The long term survival of humanity relies on sustainable management of our natural environment, including its landscapes; and sustainable management is dependent upon our having a strong scientific understanding of the fundamental processes that interact to shape the complex environmental system.
The major in Environmental Science develops that understanding by providing an integration of scientific knowledge and practice in environmental and landscape sciences. It focuses on how key areas of environmental science relate to and are underpinned by landscape processes. Only by understanding these key landscape processes can successful environmental outcomes be achieved. The major includes a focus on current understandings of the science of the environment, and a range of response strategies for their sustainable management. Students develop their ability to evaluate recent and current advances in environmental science, and in policy and management approaches; and to integrate a range of discipline-based knowledge relevant to specific regions or issues in sustainable environmental and landscape management.
Learning Outcomes
- Think critically about environmental science issues, integrate information, and construct logical, consistent and synthesised arguments.
- Explain the scientific underpinning and environmental implications of critical issues in ecological and landscape processes, across a range of likely scenarios.
- Engage with a range of stakeholders, including environmental scientists, land managers, government extension officers and private consultants, on a range of environmental and landscape issues.
- Analyse and interpret complex processes and apply solutions across a range of environments and landscapes.
Other Information
Which courses should you take in first year?
- Student seeking to complete this major are encouraged to select EMSC1006, ENVS1004 and ENVS1003 in their first year, plus a minimum of 6 units chosen from BIOL1003, BIOL1009, EMSC1008 or a 1000-coded CHEM, MATH, PHYS or SCOM course.
- Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have 1000-level course prerequisites that may need to be taken in your first year of study.
Additional advice:
- In order for ENVS3100 to contribute towards this major, the research project must be in the field of Environmental Science and align with the learning outcomes of the ENVS-MAJ.
Courses in this major that will contribute towards satisfying the transdisciplinary problem-solving course requirements of your undergraduate degree:
- ENVS1001 Environment and Society: Geography of Sustainability (6 units)
- ENVS1004 Australia's Environment (6 units)
- ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development (6 units)
- ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6 units)
- ENVS2018 Environmental Field School (6 units)
- ENVS2023 Sustainable Agricultural Systems (6 units)
- ENVS3004 Land and Catchment Management (6 units)
- ENVS3013 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future (6 units)
- ENVS3020 Climate Change: Science, Society, and Policy (6 units)
- ENVS3040 Complex Environmental Problems in Action (6 units)
- SCNC2201 Optimism and Agency in Times of Change (6 units)
Academic or enrolment advice:
Students can seek further advice from the academic contact for this major (details above), or the College of Science Student Services Team (students.cos@anu.edu.au)
Back to the topRequirements
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have 1000-level prerequisites which may need to be selected in the first year of study and will contribute towards satisfying the 1000-level course requirements of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours).
Not all courses will need to be taken depending on later year course selection. Please check individual courses for details however the courses listed below will cover most 1000-level requirements for 2000-3000- level courses listed in this major.
- EMSC1006 (optional for ENVS2002)
- ENVS1001 (optional for ENVS2002 or SOCY2022)
- ENVS1003 (compulsory for ENVS2002 and optional for ENVS2018)
- ENVS1004 (optional for ENVS2002)
- STAT1003 (optional for ENVS2018)
This major requires the completion of 48 units from the courses listed below, of which:
A minimum of 36 units must come from completion of ENVS- Environmental Science courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses
The 48 units must include:
12 units from the completion of the following core Environmental Science courses:
ENVS2013 Society and Environmental Change (6 units)
ENVS3040 Complex Environmental Problems (6 units)
12 units from the completion of Research Methods and Spatial Skills courses from the following list:
*ENVS2002 Environmental Measurement, Modelling and Monitoring (6 units)
ENVS2015 GIS and Spatial Analysis (6 units)
*ENVS2018 Environmental Science Field School (6 units)
ENVS3045 Social Applications of GIS (6 units)
ENVS3100 Independent Research Project (6 units)
SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (6 units)
12 units from the completion of Environmental Science and Society courses from the following list:
ENVS2007 Economics for the Environment (6 units)
ENVS2011 Human Ecology (6 units)
ENVS2025 Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management (6 units)
ENVS3007 Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders (6 units)
ENVS3015 Essentials of Environmental Law (6 units)
ENVS3020 Climate Change: Science, Society and Policy (6 units)
ENVS3028 Environmental Policy (6 units)
ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy (6 units)
SCNC2201 Optimism and Agency in Times of Change (6 units)
*SOCY2022 Environmental Sociology (6 units)
SOCY2035 Cities and Urban Transformation (6 units)
12 units from completion of courses from either of the following lists, which can be taken from one list or both lists:
Biophysical and Natural Systems:
ENVS2001 Biodiversity Science: Wildlife, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology (6 units)
ENVS2004 Climate and Its Applications (6 units)
ENVS2020 Water Science (6 units)
ENVS2023 Sustainable Agricultural Systems (6 units)
ENVS3003 Pollution in Practice (6 units)
ENVS3013 Climate Change: Past, Present and Future (6 units)
ENVS3029 Palaeo-Environmental Reconstruction (6 units)
ENVS3902 Environmental Chemistry and Systems (6 units)
Environmental Management :
ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School (6 units)
ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6 units)
ENVS3004 Land and Catchment Management (6 units)
ENVS3005 Water Management (6 units)
ENVS3008 Fire in the Environment (6 units)
ENVS3039 Biodiversity Conservation (6 units)
ENVS3041 Managing Forested Landscapes (6 units)
ENVS3045 Social Applications of GIS (6 units)