Program Overview

From climate change, habitat loss and pollution, environments around the world are facing extreme challenges. Explore these important issues along with other socio-scientific challenges, with UC’s Bachelor of Environmental Science. Immerse yourself in the world of environmental science using the latest lab and field tools, and emerge with an applied, solutions-focused perspective.

The Specialist Major in Environmental Science builds upon the Core Major in Science to give you skills to identify, conceptualise and analyse a diverse environmental futures. You’ll be introduced to major environmental challenges and be inspired to innovate solutions using cutting-edge approaches. 

The inclusion of a breadth component allows you to explore and expand your learning across a range of disciplines. Scenario-based study and work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities ensure you graduate career-ready, equipped to solve a range of theoretical and contemporary real-world problems in local and global contexts.

Study a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) at UC and you will 

• Exhibit a breadth of scientific knowledge and technical skills, with specialist depth in environmental science.
• Develop critical thinking and data analysis skills to solve a range of complex problems in local and global contexts.
• Select and apply appropriate practical, conceptual and/or theoretical techniques or scientific tools to conduct scientific investigations relevant to a range of disciplines, with particular specialisation in environmental science.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect scientific data individually or collaboratively, within legal, ethical and social frameworks, with key laboratory and field-based competencies.
• Evaluate current and emerging ethical and cultural issues that arise in contemporary science and exhibit cross-cultural competence and social responsibility.
• Critically analyse, synthesise and integrate scientific knowledge, literature, data, or arguments for effective communication to a range of audiences.

Work-integrated learning

Get practical experience with inbuilt professional practice units. Complete internships with leading organisations like CSIRO, ACT Parks and Wildlife, Questacon and more.

Access unique opportunities to work on real-world research projects. The University of Canberra’s own Institute for Applied Ecology is renowned for delivering high-quality, globally significant research with practical solutions to real-world environmental problems.

Specialist Major: Environmental Science

The Specialist Major in Environmental Science builds upon the Core Major in Science to develop capacity to employ transdisciplinary approaches to identify, conceptualise and analyse diverse environmental futures, producing graduates with the capability to innovate and implement solutions to current and future environmental challenges. Initial units lay down foundational technical and cognitive skills, before later units apply these skills to cultivate a sophisticated analytical capacity. Interdependencies between human societies and environments, key environmental challenges and ecological complexity are studied through units focused on catchment management, conservation ecology and sustainability. Units within the major are closely interrelated to provide students with an integrated learning journey where links between theory, skills and practice are clearly articulated and evolve as students progress. This culminates in capstone units aligned with two of UC's research strengths, providing a potential pathway into research. A strong emphasis on experiential learning runs throughout the major - active and participatory learning is encouraged through WIL opportunities, field class experiences and hands-on exposure to emerging technologies in the lab and field. Students will be introduced to environmental challenges, wicked problems and socio-scientific issues, and inspired to innovate solutions using leading-edge approaches including remote-sensing and drone technologies, ground-breaking eDNA methods, and advanced computational modelling. Upon successful completion of the Specialist Major in Environmental Science, students will have developed highly transferable proficiencies and experiences applicable across a variety of career paths.