It takes more than just a passion and interest in the environment to be influential in the expanding field of environmental management and science. The challenge of securing effective biodiversity management and a sustainable future requires a multi-disciplinary approach, underpinned by strong scientific knowledge and methodology.
You also need strong communication skills and an understanding of the policy framework and social values, governing decision making.
Environmental science encompasses many science disciplines. This course is a genuine science degree with a focus on environmental issues. As well as giving you a solid foundation in traditional areas of science, such as chemistry, geosciences, biological sciences, physics, geographical science, and maths, this course challenges you with targeted units to help you put your learning into practice.
Policy and planning, risk and impact assessment, sampling and monitoring methods (for air, surface water, groundwater, soils, and biological communities) are built in. You'll leave Monash as a professional environmental scientist, armed with the skills to improve and better understand the world we live in, and the impact we're having on it.
Environmental science is challenging, varied and exciting work. Our researchers, and your teachers, are pushing boundaries all the time. Work side-by-side with academics such as Ralph Mac Nally, who is investigating the science of terrestrial and freshwater ecology to treat landscapes as integrated systems.
Be inspired by other teachers who are working on research programs, ranging from plant-animal interactions, climate change and environmental policy to the new field of green chemistry, which focuses on designing new, non-toxic, energy-efficient and waste-free chemical products and processes to reduce the impact of industry and manufacturing on the environment.
Or join our Volcanology Research Group, which is developing tools to better assess potential volcanic hazards in the future.
After completing common first-year subjects in the fundamental areas that underpin our knowledge of environmental science, such as biology, chemistry, geosciences, physics and mathematics, the floor is yours. You can choose your major and minor sequences from areas like atmospheric science, ecology and conservation biology, chemistry, earth sciences, zoology, plant science or geographical science.
Many of our units involve field work - from one-day excursions in Melbourne and longer trips to outback Australia to field geology in New Zealand and studying tropical biology in Borneo.
Whether you want to focus on climate change, endangered species management or sustainable land and water management, this degree will keep you interested and ensure you graduate with relevant industry-ready skills and the knowledge you need to become a successful environmental scientist.
Ref:
http://www.monash.edu.au/study/coursefinder/course/3544/
