Why Bachelor of Science (Honours)?
Fascinated by ancient lifeforms and the forces that have shaped our planet?
By studying geology and palaeontology, you can help tackle big issues like climate change, extinction and sustainable land use.
In this hands-on degree, you’ll examine rocks and fossils in the field. Visit world famous sites across South Australia and connect with passionate researchers. You’ll benefit from a flexible program, including opportunities for a science study tour overseas.
The honours year offers advanced research experience and a clear career advantage. You’ll be ready for jobs in earth sciences, conservation, heritage, hazards and resource management. Or, postgraduate studies in palaeontology.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) is practical and future-focused. You’ll build strong scientific reasoning, data handling and problem-solving skills.
In the Geology and Palaeontology major, you’ll study Earth’s history – and what’s going on below the surface. How do mountain ranges, ocean basins and fossils form? Why have climates changed over time? What triggers mass extinctions?
You'll gather data to tackle these questions and more in the laboratory. Field trips will take you to important fossil sites like the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and the Naracoorte Caves – home to Australia’s giant extinct mammals.
You’ll learn how to identify minerals, fossils and formations. Study mapping, stratigraphy and sampling. Network with geology and palaeontology experts. Apply your learning in real settings, through research projects, fieldwork, extended camps and professional placements.
In your final year, you’ll complete an independent honours project. This will enhance your research skills and help you stand out when you graduate.
Key features
Gain practical experience through field trips, placements and extended camps.- Connect with leading geology and palaeontology researchers.
- Study globally significant rock and fossil specimens in laboratories and museums.
- Explore some of Earth’s oldest multicellular life in South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges.
- Get familiar with specialised tools and technologies as you work in purpose-built, cutting-edge facilities.
- Build real research experience with an honours year, signalling a higher level of expertise to future employers.
What you'll learn
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Adelaide University gives you core science knowledge, applied skills and advanced research experience.
Our Geology and Palaeontology major is hands-on, exploring both natural history and the physical sciences. You’ll learn how life on planet Earth evolved, adapted – and sometimes vanished.
You will:
- Explore Earth’s systems, including crust structure and forces like heat and gravity
- Learn to identify sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic structures
- Get familiar with geochemical principles
- Study mineral chemistry and classification
- Record and analyse geological and environmental data
- Go deep into evolutionary biology
- Learn to interpret geological maps and collect samples
- Study extraterrestrial geoscience
- Apply your learning in advanced palaeontology courses
- Gain hands-on experience at fossil-rich and ecologically diverse South Australian sites.
You’ll build teamwork and communication skills in real-world scientific environments. Access purpose-built labs and facilities with industry standard equipment. Undertake professional placements and, if you love travel, head overseas on a science study tour.
You’ll gain advanced research experience in your honours year, giving you a real edge and enhancing your job prospects. You’ll graduate with a portfolio of research that shows you can think independently and solve complex problems.
Majors
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) is also available with majors in the following:
- Animal Behaviour
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology
- Genetics
- Marine and Wildlife Conservation
- Physics and Geophysics
- Plant Biology.
What courses you'll study
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 42 to 54 units for Core courses, and
- 84 to 144 units for Majors, and
- At least 6 units from 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
Differential Equations
|
Course code
MATHX202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Linear Algebra
|
Course code
MATHX104
|
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 72 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology 2
|
Course code
BIOL2022
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Evolutionary Biology 3 Theory
|
Course code
BIOL3035
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Planet Earth
|
Course code
EART1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Extra-terrestrial Geoscience
|
Course code
EART1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Earth Systems History
|
Course code
EART3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geochronology, Fossils and Palaeoenvironments
|
Course code
EART3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Sedimentary Geology
|
Course code
EART2008
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Structural Geology
|
Course code
EART2009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igneous and Metamorphic Geology 2
|
Course code
EART2010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geochemistry
|
Course code
EART2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igneous and Metamorphic Geology 3
|
Course code
EART3018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Tectonics
|
Course code
EART3019
|
Units
6
|
Complete at least 6 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Skills in Animal Science
|
Course code
ANIM3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
|
Course code
ANIM3900
|
Units
12
|
|
|
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
Genetics Practical 3A
|
Course code
BIOL3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
|
Course code
EART3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Field Geoscience Program 3
|
Course code
EART3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Optics and Photonics 3
|
Course code
PHYS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Project
|
Course code
SCIE3901
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3B
|
Course code
BIOL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART3004
|
Units
6
|
Notes
If studying ANACHSCIE - Analytical Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ANIBHSCIE - Animal Behaviour then complete ANIM3900 - Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
If studying BIOCHSCIE - Biochemistry then complete BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying CHEYHSCIE - Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ECOLHSCIE - Ecology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ENVGHSCIE - Environmental and Geospatial Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingENVSHSCIE - Environmental Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOLHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOPHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology the complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studying EXPEHSCIE - Experimental Physics then completePHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying FOODHSCIE - Food Science and Technology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying GENEHSCIE - Genetics then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 or BIOL3901 - Genetics Practical 3B or BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studyingGEOLHSCIE - Geology then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOEHSCIE - Geology and Earth Resources then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOPHSCIE - Geology and Palaeontology then complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studyingGEOYHSCIE - Geophysics then complete EART3004 - Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation and may also complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMARWHSCIE - Marine and Wildlife Conservation then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMEDBHSCIE - Medicinal and Biological Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMICRHSCIE - Microbiology and Immunology then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 and BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3 and BIOL3012 - Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
If studyingNUCCHSCIE - Nuclear Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingNUCRHSCIE - Nuclear and Radiation Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingPHYGHSCIE - Physics and Geophysics then complete PHYS3004 - Optics and Photonics 3 or PHYSX300 - Computational Physics
If studyingPLABHSCIE - Plant Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingPACHHSCIE - Pure and Applied Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSOILHSCIE - Soil Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSPACHSCIE - Space Science and Astrophysics then complete PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingTHEOHSCIE - Theoretical Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Field Geoscience
|
Course code
EART5012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geoscience Data Analysis and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART6002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geoscience Communication
|
Course code
EART6003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Honours Earth Sciences Project
|
Course code
EART4003
|
Units
30
|
Career outcomes
Geologists and palaeontologists do so much more than work in museums. You could monitor how building projects affect nearby wetlands, testing soil and water on-site. You might help protect fossil beds in desert ranges, recording ancient remains. Perhaps you’ll share science knowledge in schools or outreach programs, hyping up younger generations with cool dinosaur facts.
You could also be a:
- Geoscientist
- Micro-palaeontologist
- Exploration geologist
- Geological surveyor
- Climate change analyst
- Museum collections manager
- Vertebrate palaeontologist
- Energy geoscientist
- Environmental policy analyst.
Or, go on to complete your master’s or a PhD in palaeontology.
Industry trends
Geologists and Earth scientists have skills that are in demand across many industries. They understand how the Earth’s biological, chemical and physical systems work together over time.
In mining and energy, they build models to locate resources. They guide soil and water assessments for agriculture. Governments rely on them for surveys, disaster planning and environmental advice.
Because of this, employment growth remains steady, with an expected increase of 700 roles annually across industries like mining, energy and environmental consulting in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024).
Completing an honours year will give you advanced research experience and make you more employable in this in-demand field.
Accreditation
Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation ahead of students commencing in 2026.
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.
