major

Geoscience

Overview

This major integrates knowledge from a range of disciplines, from field-based studies to more theoretical and experimental aspects of Geoscience. This spans the exploration and evaluation of rocks and minerals and their behaviour during Earth processes, their evolution through time, and the knock-on effects this has on Earth’s climate, evolution of life, and current location of resources vital to modern society, including water, fertile soil for agriculture, and critical resources for green technologies.

You will complete a sequence of both specialist and interdisciplinary subjects that ask you to solve questions about how the Earth works, including the competing problems of resource consumption (air, water, minerals, energy) and protecting the environment.

Fieldwork is an essential component of this major, as is experiential/immersive learning, including laboratory experiments, analyses and contextual interpretation.

You will gain experience for the workplace, whether in the professional realm or continuing in academia, by participating in hands-on project work that requires careful time management and the clear communication of results.

Your major structure

You’ll complete this major as part of the Bachelor of Science.

In your first and second years you will complete subjects that are prerequisites for your major, including earth sciences and chemistry subjects.

In your third year, you will complete 50 points (four subjects) of deep and specialised study in geoscience. This is a very flexible major: you’ll be able to select your major subjects from a large range.

Throughout your degree you will also take science elective subjects and breadth (non-science) subjects, in addition to your major subjects and prerequisites.

Sample course plan

View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this major.

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