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Bachelor of Science (Environmental Sustainability)

Z0416ENV  060728G



Duration

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Fee*
3 Year/s Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) A$22,950 (annual for 2012) 
*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

This course structure is for students commencing in 2010.
 
Corporations are beginning to take responsibility for their environmental impact, so if you want to help change the world, a professional major in Environmental Sustainability may be the place to start. Environmental Sustainability applies the principles of sustainable development to address the causes of environmental hazards. You will gain an understanding of the relationship between local, global, social and ecological issues and the responsibility of the different groups involved in sustainability. You will combine this knowledge with scientific skills, such as chemistry, biology and microbiology, in order to address environmental sustainability in the future.

This course is also offered to Australian students through the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship Program. Successful applicants are awarded HECS waiver scholarships and will be funded for the duration of their course. For further information visit the Scholarships website.

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The Bachelor of Science (Environmental Sustainability) program aims to develop:
  • a sound knowledge and working experience in the underpinning science and social science which forms the basis of sustainability
  • a sound and practical knowledge of laboratory techniques and practices through which sustainability can be measured
  • an appreciation of the social context in which scientific work is undertaken and which scientific knowledge is applied
  • an appreciation of the legislation that regulates scientific activities, and particularly those that relate to biology, chemistry and public health
  • advanced communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and written
  • an appreciation of the moral, ethical and social elements essential to a satisfying personal philosophy and a sound professional attitude
  • skills in self education, evaluation of new information and encouragement in flexibility of thought, to prepare students for a world of accelerating technological change.

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This course will operate under a student workload model based on 100 credit points for a full-time academic year. One credit point is deemed to be equivalent to one hour of student work per week over a semester, whether in contact with staff or in private study. Four units of study, each worth 12.5 credit points, will generally be taken each semester. The typical student's average weekly workload during semester is therefore expected to be fifty hours. Total student contact hours, including lectures, classes, tutorials, flexible learning and laboratory and field sessions will be approximately 16 hours/week during academic semesters.

Students in the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Sustainability) must complete 300 credit points, normally 24 units of 12.5 credit points, comprising:
  • Environmental Sustainability Professional Major, 16 units of 12.5 credit points each (200 credit points); and
  • one Co-Major (8 units) or two Minors (4 units each).
Additionally the following rules apply:
  • At enrolment students will be provided with recommended combinations of faculty Majors, Co-Majors or Minors. Any other combinations a student proposes will be subject to approval by the faculty;
  • the non-credit unit, HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum, is compulsory;
  • two (2) Major Project units must be completed as part of the major studies sequence;
  • the same unit cannot be counted more than once. Where there are overlaps, the 300 credit points of study must be made up in the first instance by a Minor where 50 credit points is required, otherwise by free electives or Options Plus units;
  • students will normally not be permitted to successfully complete more than 26 units (325cps);
  • students may only enroll in two Majors where both Majors have sufficient unit overlap to enable both to be completed within a total 300 credit-points of study; and
  • Professional Major Co-ordinators have the authority to approve alternative units if required for students to complete in a timely fashion.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of their course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.

Final Year Experience - Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates will undertake 25 credit points of professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.

Winter and Summer Term
This program also provides opportunities to undertake study in an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters.  These terms are not mandatory.  However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
 
Electives Plus Minors
Electives Plus combinations provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by undertaking specially selected groups of units from outside their degree discipline.
 
For further information visit the Elective Plus website: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/hed/professionallearning/electivesplus.html . Electives Plus Minors are available in all Swinburne degree programs subject to timetabling constraints, with the exception of double degree programs, specialist double major degrees, and where entry has been approved with advanced standing.
 
Options Plus
Students will have access to a small set of approved individual “Options Plus” units of study which provide either a distinctive learning experience or targeted study support. This could include optional study tours, an Intercultural Communications unit, and an ‘introduction to undergraduate research’ unit. In some cases, students may be advised or directed to take specially targeted Options Plus units, for example the Analysing and Writing English unit to be offered for credit in Winter Term for NESB students.

Students undertaking a full 300 cp program are allowed to substitute at least one Options Plus unit for one existing unit within their Co-Major– but not in their Professional Major. They will be advised by their Faculty on which unit(s) of the Co-Major.

