Bachelor of Environmental Systems
Assumed knowledge: Mathematics and Chemistry
Major studies: Agricultural Systems, Natural Terrestrial Systems
This course has a strong scientific base. It has a clear focus on building knowledge and skills in quantitative analysis across disciplines and the application of systems thinking to the issues of the day such as climate change, food security, water and carbon emissions. It is a unique degree that addresses the tensions and synergies of agricultural and natural terrestrial ecosystems. Core units will span the plant sciences, hydrology, geomorphology, soil science and biosphere-atmosphere interactions.
Professional Experience: Not formally included in this degree.
Career opportunities: Examples include careers in sustainable agriculture and production in natural and managed environments, soil science, ecology, environmental management and protection, catchment management, land and water conservation and hydrology.
Additional information: Ensuring ecologically-sustainable primary production in natural and managed terrestrial ecosystems is perhaps the single greatest challenge facing humankind. This degree focuses on building knowledge and skills in quantitative analysis across disciplines and the application of systems thinking to the issues of the day such as climate change (and flow-on effects such as drought and fire), food security, water and carbon emissions. It is a unique degree that addresses the tensions and synergies of agricultural and natural terrestrial ecosystems. Core units will span the plant sciences, hydrology, geomorphology, soil science and biosphere-atmosphere interactions.
Units of study
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 |
|||
| Year 1 will have the following 48 credit point structure: | |||
| BIOL1001 Concepts in Biology |
6 | A None. However, semester 1 students who have not completed HSC Biology (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Biology Bridging Course (in February). N BIOL1911 It is recommended that BIOL (1001 or 1911) be taken concurrently with either BIOL1003 or BIOL1903. Students who have completed HSC Biology and scored 80+ should enrol in BIOL1911. Students who lack 80+ in HSC Biology but have a UAI of at least 93 may enrol in BIOL1911 with permission from the UEO. The completion of MBLG 1001 is highly recommended. |
Semester 1 Summer Main |
| or | |||
| BIOL1911 Concepts in Biology (Advanced) |
6 | P 80+ in HSC 2-unit Biology (or equivalent) or Distinction or better in a University level Biology unit, or by invitation. N BIOL 1001 Note: Department permission required for enrolment It is recommended that BIOL (1001 or 1911) be taken concurrently with all other Junior units of study in Biology. The completion of MBLG1001 is highly recommended. |
Semester 1 |
| CHEM1001 Fundamentals of Chemistry 1A |
6 | A There is no assumed knowledge of chemistry for this unit of study, but students who have not undertaken an HSC chemistry course are strongly advised to complete a chemistry bridging course before lectures commence. N CHEM1101, CHEM1901, CHEM1109, CHEM1903 |
Semester 1 |
| or | |||
| CHEM1101 Chemistry 1A |
6 | A HSC Chemistry and Mathematics C Recommended concurrent units of study: 6 credit points of Junior Mathematics N CHEM1001, CHEM1109, CHEM1901, CHEM1903 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer Main |
| or | |||
| CHEM1901 Chemistry 1A (Advanced) |
6 | P ATAR of at least 95.4 and HSC Chemistry result in band 5 or 6, or by invitation. C Recommended concurrent unit of study: 6 credit points of Junior Mathematics N CHEM1001, CHEM1101, CHEM1109, CHEM1903 Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| ENSY1001 Australian Environments and Climate |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ENVX1001 Introductory Statistical Methods |
6 | A 70 or more in HSC Mathematics |
Semester 1 |
| BIOL1002 Living Systems |
6 | A HSC 2-unit Biology. Students who have not completed HSC biology (or equivalent) are strongly advised to take the Biology Bridging Course (in February). N BIOL1902 It is recommended that BIOL (1001 or 1911) be taken before this unit of study. This unit of study, together with BIOL (1001 or 1911) provides entry to all Intermediate units of study in biology in the School of Biological Sciences. |
