitably qualified students in
geology and geophysics, to enhance substantially professional opportunities.
The honours program is a one-year course, the basis of which is a research
project. The MSc stage one course is a combination of coursework and research,
and providing progress is satisfactory at the end of the year, allows entry
into the full masters program, which normally involves one additional year of
study by coursework and/or research.
Coordinators: Ms Marion Anderson and Dr D C 'Bear' McPhail
ESC1011 is of interest to students seeking a broad overview of earth and environmental sciences. There are three one-hour lectures and one three-hour practical session per week, and a one-day field excursion in the middle of the semester. Practical sessions illustrate and enhance material covered in the lectures.
ESC1022 continues to provide an overview of earth and environmental sciences, in particular an introduction to processes which have shaped the earth's crust through its evolution. The subject consists of three one-hour lectures and one three-hour lab each week, together with two field excursions and a research seminar. Practicals illustrate and enhance material covered in the lectures.
Coordinator:
Dr David Lambert
Prerequisites: ESC1011 and ESC1022.
The second-year earth sciences program builds on the basic material presented
in the first-year earth sciences subjects and provides an introduction to the
more detailed studies of the third-year earth sciences subjects.
The mainstream program consists of a detailed examination of the
characteristics of rocks and minerals, and how they form. It is also an
introduction to the ways in which geoscientists reconstruct the physical and
chemical conditions and processes that existed in the geological past. The
manner in which rocks deform and the interpretation of tectonic structures and
processes is an important part of the program; in addition the processes by
which mineral and ore deposits form are introduced.
The department offers two eight-point and nine four-point subjects. Students
planning to take earth sciences in third year are required to do ESC2011
(Crustal processes) and ESC2022 (Petrology) which will be offered sequentially
in first and second semester. Such students will be expected to have completed
the prerequisite first-year subjects ESC1011 and ESC1022. Students with better
than average academic records may be permitted to enrol in the mainstream
second-year earth sciences program without these prerequisites with the
permission of the head of department. In addition to ESC2011 and ESC2022,
students intending to take earth sciences in third year are strongly advised to
complete ESC2061 (Field geology). Other four-point subjects listed below are
available to those students who are geologically inclined.
ESC2011, ESC 2061 and ESC2022 will also be available to students wishing to
take them as independent subjects to support other studies. Students with
interests in any of the second-year geology subjects and not intending to
proceed to third-year earth sciences studies may take any subject or
combination of subjects.
The other four-point subjects offered are ESC2042 (Environmental
geoscience I), and ESC2032 (Vertebrate life on planet earth).
The department offers three four-point subjects for students enrolled in the
Bachelor of Environmental Science, BSc(Env) and Faculty of Arts. These subjects
are ESC2081 (Sedimentation, stratigraphy and biostratigraphy), ESC2091
(Structural geology, tectonics and geophysics) and ESC2102 (Crystallography,
optics and mineralogy). These subjects may also be taken by science students
but they count as extra-faculty subjects in completing BSc course requirements.
Coordinator:
Dr David Gray
Prerequisites: ESC2011 and ESC2022.
The third-year program in earth sciences consists of six-point subjects in
geology, geophysics and environmental geoscience. Units within the subjects can
be taken in a number of combinations depending on the student's interests;
however, the combinations mainly fall into two main sequences, geology and
geophysics.
The usual number of contact hours in formal lecture/practical and/or seminar/discussion units is five hours per week (two one-hour lectures, one three-hour practical session, or equivalent). Geology units without fieldwork requirements are normally twelve weeks in length, as are all geophysics units. The remaining week in each semester is available to students for final revision. Other geology units which include one to five-day field excursions contain correspondingly fewer weeks of formal coursework; hence all units have similar total workloads.
In general, assessment of coursework units will be on the basis of theory and/or practical examinations during the end-of-semester examination periods, in-subject practical work and/or short practical tests. The field camp and geology project subjects will be assessed primarily on the basis of written reports.
Students intending to become professional earth scientists may take forty-eight points in geology and environmental geoscience or combine two twenty-four point subjects in geology and geophysics (see below) within the Department of Earth Sciences. Students who are primarily interested in earth sciences, but who also wish to maintain or explore interests in other disciplines may combine a twenty-four point sequence in another discipline provided they meet the degree requirements of the Faculty of Science.
Under special circumstances, ESC3180 (Field camp) can be taken as a first-semester subject (by permission of third-year coordinator).
Relevant third-year
coursework subjects taken in other Monash departments (especially the
departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography and
Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics) may in some cases be incorporated
into earth sciences subjects. Where subjects in particular areas of earth
sciences are not offered in the Monash Department of Earth Sciences, students
may be able to gain access to suitable subjects in the geology departments of
La Trobe and Melbourne universities. Both of these options may be exercised
only after discussion with (and with the permission of) the third-year
coordinator.
To complete either a twenty-four-point or forty-eight-point geology discipline,
all students are strongly recommended to attend a two-week third-year field
mapping camp. All students should take ESC3121 (Structural geology) and ESC3131
(Metamorphic geology) (first semester) as necessary background to the field camp.
Coordinator:
Professor James Cull (Geophysics subjects)
Prerequisites: Any sixteen-point sequence in second-year geology, physics,
applied mathematics or computer science, or permission of head of
department.
Students intending to major in geophysics should take the four six-point
subjects: GPS3221 (Regional geophysics), GPS3241 (Exploration geophysics:
reflection seismology), GPS3212 (Global geophysics) and GPS3232 (Electrical
geophysics). The twelve-point subject GPS3281 Applied physics may be taken in
first semester, in addition to, or in place of, two of the six-point subjects.
The three four-point subjects GPS3252 (Quantitative seismology), GPS3262
(Partial differential equations) and GPS3272 (Techniques of scientific
computing) may be taken in second semester, in addition to or in place of, two
of the six-point subjects. The latter three subjects have prerequisites in the
second-year mathematics stream.
Students taking a single major (twenty-four points) in geophysics are advised
to combine this choice with twenty-four points of third-year subjects in one of
geology (ESC), mathematics (MAT) or physics (PHS). Students taking thirty-six
points of geophysics subjects are advised to combine this choice with twelve
points from either the third-year ESC, MAT or PHS streams.
Students intending to continue on to honours level geophysics should consult
the geophysics coordinator when selecting third-year subjects.
The six-point geophysics units consist of two one-hour lectures and one three-hour practical session, or equivalent, per week, and run for twelve weeks.
All geophysics units will be assessed by examinations in the relevant semester examinations period. Essays and assignments may also be used for assessment within units where appropriate.
At fourth-year level, students may choose to do either a one-year honours program or the masters stage one program. Entry into either requires a credit level grade or higher in a coherent package of subjects of at least twenty-four points in third-year geology, geophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science. The honours program involves limited coursework, seminars and a major research project. The masters stage one program involves more coursework and/or project work, but also a substantial research project. Satisfactory completion of the masters stage one program after one year at a standard equivalent to an honours grade of H2A or better, qualifies the candidate to enter the full masters program, which involves one further year of study as outlined below.
Coordinator:
Dr Ian Cartwright
Prerequisites: A credit average in twenty-four points of third-year subjects in
geology, geophysics, mathematics or physics and/or permission of the head of
department, and approval of the faculty. Students must already have qualified
for an undergraduate degree.
Entry into the BSc(Hons) course may take place either in first semester or
second semester. A mid-year start is possible for students who have limited
background in the geological sciences, to enable them to take supplementary
studies in first semester. BSc(Hons) students will be required to submit a
research thesis at the end of the honours year. The subject of this thesis will
be decided in discussion between the student, the supervisor and the
coordinator and will normally involve a field project together with supporting
laboratory studies. Projects with a laboratory or theoretical emphasis may also
be possible. In addition, a reading essay and seminar presentation on
specialised aspects of the student's work will be required at set times during
the year, and all students are required to take at least fifteen days of
courses which may be field or lecture-based. Available programs will be listed
by the coordinator and must be chosen in consultation with supervisors.
Students transferring to geology or geophysics from other streams will be
required to attend seminars and programs related to their project. A minimum of
three lecture units is normally compulsory, selected in consultation with the
supervisor, from the list of units available to the MSc stage one/MSc
stream.
Students may undertake honours programs in either geology or geophysics,
although research projects may involve elements of both.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Oct 28 14:26:02 EST 1998