Bachelor of Earth Sciences and Master of Oceanography

Program Overview

It prepares students for careers in marine and coastal management, aquaculture, and other fields requiring interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills in oceanography and earth sciences.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Earth Sciences and Master of Oceanography is a four-year accelerated program for students with an ATAR of 90 or above. It combines the Bachelor of Earth Sciences with Australia's only Master of Oceanography, offering a unique experience at UWA.

Objectives:

• To provide students with a strong undergraduate foundation in earth and marine science.
• To develop field and laboratory-based skills in terrestrial and marine systems and oceanography.
• To equip students with advanced knowledge of the physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes operating in coastal to deep marine environments.
• To prepare students for careers in marine and coastal management, marine renewable energy, safe use of the ocean, and aquaculture.
• To develop strong interdisciplinary knowledge and technical skills for diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies, and research institutions.

Outline:

Course Structure:

• The first three years focus on the Integrated Earth and Marine Sciences (extended major) and a semester of postgraduate study.
• The final year is dedicated to the chosen specialization in the Master of Oceanography.

Example Study Plan:

Year | Semester | Units

• ------ | -------- | --------
1st Year | 1 | EART1105, SCOM1101, CITS2401, SCIE1104 1st Year | 2 | EART1104, BIOL1131, EART2204, ENVT2251 2nd Year | 1 | EART2231, EART2232, SCIE2204, Elective 2nd Year | 2 | EART2234, EART3353, ENVT3362, ENVT3307 3rd Year | 1 | EART3342, EART3343, SCIE3304, Elective 3rd Year | 2 | PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific 4th Year | 1 | PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific 4th Year | 2 | PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific , PG Specific
• Postgraduate units will vary depending on the chosen specialization.
A study plan will be provided later in the degree.

Unit Descriptions:

• EART1105 - Dynamic Planet
• SCOM1101 - Communicating Science
• CITS2401 - Computer Analysis and Visualisation
• SCIE1104 - Science, Society and Data Analysis
• EART1104 - Discovering Earth
• BIOL1131 - Plant and Animal Biology
• EART2204 - Coastal Processes
• ENVT2251 - Hydrology and Water Resource Management
• EART2231 - Earth Materials
• EART2232 - Field Geology
• SCIE2204 - Marine Systems
• EART2234 - Earth Processes
• EART3353 - Geological Mapping
• ENVT3362 - Environmental Dynamics
• ENVT3307 - Oceanography
• EART3342 - Geochemistry and Petrology
• EART3343 - Structural Geology and Tectonics
• SCIE3304 - Field Techniques in Marine Science
• PG Specific - Master of Oceanography

Careers:

Career Pathways:

• Diverse career opportunities in government, industry, consultancies, and research institutions.
• High demand for graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge of oceanography in fields like marine and coastal management, marine renewable energy, safe use of the ocean, and aquaculture.

Career Options:

• Oceanographer
• Coastal Officer
• Marine Consultant
• Geologist
• Geochemist
• Geophysicist

Other:

• Western Australia's extensive coastline provides an excellent living laboratory for studying the complex interactions between physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes.
• The program emphasizes learning through practical work, including fieldwork and laboratory-based skills.
• Students can exit the program after three years with a Bachelor of Earth Sciences (Advanced) if they choose not to continue with the Master of Oceanography.
• The Advanced Bachelor Degree is only available as a CBM exit award and is not offered for direct enrollment.
• The program is available for full-time and part-time study.
• The program has a CRICOS Code of 107847H.

Fieldwork in Science:

• The program includes field trips to various locations in Western Australia and beyond.

Work Integrated Learning:

• Students can gain practical, industry-relevant experience through science work placements and consultancy projects.

Centres and Institutes:

• Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC): A purpose-built collaborative facility for marine science and ocean engineering research.
• UWA Oceans Institute: Brings together the University's multidisciplinary research strengths to address key ocean challenges.

Rankings:

• Ranked 3rd in Australia and 26th in the world for Oceanography (ARWU 2023).
• Ranked 1st in Australia and 17th in the world for Marine/Ocean Engineering (ARWU 2023).