Semester 2 |
| or | |||
| BIOL1902 Living Systems (Advanced) |
6 | P UAI (or ATAR equivalent) of at least 93 and HSC Biology result in the 90+, or Distinction or better in a University level Biology unit, or by invitation. N BIOL1002 Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| CHEM1002 Fundamentals of Chemistry 1B |
6 | P CHEM (1001 or 1101) or equivalent N CHEM1102, CHEM1108, CHEM1902, CHEM1904 |
Semester 2 |
| or | |||
| CHEM1102 Chemistry 1B |
6 | P CHEM (1101 or 1901) or a Distinction in CHEM1001 or equivalent C Recommended concurrent units of study: 6 credit points of Junior Mathematics N CHEM1002, CHEM1108, CHEM1902, CHEM1904 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 Summer Main |
| or | |||
| CHEM1902 Chemistry 1B (Advanced) |
6 | P CHEM (1901 or 1903) or Distinction in CHEM1101 or equivalent C Recommended concurrent unit of study: 6 credit points of Junior Mathematics N CHEM1002, CHEM1102, CHEM1108, CHEM1904 Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| ENSY1002 Ecological Sustainability |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| RSEC1031 Resource Economics 1 |
6 | N AGEC1031 |
Semester 2 |
Year 2 |
|||
| Year 2 will have the following structure: 36 credit points of core units including: | |||
| ENSY2001 Systems Complexity and Dynamics |
6 | P BIOM1003 or ENVX1001 |
Semester 1 |
| ENVX2001 Applied Statistical Methods |
6 | P ENVX1001 or BIOM1003 or MATH1011 and MATH1015 |
Semester 1 |
| SOIL2003 Soil Properties and Processes |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ENVX3001 Environmental GIS |
6 | A least 48 credit points in second year agriculture/science units. |
Semester 2 |
| LWSC2002 Introductory Hydrology |
6 | A AFNR1001, AFNR1002, ENSY1001 and (BIOM1003 or ENVX1001) |
Semester 2 |
| PLNT2003 Plant Form and Function |
6 | A 12 credit points of Junior Biology, or equivalent eg BIOL (1001 or 1101 or 1901 or 1911) and BIOL (1002 or 1902 or 1003 or 1903) N PLNT2903, BIOL2003, BIOL2903, CROP2001 |
Semester 2 |
| and 12 credit points of elective units from either Table AS1 or Table NTS1 | |||
Table AS1 Agricultural Systems Stream |
|||
| one of: | |||
| AGCH2004 Agricultural Chemistry |
6 | P 12 credit points of Junior Chemistry N AGCH2003, PLNT2001 |
Semester 1 |
| AGEC2103 Production Economics |
6 | P ECON1001 or AGEC1006 or ( AGEC1003 and AGEC1004) or RESEC1031 N AGEC2003 |
Semester 1 |
| GENE2001 Agricultural Genetics 2 |
6 | P At least one of (BIOL1001, BIOL1002, BIOL1101, BIOL1901, BIOL1911) |
Semester 1 |
| and one of: | |||
| AGEC2101 Market and Price Analysis |
6 | P AGEC1006 or (AGEC1003 and AGEC1004) or AGEC1002 or AGEC1102 or RSEC1031 or AGEC1031 N AGEC2001 |
Semester 2 |
| AGRO3004 Managing Agro-Ecosystems |
6 | P AFNR1001, AFNR1002, PLNT2003, SOIL2003 and (BIOM2001 or ENVX2001) |
Semester 2 |
| ENTO2001 Agricultural Entomology |
6 | P 12 credit points of first year biology |
Semester 2 |
| ENVI2112 Atmospheric Processes and Climate This unit of study is not available in2011 |
6 | P 24 credit points of Junior Science units, including 12 credit points of Junior Chemistry or Physics N ENVI2002 |
Semester 2 |
| MICR2024 Microbes in the Environment |
6 | P 12 credit points of first year Biology N MICR2001, MICR2901, MICR2003, MICR2007, MICR2011, MICR2021, MICR2921, MICR2909 |
Semester 2 |
| SOIL2004 The Soil Resource |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
Table NTS1 Natural Terrestrial Systems Stream |
|||
| one of: | |||
| ENVI2111 Conservation Biology and Applied Ecology |
6 | P BIOL (1001 or 1911) and 6 additional credit points of Junior Biology (BIOL/MBLG/EDUH). 12 credit points of Junior Chemistry. N ENVI2911 |
Semester 1 |
| GEOS2113 Making the Australian Landscape This unit of study is not available in2011 |
6 | P 24 credit points of Junior units of study, including GEOS1002 or GEOS1003 or GEOS1902 or GEOS1903 or GEOG1001 or ENVI1002 or GEOL1001 or GEOL1002 or GEOL1902 N GEOS2913 |
Semester 1 |
