Earth Sciences Subject regulations
Earth Sciences offers a broad understanding of Earth's landscape features and processes and includes a range of branches of the subject, including soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, physical geography, volcanology, sedimentary geology, coastal marine studies, engineering geology and environmental science.
Earth Sciences is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Science (Technology) (BSc(Tech)). Earth Sciences may also be taken as a second major in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Earth Sciences as a single major for the BCC, BSc and the BSc(Tech), students must gain 135 points, including EARTH101, EARTH102, 60 points from EARTH211, EARTH221, EARTH231, EARTH241, EARTH251, and at least 45 points from 300-level Earth Sciences papers.
To complete Earth Sciences as part of a double major for the BCC, BSc, BSc(Tech) or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points, including EARTH101, EARTH102, 60 points from EARTH211, EARTH221, EARTH231, EARTH241, EARTH251, and at least 30 points from 300-level Earth Sciences papers.
Students with a special interest in physical geography should consult with the subject convenor before selecting their papers. The majority of papers in Earth Sciences include both laboratory practical and field work.
Further information regarding papers, staff and research details can be found in brochures available from the School of Science office or website.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(EarthSc) and GradDip(EarthSc) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Earth Sciences at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the School of Science.
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PGCert(EarthSc), PGDip(EarthSc), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1] To complete a postgraduate subject in Earth Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 60 points (for PGDip a minimum of 90 points) of taught papers in the subject at 500 level, including at least 30 points with an EARTH prefix from papers in List A, and a maximum for 30 points from List B. They must also complete any research requirement for their degree, typically SCIEN520 (45 points), SCIEN523 (45 points), EARTH592 (60 points) or EARTH594 (120 points), as well as any other degree requirements. Candidates should select their papers in consultation with the Postgraduate Convenor, and enrolment in BSc(Hons) is only by invitation of the Postgraduate Convenor.
List A papers are: EARTH501, EARTH502, EARTH503, EARTH504, EARTH505, EARTH506, EARTH508 and EARTH509.
List B papers are: ENVSC503, SCIEN501, SCIEN502, SCIEN503, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.
NOTE:
[1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2025.
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
