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 12-point options ESC1011 and ESC1022 (Planet
earth) in earth sciences and SCI1020 (The design of science), 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 staff.
Second-year geology studies should include at least 18 points of geology by
combining ESC2011 (Crustal processes) with ESC2022 (Origin and evolution of the
earth's crust) and ESC2061 (Field geology). These are required to successfully
complete third-year geology studies. In addition, at least one other
second-year coherent package of 12 points from another department (Chemistry,
Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Biological Sciences, Computer Science and
Software Engineering, Geography and Environmental Science) should be taken. The
remaining points of the 48 credit points required may also be taken in this
way, or made up of individual six credit point subjects. Additional options in
the Department of Earth Sciences are six-point subjects ESC2032 (Vertebrate
life on earth) and ESC2042 (Environmental Geoscience I). It is strongly
recommended that at least one other of these six-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 12 points in each of earth sciences, mathematics and
physics.
Third-year geology studies can involve 48 point or 24 point programs in earth
sciences. If 24 points are taken in geology or geophysics, the remaining 24
points may be made up according to faculty course requirements. 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 preliminary 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 preliminary 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.
Coordinator:
Ms Marion Anderson
In first year, the department offers the subjects ESC1011 (Planet earth and its
environment: the cosmic connection) and ESC1022 (Planet earth: dynamic systems,
environmental change and resources).
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 near 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. Practicals
illustrate and enhance material covered in the lectures.
Coordinator:
Dr Ian Cartwright Prerequisites: ESC1011 and ESC1022
The second-year earth sciences program builds on the 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 six-point subjects. Students planning to take earth
sciences in third year are required to do ESC2011 (Crustal processes) and
ESC2022 (Origin and evolution of the earth's crust), 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 six-point subjects are
ESC2042 (Environmental geoscience I) and ESC2032 (Vertebrate life on planet
earth), and students who wish to progress to third year are also strongly
advised to take one of these.
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.
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.
Students
intending to become professional earth scientists may take 48 points in geology
and environmental geoscience or combine two 24-point sequences 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 24-point sequence in
another discipline provided they meet the degree requirements of the Faculty of
Science.
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 24-point or 48-point geology discipline, all students are
strongly recommended to attend the two-week third-year field mapping camp
ESC3180. As part of the Department of Earth Sciences core third-year program,
students completing the 48-point discipline should take ESC3201 (Deformation
and metamorphism of the crust) and ESC3211 (Sedimentation and magmatism in
crustal evolution).
ESC3180 (Field excursion), ESC3222 (Crustal evolution of Gondwana) and either
GPS3221 (Regional geophysics) or GPS3212 (Global geophysics), other six-point
units including ESC3191 (Environmental geoscience II), ESC3152 (Petroleum
geology), ESC3162 (Ore deposit geology and geochemistry), ESC3212 (Volcanology
and geochemistry), GPS3241 (Exploration geophysics: reflection seismology) and
GPS3232 (Electrical geophysics) can be taken as electives to make up the
48 points.
Students interested in the earth sciences project option ESC3200 should obtain
permission from eith the third-year coordinator or head of department.
Coordinator:
Professor James Cull (Geophysics subjects) Prerequisites: Any 12 point
sequence in second-year geology, physics, applied mathematics, engineering 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 12-point subject PHS3331 (Applied physics) may be taken in
first semester, in addition to, or in place of, two of the six-point subjects.
There may also be other elective subjects available to students majoring in
geophysics. For further information, refer to the discipline coordinator.
Students taking a single major (24 points) in geophysics are advised to combine
this choice with 24 points of third-year subjects in one of geology (ESC),
mathematics (MTH) or physics (PHS). Students taking 36 points of geophysics
subjects are advised to combine this choice with 12 points from either the
third-year ESC, MTH or PHS streams.
Students interested in the earth sciences project option ESC3200 should obtain
permission from eith the third-year coordinator or head of department.
Students intending to continue on to honours level geophysics should consult
the geophysics coordinator when selecting third-year subjects.
At fourth-year level, students may choose to do either a one-year honours program or the masters preliminary program. Entry into either requires a distinction average or higher in a coherent package of subjects of at least 24 points in third-year geology, geophysics, physics, mathematics or computer science. The honours program involves limited coursework, seminars and a major research project. Entry into an MSc preliminary will be based on a credit grade average in relevant third-year subjects. A case can be made for applicants applying several years after graduation, provided it can be demonstrated they have sufficient aptitude for research in the proposed field. The masters preliminary program involves more coursework and/ or project work, but also a substantial research project. Satisfactory completion of the masters preliminary 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 in the graduate studies handbook.
Coordinator:
Dr Mark Jessell Prerequisites: A distinction average in 24 points of
third-year subjects in geology, geophysics, mathematics or physics and/or
permission of the head of department, and approval of the faculty Honours
places are subject to quotas 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 may involve field, laboratory and/or theoretical studies. 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 15 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 preliminary/MSc
stream.
Students may undertake honours programs in either geology or geophysics,
although research projects may involve elements of both.
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