Overview
Environmental scientists find employment in consultancies, government agencies, resource management, research and education, mining, and manufacturing. This degree covers the evaluation and monitoring of all aspects of the environment, including the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere.
You will learn about the biochemical processes that occur in both natural and degraded environments and specialist with a minor in either environmental chemistry or environmental biology.
You can also choose to minor in geoscience (environmental engineering) or geospatial science, or gain a breadth of knowledge across all the minors, depending on your preferred career pathway.
Over the course of your studies, you will undertake both practical and industry-relevant activities, gaining:
- considerable hands-on experience with equipment, both in the laboratory and in the field
- frequent field trips during second and third year
- working on collaborative projects with industry.
Many of these activities involve working in small groups to foster teamwork and a collaborative approach to research and projects.
Career
Your work as an environmental scientist may involve laboratory work, field work, report writing, and research.
Typical tasks graduates perform include:
- sample collection and analysis
- waste management
- ongoing monitoring and assessment
- environmental impact assessment
- site remediation
- policy development
- cleaner production
- environmental education and training
- environmental auditing.
A number of graduates are now in senior positions in several industry areas, including:
- The Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- catchment management authorities
- agricultural and research agencies
- environmental consultancies
- higher education.
Entry Requirements
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 or an equivalent senior secondary school qualification with a minimum average of 65% (see calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognized post secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
