Marine Science

Printer-friendly version

Western Australia has 13000 kilometres of coastline and stretches from the tropical waters of the Kimberley to the cool temperate waters of the south coast.  Marine Science is therefore a fascinating and important area of study for the future of the state.  The Marine Science programme at UWA ranges from marine biology to coastal planning and management.

There are three options for studying Marine Science at UWA – (i) Marine Science as a named programme; (ii) Marine Biology as a major; or (iii) Marine & Coastal Management also as a major.  Students who want a broad background in Marine Science may choose to study this named programme and graduate with a named degree – Bachelor of Science (Marine Science).  This programme combines the two majors Marine Biology and Marine and Coastal Management. 

The  programme in Marine Science is for students who are fascinated by all aspects of our marine and coastal environments. This course combines knowledge of aquatic life with a solid understanding of the physical environment of marine and coastal zones, marine plants and animals as well as topics such as geomorphology, oceanography, and coastal planning and management. 

Course Outline

Level 1
You will choose units from Earth and Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths.

Level 2
You will study the units Marine Science, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Zoology, Coastal Geomorphology and Sediments, Geographic Information Systems, and Aquatic Botany or Plant Physiology. Plus two optional units.

Level 3
You will study Animal Ecology, Field Techniques in Marine Science, Biological Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, Marine and Coastal Planning and Management,  Marine Geology, and Environmental Geomorphology of Sheltered Coasts.  Plus one unit from the following: Aquaculture, Waterway Restoration and Conservation, Ecosystem Biogeochemistry, Environmental Change, Geographies of Rural and Remote Areas, Managing Natural Systems Under Risk, Marine Ecology, Microbiology, or Oceanographic Engineering.

If you are interested in finding out which subjects you will study then have a look at the Course Outline.  This will show you the core units and the options for the course, along with course rules.

You will notice that each unit has a unit code ie BIOL1130.  The first number in the unit code indicates the level of the unit - in this case level one.  For a more detailed description of a particular unit, click on the unit code.

Duration

Bachelor of Science (Marine Science): 3 years full time, up to 10 years part time

Career Opportunities

The preservation and careful management of the resources of the Western Australian nearshore and offshore environment are becoming more important as the population and industrial base of the State grows and as tourism continues to increase. 

Graduates of this programme will have a broad-based knowledge of marine and coastal systems and will be well-qualified for a wide range of jobs in areas os resource development.  Employment is to be found in government departments and agencies (eg. Department of Environment and Conservation, CSIRO), tertiary institutions, consulting firms, the fishing industry, and as planners in state and local agencies.  Marine Scientists work for the oil industry, in aquaculture, and for agencies such as Greenpeace and Reef Check. The expertise of marine scientists is also used in conjunction with other specialists working on marine environmental problems.