| PLNT2002 Aust Flora: Ecology and Conservation |
6 | P 6 credit points of a Junior unit of study N PLNT2902 |
Semester 1 |
| and one of | |||
| ENVI2112 Atmospheric Processes and Climate This unit of study is not available in2011 |
6 | P 24 credit points of Junior Science units, including 12 credit points of Junior Chemistry or Physics N ENVI2002 |
Semester 2 |
| GEOG2321 Fluvial and Groundwater Geomorphology |
6 | P 24 credit points of Junior units of study including 6 credit points of Junior Geoscience. Students in the BEnvSys should have ENSY1001, 12 credit points of Chemisty, 6 credit points of Biology, BIOM1003 or ENVX2001 N GEOG2002, GEOG2302, GEOG2303, MARS2002, MARS2006 |
Semester 2 |
| MICR2024 Microbes in the Environment |
6 | P 12 credit points of first year Biology N MICR2001, MICR2901, MICR2003, MICR2007, MICR2011, MICR2021, MICR2921, MICR2909 |
Semester 2 |
| SOIL2004 The Soil Resource |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
Year 3 |
|||
| Year 3 will have the following structure: 24 credit points of core units including: | |||
| LWSC3007 Advanced Hydrology and Modelling |
6 | P LWSC2002 |
Semester 1 |
| SOIL3009 Contemporary Field and Lab Soil Science |
6 | P SOIL2003 |
Semester 1 |
| PLNT3001 Plant, Cell and Environment |
6 | P 12 credit points of Intermediate Biology, Plant Science, Molecular Biology and Genetics or equivalent N PLNT3901 |
Semester 2 |
| and a new 6 credit point unit of study dealing with biosphere-atmosphere interactions, which will be introduced in 2012 | |||
| and 24 credit points from either Table AS2 or Table NTS2 | |||
Table AS2 Agricultural Systems Stream |
|||
| two of: | |||
| AFNR3001 Agro-ecosystems in Developing Countries |
6 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
S1 Intensive |
| AGRO4003 Crop and Pasture Agronomy |
6 | P AGRO3004 |
Semester 1 |
| AGRO4004 Sustainable Farming Systems |
6 | P AGRO3004 |
Semester 1 |
| ENVI3111 Environmental Law and Ethics |
6 | A Intermediate Environmental Science. P 12 credit points of Intermediate Science or Agriculture units. N ENVI3001, ENVI3003 |
Semester 1 |
| ENVX3002 Statistics in the Natural Sciences |
6 | P ENVX2001 or BIOM2001 or STAT2012 or STAT2912 |
Semester 1 |
| LWSC3005 Environmental Water Quality |
6 | P LWSC2002 or GEOG2321 or AGCH2003 or 6 credit points of intermediate Chemistry Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| PPAT4005 Soil Biology |
6 | P MICR2024 or 6cp intermediate microbiology |
Semester 1 |
| RSEC4131 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
6 | P (ECON2001 or ECOS2001) and (AGEC2103 or AGEC2003) N AGEC4037 |
Semester 1 |
| and a new 6 credit point unit of study dealing with agro-forestry, which will be introduced in 2012. | |||
| and two of | |||
| ENVX4001 GIS, Remote Sensing and Land Management |
6 | A Recommended units include GEOS2111/GEOS2911 (Natural Hazards: a GIS approach), ENVX3001 (Environmental GIS), SOIL3004 (The Soil Resource), GEOS3014/GEOS3914 (GIS in Coastal Management) Note: Department permission required for enrolment Consent of the unit coordinator required. |
Semester 2 |
| ENTO4003 Integrated Pest Management |
6 | P ENTO2001 or ENTO2002 or BIOL2017 or BIOL2917 (Note: BIOL2017/BIOL2917 are only for BSc students who elect to take this UoS) |
Semester 2 |
| PLNT3002 Plant Growth and Development |
6 | P 12 credit points of intermediate PLNT, BIOL, AGCH or CROP units of study including at least one of PLNT2001, PLNT2901, PLNT2003, PLNT2903, BIOL2016, BIOL2916, BIOL2003, BIOL2903, BIOL2006, BIOL2906, CROP2001, AGCH2002 or equivalent N PLNT3902, BIOL3021, BIOL3931 |
Semester 2 |
| RSEC4134 Economics of Water & Bio-resources |
6 | A (ECON2002 or ECOS2002), AGEC3001, AGEC2101, AGEC2105 P (ECON2001 or ECOS2001) and (AGEC2103 or AGEC2003) N ECON3013 |
Semester 2 |
| SOIL3010 The Soil at Work |
6 | P SOIL2003 or SOIL2004 |
Semester 2 |
Table NTS2 Natural Terrestrial Systems Stream |
|||
| two of | |||
| BIOL3006 Ecological Methods |
6 | A BIOL (2011 or 2911 or 2012 or 2912) or PLNT (2002 or 2902). P 12 credit points of Intermediate Biology; or 6 credit points of Intermediate BIOL and one of ENVI (2111 or 2911) or GEOS (2115 or 2915). N BIOL3906 |
