Students may opt to undertake four courses in Environmental Planning offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences as an alternative to one of the specialisation strands. Students do not have to decide on specialisations until their second year of study. The Environmental Management Strand addresses the monitoring, regulatory and policy frameworks associated with environmental impact assessment, environmental management systems and integrated catchment management. The courses are practically oriented and emphasise the ability to communicate scientific findings through the preparation of scientific reports, proposals and audits. In Environmental Restoration Strand students develop skills in describing and assessing the condition of landscapes, habitats and ecosystems.
Students apply restoration theory, methods and technologies in a variety of environments.
They will critically evaluate available and emerging methods and technologies through planning, implementation and management of a restoration project. This theme emphasises the microbial processes that mediate biogeochemical cycling and ecological succession. Students will learn the latest techniques used to study the dynamics, structure and function of microbial communities. The concentration of the Australian population in the coastal region provides a natural focus for an understanding of the natural processes and man-made modifications of the nearshore marine environment. To respond to this need, the Marine Science Strand provides training in the ecology of marine organisms, and habitats, teaches the fundamentals of aquaculture and provides approaches to assessing complex environmental issues in coastal seas.