Course details

Summary

With so many options to choose from, the Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) is your opportunity to create a good foundation for your study in the Earth, Chemical, Computational, Human, Life, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Programme overview

If you have a mind for science and you’re keen to keep your options open, then the BSc is the degree for you. With many undergraduate majors in a wide range of subject areas, the BSc will allow you to incorporate different areas of interest and expertise. As well as strongly emphasizing transferable skills to improve your employment opportunities, this programme will expose you to cutting-edge technologies and provide a gateway to independent research. Throughout your undergraduate degree you’ll be taught by knowledgeable scientists, many of whom are major contributors in their field.

Environmental Science Major

Environmental Science aims to understand the environment using input from a wide variety of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, geography, earth sciences, physics and engineering in conjunction with social sciences like economics and human geography. This understanding can be applied to the assessment and solution of environmental problems caused by human activity.

At undergraduate level, Environmental Science focuses on environmental effects of human activity and is dedicated to protecting and restoring natural heritage, minimizing human impact and restoring environmental degradation. Our central philosophy is a commitment to interdisciplinary teaching and research that will better enable our society to manage our environment and resources. Undergraduate courses are designed to add interdisciplinary skills to strengths in a particular scientific discipline.

Career opportunities

The future looks bright for graduate careers in environmental science, with opportunities expanding steadily. Our graduates have been employed in a very diverse range of careers such as: policy analysts for central government (such as MFE and MFish); scientific officers and resource planners in local and regional government, from Auckland Regional Council to Ruapehu District Council; environmental consultants; research scientists in Crown Research Institutes (such as NIWA, ESR and Landcare); scientific officers with non-government organizations (such as WWF-NZ and UNESCO); wildlife manager; health and safety professional; conservation officer (such as with DoC); pest manager, corporate environment manager; waste management analyst; environmental engineer.

Further study options

• Bachelor of Science (Honours)
• Graduate Diploma in Science (GradDipSci)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Structure

The Environmental Science major must be taken in conjunction with another BSc major, including 60 points from Stage III courses in the other majoring subject.

All majors must include:

75 points: ENVSCI 101, 201, 203, 301, 303

15 points from STATS 101 or 108, or approved equivalent

15 points from a Stage III Bachelor of Science course

Entry criteria

Secondary school qualifications

You need to have one of the following: International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum total score of 24. General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. You must have completed a minimum of three A-Level subjects with at least a 'C' grade or higher. General Studies or similar general papers cannot be included.

GCE ‘A’ Level requirements apply to ‘A’ Level qualifications examined by bodies such as AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC, CCEA, Pearson Education Limited and CIE taken outside of New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.0; TOEFL (iBT) 80; TOEFL (paper-based) 550; CAE or CPE 169; PTE 50; MELAB 80.