Ocean and Climate Sciences (Bachelor of Science major)

This major is directed at those who wish to gain a sound basis for understanding the behaviour of oceans and coastal seas, and also the climate, so that resources in a changing environment can be soundly managed. Starting from a fairly descriptive level, the major progressively develops a deeper and quantitative understanding of the physical processes shaping the marine environment and influencing climate. This includes directed field exercises with modern oceanographic and meteorological instruments and theoretical challenges such as state-of-the-art computer-based modelling.

The major can be combined with areas such as biology, hydrology, physics and mathematics, to broaden employment possibilities. For those graduates who have completed their undergraduate degree at a high level, and wish to develop their research skills in a particular field they can take a further year of study at Honours level. The Honours year covers advanced topics that focus on research into problems of local, national, or global importance such as the major coastal upwelling system of the southern coast.

On successful completion of this major in the BSc degree you will be prepared for a professional career as a consultant or scientist (eg, with the Bureau of Meteorology, various divisions of CSIRO. SARDI, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and aquaculture, or environmental consulting firms in private industry). Once you've completed a higher degree (MSc or PhD) even greater career opportunities can be found in areas such as working with an international team of scientists on large projects devoted to improving knowledge in the ocean and climate sciences.

Check the Faculty pages regarding the Bachelor of Science and the Ocean and Climate Sciences Major for updates, prerequisites and regulations. Detailed information on the structure of the major is documented in the Course Information Handbook .

The co-ordinator for this major is Jochen Kaempf.