Monash University: University Handbooks: Undergraduate handbook 2004: Units indexed by faculty
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Course code 2340 + Clayton + Course coordinator: Dr Tony Patti
The Bachelor of Environmental Science is a course of four years full-time duration, during which a student can qualify for either a pass or honours degree. It is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in traditional areas of science (chemistry, earth sciences, biological sciences, physics, geography, mathematics) together with a range of units specifically targeting environmental issues (environmental policy and planning issues, environmental risk and impact assessment, sampling and monitoring methods for air, surface water, groundwater, soils, biological communities etc). The maximum time for completion of the course is 10 years, including intermissions.
Students must complete a total of 192 points of studies as described below, including a major sequence in at least two of the following core areas:
| Core area | Host school |
|---|---|
| Atmospheric science | Mathematical Sciences Geography and Environmental Science |
| Biology/ecology | Biological Sciences |
| Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Geosciences | Geosciences |
| Geography | Geography and Environmental Science |
Students are encouraged to select at least two, and preferably three, core areas in which they may develop their major sequences and to undertake the level-one requirements for each at stage one. Students may complete up to 60 points of level-one units during the course so they may delay completing the mathematics and/or physics requirements to their second year of study, if necessary. It is recommended that students who have not completed VCE Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4 take SCI1020 rather than, or prior to, STA1010. Note that units selected at stages two, three and four need to satisfy requirements for a major sequence in two of the core areas.
Students should note that if they complete only 12 points towards one or both major sequences at stage two, this will require a further 24 points of studies in that area at level three. If 18 points are taken toward the major sequence at level two, only 18 points of studies need be taken at level three to complete that major sequence.
Once they have completed at least 132 points of the course, and prior to having completed 168 points, qualified students may apply to undertake an honours degree in environmental science and complete an honours thesis at stage four of the course. To be admitted to the honours course, students are required to have achieved a distinction grade average (70 per cent) in 24 points of studies in relevant level-three units. These 24 points of studies will normally include either at least 18 points of units from the core areas related to the intended honours research project or at least 12 points from those areas in combination with at least one of the level-three ENV units. Any remaining points toward the 24-point entry requirement may be achieved from either another level-three ENV unit or from a unit in one of the other core areas. Students who have obtained an average of 65 to 69 per cent in that group of units may also be eligible for consideration they have completed at least 24 points of other level-three units with an average grade of at least 65 per cent. Such students should consult with the coordinator of the BEnvSc course.
Students who need to complete more than 24 points towards their two major sequences at stage four will be ineligible to enrol for the BEnvSc(Hons) course, since this would preclude the completion of the 24-point thesis unit ENV4100.
The grade of honours awarded for students in the BEnvSc(Hons) stream will be determined by the Board of Examiners based on their mark for ENV4100 and the average mark of their best 24 points of level-three or level-four units taken at stages three and four.
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