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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2015

This handbook contains information on courses and components (majors, minors, streams and units) at Curtin in 2015.
Information for the previous year's courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2014.

BB-GLGBIO v.1 Bachelor of Science (Applied Geology), Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology)

BSc(Curtin), BSc(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 043265G
Registered full-time Duration: 4 Years


Course Overview

Bachelor Double Degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in more than one discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications.


This double degree provides students with an integrated education program in both exploration/applied geology and environmental biology. The program provides dual qualifications in these areas and provides graduates with unique opportunities to obtain employment in resource development and related land management fields involving natural resource management. Resource exploration and management frequently take place in arid environments and involve issues of restoration after mining, maintenance of biodiversity, eco-system management and rehabilitation of degraded and salt-affected landscapes. This course provides a knowledge of the geological/biological principles required for management of both living and non-living resources.


Professional Recognition

Graduates of the undergraduate degree in Applied Geology are eligible for membership of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Geological Society of Australia. The degree has been accredited by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Graduates are also eligible for Associate Membership of the Australian Institute of Biology and the Environment Institute of Australia. Full membership becomes possible for graduates with honours or pass degrees after three or four years of professional practice.


Career Opportunities

Graduates will find employment opportunities in related fields of mineral exploration, mine management and environmental biology.


Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials. Students may be required to pay for additional expenses whilst on fieldwork/clinical placements.



Course Entry and Completion Details

Applicants for a Bachelor Double Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.


Specifically applicants require one TEE mathematics subject and one TEE science subject OR At least Mathematics 2C/2D with one science subject desirable. STAT elements considered are E, V and Q. STAT applicants will be required to meet entry pre-requisites by completing enabling units which may extend the duration of the course.


Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.


Pathway to Further Study

Graduates may qualify for entry to a Bachelor Degree with Honours and some Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Master degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.


Course Entry/Completion Note

Students will normally be expected to have attained a higher Tertiary Entrance Rank than is required for both single degrees.



Course Organisation

Bachelor Double Degrees include a combined degree study program leading to two awards. The duration of the double degree may vary among disciplines, but typically requires less time to complete than if the two undergraduate degrees were studied separately.


Students enrolled in the double degree program may elect to transfer to a single degree course in one of the two disciplines. In this event, the relevant Head of Department shall determine the amount of credit to be transferred to the single degree.



Duration and Availability

The course is four years full-time or equivalent part-time study. There will be February intake only for the International students.


Location and delivery Mode


Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2015 Bentley Campus Semester 1   Y      
2015 Bentley Campus Semester 2   Y      

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.




Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
GEOL1005 v.1 **   Fundamentals of Geology 1 5.0 25.0
BCCB1000 v.1   Cell Biology 5.0 25.0
COMS1000 v.1   Science Communications 2.0 12.5
MATH1005 v.1   Pre Calculus 4.0 12.5
BIOL1001 v.1   Introduction to Environmental Research 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 1 Semester 2
CHEM1003 v.1   Introduction to Chemistry 4.5 25.0
GEOL1003 v.1   Evolving Earth Systems and Palaeontology 5.0 25.0
GEOL1006 v.1   Fundamentals of Geology 2 6.0 25.0
BIOL1000 v.1   Functional Biology 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 1
ENST2002 v.1   Conservation Biology and Sustainability 5.5 25.0
GEOL2003 v.1   Mineralogy and Geochemistry 5.0 25.0
GEOL2004 v.1   Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 5.0 25.0
STAT2002 v.1   Quantitative Biology 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 2 Semester 2
ECEV2000 v.1 **   Terrestrial Ecology 3.0 25.0
GEOL2005 v.1   Igneous Petrology 5.0 25.0
ENST2003 v.1   Ecotoxicology 4.0 25.0
GEOP2004 v.1   Geophysics for Mineral Exploration 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 3 Semester 1
ZOOL2000 v.1   Zoology 5.0 25.0
BOTA2000 v.1   Plant Diversity and Adaptation 5.0 25.0
GEOL2007 v.1   Structural Geology 5.0 25.0
GEOL2008 v.1 **   Field Geology Techniques 2.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 3 Semester 2
GEOL2006 v.1   Metamorphic Petrology 5.0 25.0
GEOL2009 v.1 **   Geological Field Mapping 3.0 25.0
ENST3001 v.1   Environmental Biomonitoring 5.0 25.0
BIOL3007 v.1   Animal and Plant Physiology 5.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 4 Semester 1
ERTH3000 v.1   Habitat and Landform Mapping 4.0 25.0
ENST3000 v.1 **   Environmental Impact Assessment 4.0 25.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   50.0
  100.0
Year 4 Semester 2
ENST3002 v.1 **   Environmental Restoration 6.0 25.0
ECEV3001 v.1   Terrestrial and Marine Science Field Project 4.0 25.0
  SELECT OPTIONAL UNITS TO THE TOTAL VALUE OF:   50.0
  100.0
Optional Units to Select from in Year 4 Semester 1 Hrs/Wk Credit
GEOL3010 v.1   Ore Deposits 4.0 25.0
GEOL3009 v.1   Field Mapping of Sedimentary Basins 2.5 25.0
GEOL3000 v.1   Basin Analysis and Energy Resources 5.0 25.0
Optional Units to Select from in Year 4 Semester 2 Hrs/Wk Credit
GEOL3001 v.1   Tectonics and the Dynamic Earth 5.0 25.0
GEOL3011 v.1   Geology Mapping Project 2.0 25.0
GEOL3005 v.1   Regolith Geology and Mineral Exploration 5.0 25.0
GEOL3008 v.1   Environmental Geoscience 5.0 25.0

*    Attendance at weekly seminars is compulsory

**    Field trips form an essential part of these units and attendance is compulsory




Further Information

For further information about the program, contact The Department of Applied Geology on telephone: (08) 9266 7968, email: geology@curtin.edu.au or visit our website: http://www.geology.curtin.edu.au.


Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.




Handbook

The Courses Handbook is the repository of Curtin University ("Curtin") course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavours to keep this handbook up to date, information on this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the: course structure and contents, student assessment, tuition fees and to: withdraw any course or its components which it offers, impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or vary arrangements for any course without notification via the website.

For course and enrolment information please visit our Future Students website.