Semester 1 |
| ENVI3111 Environmental Law and Ethics |
6 | A Intermediate Environmental Science. P 12 credit points of Intermediate Science or Agriculture units. N ENVI3001, ENVI3003 |
Semester 1 |
| ENVX3002 Statistics in the Natural Sciences |
6 | P ENVX2001 or BIOM2001 or STAT2012 or STAT2912 |
Semester 1 |
| GEOS3018 Rivers: Science, Policy and Management |
6 | P 24 credit points of Intermediate units of study including 6 credit points of Intermediate Geoscience (GEOG or GEOS) units of study N GEOS3918 |
Semester 1 |
| LWSC3005 Environmental Water Quality |
6 | P LWSC2002 or GEOG2321 or AGCH2003 or 6 credit points of intermediate Chemistry Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| PLNT3003 Systematics and Evolution of Plants |
6 | P 6 credit points of any Intermediate unit of study from BIOL, PLNT, LWSC, HORT, GEOS, GEOG, ENVI, SOIL. N PLNT3903 |
Semester 1 |
| PPAT4005 Soil Biology |
6 | P MICR2024 or 6cp intermediate microbiology |
Semester 1 |
| and a new 6 credit point unit of study dealing with fire ecology and management, which will be introduced in 2012 | |||
| and a new 6 credit point unit of study dealing with agro-forestry, which will be introduced in 2012 | |||
| and two of | |||
| BIOL3007 Ecology |
6 | A Although not prerequisites, knowledge obtained from BIOL3006/3906, and BIOL3008/3908 and/or BIOL3009/3909, is strongly recommended. P 12 credit points of Intermediate Biology; or 6 credit points of Intermediate BIOL, and one of ENVI (2111 or 2911) or GEOS(2115 or 2915). N BIOL3907 |
Semester 2 |
| BIOL3009 Terrestrial Field Ecology |
6 | A BIOL (3006 or 3906). Prior completion of one of these units is very strongly recommended. P 12 credit points of Intermediate Biology or ANSC2004 and BIOM2001. N BIOL3909 One 6 day field trip held in the pre-semester break (17 - 22 July 2011), and 4x4 hr practical classes during weeks 1-4 in Semester 2. |
S2 Intensive |
| ENVI3112 Environmental Assessment |
6 | A Intermediate Environmental Science. P 12 credit points of Intermediate Science or Agriculture units. N ENVI3002, ENVI3004 |
Semester 2 |
| GEOS3015 Environmental Geomorphology This unit of study is not available in2011 |
6 | A Intermediate geomorphology/ physical geography/ geology. P 24 credit points of Intermediate units, including 6 credit points of Intermediate Geoscience N GEOS3915 |
Semester 2 |
| PLNT3002 Plant Growth and Development |
6 | P 12 credit points of intermediate PLNT, BIOL, AGCH or CROP units of study including at least one of PLNT2001, PLNT2901, PLNT2003, PLNT2903, BIOL2016, BIOL2916, BIOL2003, BIOL2903, BIOL2006, BIOL2906, CROP2001, AGCH2002 or equivalent N PLNT3902, BIOL3021, BIOL3931 |
Semester 2 |
| New Units of Study covering biosphere-atmosphere interactions (introduced in 2012), agro-forestry (introduced in 2012), and fire ecology and management (introduced in 2012), will be progressively introduced as the first cohort of BEnvSys students move through the degree. | |||
Course rules
Bachelor of Environmental Systems
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
BH007 |
Bachelor of Environmental Systems |
2 Attendance pattern
3 Streams
(2)
Completion of one stream is a requirement of the course. Candidates should seek advice from the degree coordinator on which stream to take, prior to selecting second year units of study.
4 Admission to candidature
0.
Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Rule.
5 Requirements for award
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Bachelor of Environmental Systems table of units of study. The Dean may approve some variation in units of study required for the degree for exceptionally talented students.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a candidate must complete 144 credit points, including:
(b)
18 credit points of elective second year units and 24 credit points of elective third year units in a single stream.
6 Transitional provisions
(1)
These resolutions apply to persons who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and persons who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.