In the case of students who enter with significant levels of advanced standing and whose program is therefore composed only of a Professional Major, the faculty may approve a substitution, or else require the students to undertake the Options Plus unit in addition to their Major studies.  

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Environmental Sustainability Professional Major (as from 2011) (16 units totalling 200 credit points)
 
and any five (5) of the following electives/units of study:
HAH223-HAH323 Environmental Philosophy (HAH223 is an elective for this program - do not choose HAH323)
 
Recommended progression for professional major:

Year 1
 
Semester 1
HMS111 Engineering Mathematics  OR   HMS101 Foundation Mathematics
HES1490 Introduction to Chemistry  OR  HES1510 Chemistry 1
HES1610 Concepts of Biology
HES1710 Philosophy and Practice of Public and Environmental Health
 
Semester 2
HMS102 Introduction to Statistics
* HES1115 Sustainable Design  OR  * HES1555 Consumer Science
HES1718 Sustainable Health Policy and Planning
HES2631 The Microbial World
 
Year 2
 
Semester 1
* HAH244 Practical and Environmental Ethics
* HES2700 Food Science
Co-major or minor unit
Co-major or minor unit
 
Semester 2
HES2715 Bulit and Sustainable Communities
* HES2705 Water Science  OR  * HAH223 Environmental Philosophy
Co-major or minor unit
Co-major or minor unit
 
Year 3
 
Semester 1
* HES4710 Environmental Health Services
HES4701 Research Skills Project
Co-major or minor unit
Co-major or minor unit
 
Semester 2
HES4720 Environmental Management
HES4705 Research Project
Co-major or minor unit
Co-major or minor unit
 
* Indicates an elective unit which may also be swapped with *HES1101 Climate Change or *HES1525 Chemistry 2
NB. All students must also undertake the compulsory unit HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum.

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Professional Majors

A Professional Major (200 credit points or 16 units of study) in Science is designed to provide students with appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge in a particular field of study and provide suitable preparation for professional graduate employment. It may be based on a single, recognised discipline, or it may be inter-disciplinary in character.

Study areas in the Biotechnology Professional Major include analytical chemistry and biochemistry, biochemistry, biological sciences, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental chemistry, DNA studies, environmental science, environmental sustainability, forensic science, genetics, measurements and instrumentation, microbiology, molecular and cell biology and molecular modelling.
 
Students can choose from a range of co-majors or minors that add depth or breadth to their degree.

Co-Majors
Co-Majors available in the Bachelor of Science program include:
Advanced Biochemistry Co-Major - 2010
Physics Co-Major - 2012 (available from 2012)
 
Minors
A Minor (50 credit points or 4 units of study) is a prescribed set of units that may broaden a student’s learning, such as a set of units from different disciplines, typically derived as a subset of a Major or Co-Major. Minors usually contain no elective choice.

Minors can be taken from any discipline across the university, including Electives Plus Minors, timetabling permitting. Credit cannot be given for any minor which contains more than two units of study in common with any other minor, co-major or major that student is undertaking. Minors available in the Bachelor of Science program include:
Advanced Biochemistry Minor - 2010
Advanced Chemistry Minor - 2010
Physics Minor - 2012 (available from 2012)
 
Students also have the option to select their co-major or minors from another faculty, timetable permitting.

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Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

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As a graduate of this program, you can expect to find employment in a range of roles involving sustainability management in the private and public sectors. Opportunities are growing in the areas of environmental risk assessment and protection, renewable energy development, agriculture and wetland restoration, managing energy efficiency, air, soil and water quality monitoring, carbon, waste and  resource management, sustainability analysis including policy and legislative advice, and building sustainable communities.

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Depending on your choice of co-major or minors, you may be eligible for membership of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC); Sustainability Practitioners Association (SPA); National Business Leaders Forum for Sustainable Development; Environmental Institute of Australia, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and Environmental Health Australia.

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Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

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Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Advanced level certificate at the undergraduate level (EAP 5: UG-65% ); OR, Obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Computer-based) minimum score of 213 (with Written Writing score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 80 with no band less than 20.

Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

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To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.

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Phone: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall 1800 897 973 (within Australia)

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Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia).

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A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

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