Why Bachelor of Science?
Love your world? Great! Never has specialised knowledge of the environments around us been more vital to our future.
Follow your passion for the places and spaces we live in and develop a deep understanding of human-environment interactions. Be part of the movement needed to address critical global challenges such as climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Get ready to turn your commitment to sustainability and global solutions, into a rewarding career.
Overview
The Bachelor of Science majoring in Environmental Science is a degree designed to address today’s most pressing global issues. Develop a comprehensive understanding of human-environment interactions across behavioural, psychological, and cultural domains.
Explore how environments form and change and how humans and societies interact with the environment. With a focus on hands-on work in the natural environment, you’ll develop a solid foundation across environmental science. You’ll delve into biology, ecology, earth and soil science, conservation, environmental chemistry, and human dimensions research.
Gain critical skills in science communication and community engagement. Share your expertise with the world to foster a better future for all.
Key features
Gain practical experience through field trips and real-world projects. - Learn about ecology, pollution monitoring and sustainability.
- Explore using virtual and augmented reality experiences.
- Be guided by leading researchers and industry experts.
- Complete at least 80 hours of placement or project work in your final year.
- Tailor your degree to your interests with a broad range of electives.
What you'll learn
Develop a diverse understanding of environmental sciences while having scope to choose electives that meet your professional needs. You’ll cover biology, ecology, geography, earth and soil science, water and coasts, pollution monitoring, conservation, ecotourism and sustainability.
Have access to cutting-edge technologies and learning techniques to monitor and manage environments. Develop the tools to process and evaluate data as well as data creation and manipulation.
During your final year of study, you’ll complete at least 80 hours of industry placement or a project. This will provide you with valuable professional skills for an integrated learning experience.
As part of your studies, you’ll also have the option to choose from the following topics:
- Introduction to climate change
- Soils and landscapes
- Physical geography and human environmental impacts
- Environmental chemistry
- Climate and sustainability
- Ecology
- Park and ecotourism
- Geochemistry
- Environmental interpretation and community engagement
- Microbial ecology
- Fire and culture
- Environmental pollution and monitoring
- Environmental management and impact assessment
- Conservation psychology
- Environmental technologies
- Research methods in marine and wildlife conservation.
Majors
The Bachelor of Science is also available with majors in the following:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 42 to 54 units for Core Courses, and
- Either:
- 30 to 90 units for one Major from Majors, or
- 48 units from Discipline courses, and
- 6 to 18 units for Work integrated learning, and
- 0 to 48 units for Electives
Complete 42 to 54 units comprising:
- 6 to 12 units for all Program Core, and
- 12 to 18 units from Common Core, and
- 6 to 30 units from Core Selective
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Science of People, Society and the Future Planet
|
Course code
SCIE1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Skills for Scientists
|
Course code
STAT1000
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1B: Evolution and Diversity of Organisms
|
Course code
BIOL1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEM1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1B
|
Course code
CHEM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Planet Earth
|
Course code
EART1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Earth, Climate and Life Systems
|
Course code
EART1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Mathematics
|
Course code
MATH1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 1
|
Course code
MATH1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 2
|
Course code
MATH1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Physics
|
Course code
PHYS1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1A
|
Course code
PHYS1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1B
|
Course code
PHYS1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Linear Algebra
|
Course code
MATHX104
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Differential Equations
|
Course code
MATHX202
|
Units
6
|
Notes
Program Core - Students in the following Majors will not enrol in STAT1000 Data Skills for Scientists:
Computational Physics, Experimental Physics, Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Physics and Geophysics, Space Science and Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics
Complete exactly 66 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Soils and Landscapes
|
Course code
AGRI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Ecology 2
|
Course code
BIOL2051
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Research Methods: Ecology, Marine and Wildlife 3
|
Course code
BIOL3013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEM1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geochemistry 2
|
Course code
EART2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Landscape Evolution 3
|
Course code
EART3006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fundamentals of Climate Change
|
Course code
ENVI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physical Geography and Human Environmental Impacts
|
Course code
ENVI1010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Interpretation and Community Engagement
|
Course code
ENVI2007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Park and Ecotourism Management
|
Course code
ENVI2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Microbial Ecology
|
Course code
BIOLX200
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Climate and Sustainability
|
Course code
ENVI2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Management and Impact Assessment
|
Course code
ENVI3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Pollution and Monitoring
|
Course code
ENVI3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Technologies 3
|
Course code
ENVI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fire and Culture
|
Course code
EARTX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Human Behaviour and Conservation 3
|
Course code
SCIE3001
|
Units
6
|
Complete 6 to 18 units comprising:
- One of the following:
- 12 units from Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry and Pure and Applied Chemistry work integrated learning, or
- 12 units for all Animal Behaviour work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Animal Science work integrated learning, or
- 18 units for all Biochemistry and Biotechnology work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Computational Physics work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Ecology and Marine and Wildlife Conservation work integrated learning, or
- 12 units for all Environmental and Geospatial Science and Environmental Science work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Evolutionary Biology work integrated learning, or
- 12 units for all Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Experimental Physics work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Food Science and Technology work integrated learning, or
- 18 units from Genetics work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Geology and Geology and Earth Resources work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Geology and Palaeontology work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Geophysics work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Medicinal and Biological Chemistry work integrated learning, or
- 18 units for all Microbiology and Immunology work integrated learning, or
- 6 units from Nuclear and Radiation Physics and Theoretical Physics work integrated learning, or
- 12 units for all Physics and Geophysics work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Plant Biology work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Soil Science work integrated learning, or
- 6 units for all Space Science and Astrophysics work integrated learning, and
- 0 to 6 units from Additional work integrated learning - Optional
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Organic Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Inorganic Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physical Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3003
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
|
Course code
ANIM3900
|
Units
12
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Skills in Animal Science
|
Course code
ANIM3005
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biochemistry 3: Practical
|
Course code
BIOL3011
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX300
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Research Methods: Ecology, Marine and Wildlife 3
|
Course code
BIOL3013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Environmental and Geospatial Field Project
|
Course code
ENVI3014
|
Units
12
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology 3 Practical
|
Course code
BIOL3036
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
|
Course code
EART3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology 3 Practical
|
Course code
BIOL3036
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3B
|
Course code
BIOL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3A
|
Course code
BIOL3900
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Field Geoscience Program 3
|
Course code
EART3003
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
|
Course code
EART3002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART3004
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Organic Chemistry 3
|
Course code
CHEM3001
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3012
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Landscape Evolution 3
|
Course code
EART3006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Environmental expertise is in demand as humans must learn to live and work together to protect the environment. As a professional in this field, you’ll work to preserve planetary health, tackle climate change and secure water and energy supplies.
As a graduate you’ll oversee environmental performance of organisations and advise on ways to minimise their environmental impact.
Careers to consider:
- Environmental adviser
- Ranger
- Sustainability officer
- Science writer/editor
- Laboratory technician
- Research and development manager
- Policy adviser
- Science communicator
- Scientific data analyst.
Industry trends
Environmental Scientists are becoming increasingly important in maintaining, improving, and restoring the environments humans live and work in. Employment prospects for environmental scientists are expected to increase by 7.7% percent by November 2025 (Australian Government Occupation Projections, 2020).
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
