Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Social Science (environment)

School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning | RMIT University

Environmental science involves the evaluation and management of all areas of the environment including the atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (oceans, rivers and lakes), biosphere (plants, animals and micro-organisms) and the lithosphere (soil). On the social science side the main emphasis is on policies, law and environmental management, and the way that decisions about the environment are made. It is concerned with the way our society deals with the environment. A one semester overseas exchange is possible during the middle portion of the program. Students from the single degrees currently go to Canada, Holland, Norway and Denmark. These destinations will be available to double degree students, and further exchange possibilities will certainly be opened up over time by the unique structure of the double degree. There also exist shorter two-week trips for single subject credit, for example to places such as Vietnam and Bangladesh.

There are a variety of environmental student groups and green businesses on the campus in which our students commonly get involved.
On the science side students can specialise in one of five core disciplines drawn from three broad areas of study:

  • Environmental chemistry/ environmental analysis involve study of the theory and practice of thought associated with the discipline of chemistry as related to the environment;
  • Environmental biology covers a range of sub-disciplines and applied areas such as ecology, plant science and bioremediation, relevant to agriculture, horticulture and the natural environment; and
  • Geospatial science allows study of the technologies and skills relevant to resource management including GIS, geography, cartography and surveying.

    Later-year courses on the social science side of the double degree focus on environmental policy, environmental management, land and resource management, energy policy and pollution management.

    The general areas of interest satisfied by the program are: Analytical chemistry; Australian politics; Australian society; biology; catchment management; chemistry (environmental); conservation biology/ecology; ecology (sustainability); energy studies; environmental impact assessments; environmental management; environmental science; environmental systems; environmental testing; geographic information systems; geography; land resource management; microbiology; policy and legislation; and sustainable development.

    The course blends theory and practice. In first-year there is a general theoretical foundation in the sciences. In second-year the focus is on social science theory. Even here, however, there are several case studies incorporated into the curriculum, some involving field trips.

    In the middle parts of the program the worlds of environmental policy and environmental management are consolidated, giving the program more sophistication in its applied orientation. This carefully planned mix of theory and practice is then consolidated in the final semesters of the program when students undertake a series of vocational courses involving client-based research, a formal work placement, and an applied research project.

    http://www.rmit.edu.au/programs/bp193

    Course Structure

    This course is delivered face to face, generally full-time. Part-time study is available as a proportion of the full-time load, but classes are only available face to face during the 9 to 5 period.

    The full-time load consists of about 15 contact hours, slightly less in the semesters in which most of the courses are on the social science side and slightly more when there are lots of science courses running concurrently.

    Duration: 4 years

    Course Requirements

    Current Year 12 prerequisite units3 & 4

    Contact Details

    Contacts:In Semester One please contact:John Jackson, Program Coordinator for Semester OneSchool of Global Studies, Social Science and PlanningTel: +61 3 9925 3437Email: . In Semester Two please contact:Chris Bastin, Program Coordinator School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning Tel: +61 3 9925 3444 Email: