Environmental Sciences (2024)

Environmental Sciences are interdisciplinary with a focus on ecology, soil and water environments and geochemistry.

Environmental Sciences is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Science (Technology) (BSc(Tech)). Environmental Sciences may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Environmental Sciences as a single major for the BCC, BSc and BSc(Tech), students must gain 135 points including EARTH101, ENVSC101, ENVSC201 and ENVPL303; one of BIOEB202 or BIOMO203; one of CHEMY204 or ENVSC202; one of EARTH221, EARTH231 or EARTH241; and two papers in different subject areas from BIOEB303, BIOEB304, BIOEB305, BIOMO303, CHEMY304, EARTH313, EARTH321, EARTH322, EARTH331, EARTH341, EARTH342, or ENVSC302.

To complete Environmental Sciences as part of a double major for the BCC, BSc, BSc(Tech) or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points including EARTH101, ENVSC101, ENVSC201 and ENVPL303; one of BIOEB202 or BIOMO203; one of CHEMY204 or ENVSC202; one of EARTH221, EARTH231 or EARTH241; one of BIOEB303, BIOEB304, BIOEB305, BIOMO303, CHEMY304, EARTH313, EARTH321, EARTH322, EARTH331, EARTH341, EARTH342 or ENVSC302.

To complete a minor in Environmental Sciences, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Environmental Sciences major, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must include ENVSC101 and ENVSC201.

Note: Students who commenced a major in Environmental Sciences in 2017 or prior should contact the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science for programme advice.


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  • Prescriptions for the GradCert(EnvSc) and GradDip(EnvSc)

    A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Environmental Sciences at an advanced level in their first degree.

    For further details, contact the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science.

  • Prescriptions for the PGCert(EnvSci), PGDip(EnvSci), BSc(Hons), MSc, MSc(Res) and MSc(Tech) [1]

    To complete a postgraduate subject in Environmental Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 60 points (for PGDip a minimum of 90 points) of taught papers in the subject at 500 level, including at least 30 points with an ENVSC prefix from the papers in List A, and a maximum of 30 points from the papers in List B. They must also complete any research requirement for their degree, typically ENVSC592 (60 points), ENVSC593 (90 points) or ENVSC594 (120 points), as well as any other degree requirements. Candidates should select their papers in consultation with the Postgraduate Convenor and enrolment in BSc(Hons) is only by invitation of the Postgraduate Convenor.

    List A papers are: ENVSC501, ENVSC502, ENVSC503, ENVSC504 and ENVSC505.

    List B papers are: BIOEB502, BIOEB503, BIOEB504, BIOEB505, BIOEB506, BIOMO503, BIOMO512, CHEMY503, EARTH501, EARTH502, EARTH503, EARTH504, EARTH505, EARTH506, ENGEV544, ENGEV545, SCIEN511, SCIEN512 and SCIEN589.

    [1] The MSc(Tech) will not be offered in 2024.

  • Prescriptions for the PhD

    The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    BIOEB102Introduction to Ecology and Biodiversity - Mātai Hauropi a Kanorau Koiora15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    An introduction to the principles of ecology and biodiversity. Topics include population, community and ecosystem ecology, conservation biology, and the structure, functioning and environmental responses of animals and plants. Examples will include New Zealand ecosystems and biota. He whakataki tenei pepa i nga matapono o te matai ...
    CHEMY100Chemistry in Context - Matū o te Ao15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper covers a broad range of chemical concepts that are fundamental to the sciences and engineering. A strong emphasis is made to teach concepts through real-life examples from the world around us. He toro na tenei pepa i nga tumomo tuapapa o te matai matu kei te tuapapa o nga horopaki putaiao, pukaha hoki He kaha hangai te ...
    CHEMY101Structure and Spectroscopy - Tūramaramatia i ngā Hanganga15.024A (Hamilton) & 24C (Hamilton)
    A theoretical and practical course covering aspects of analytical and inorganic chemistry. This course is required for the chemistry major. He pepa tirotiro i nga tuahua o te wetewete i te matauranga matuwaro me tona kore paraumu, he pepa matua o roto o te tohu matuora.
    EARTH101Introduction to Earth System Sciences - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    A lecture and laboratory paper that explores the interacting processes that affect the surface of the Earth, producing landforms and resources, with a focus on physical processes. Topics covered include coastal processes and hazards; climate change; weathering; erosion and mass movement; soil formation; the hydrological cycle; rive...
    ENVSC101Environmental Science - Pūtaiao Taiao15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    A scientific study of the interaction between humans and the environment including climate change, utilisation and exploitation of natural resources and the effects of human activities on biological, chemical and physical processes that form resources and control ecosystems. Ko te whainga matua o tenei pepa putaiao taiao ki te whak...
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    BIOEB202Principles of Ecology15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper covers the principles of ecology, including adaptation to the environment, intra- and inter-specific interactions, community and ecosystem dynamics, and biogeography. Weekend field trips and computer laboratory work are essential elements.
    BIOMO202Genetics15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper deals with genetics in the widest sense from the molecular and cellular to the applied and evolutionary. Both prokaryote and eukaryote genetics are discussed with respect to DNA replication, hereditary, gene expression and control, and the role of mutations at both the DNA and chromosomal levels. The paper provides a pat...
    BIOMO203Microbiology15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper will focus on microbial cell structure, function, and metabolism. Content and context will be drawn from both human and environmental examples. Students will acquire skills in microbiological laboratory techniques, data collection, data analysis, and report presentation. This paper is required for the Molecular and Cellu...
    CHEMY204Analytical Chemistry15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of analytical chemistry including characterisation using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
    EARTH221Soil Science15.024B (Hamilton)
    An introduction to the nature, formation, and classification of soils, their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties, and issues of soil quality, land degradation and sustainable management. The paper also encompasses the properties, genesis, and distribution of the soils of New Zealand and their use.
    EARTH231Water Resources, Weather and Climate15.024A (Hamilton)
    Introduction to atmospheric and hydrological processes affecting weather and climate in Aotearoa, including the distribution of water in space and time. Topics include mid-latitude weather and atmospheric precipitation processes and how they interact with the land to affect hydrological regimes across Aotearoa, including the potent...
    EARTH241Oceanography15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    This paper introduces students to the broad scale properties, issues, and research importance of the global ocean via the main disciplines of oceanography: particularly biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography
    ENVSC201Environmental Monitoring15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    An introduction to reasons for, and design and implementation of, environmental monitoring in New Zealand. Skills in data collection, management, presentation, and interpretation are developed for a range of environments using both field data collection and published data-sets.
    ENVSC202Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper is a broad introduction into environmental chemistry and geochemistry including the formation of the elements, chemical evolution of Earth, modern Earth surface processes, fossil fuels and biomarkers, global biogeochemical cycling, atmospheric chemistry and global climate change.
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    BIOEB303Terrestrial Ecology15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper explores ecological theory to understand the dynamics, functioning, and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems in New Zealand and across the globe. Labs, workshops, and a weekend field trip are core components of this paper.
    BIOEB304Freshwater Ecology15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    Freshwater ecology is the study of how organisms in freshwater ecosystems interact with each other and their environment. This paper will introduce the structure and function of ecological communities in rivers and lakes, their linkages with adjacent terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the management of freshwaters including con...
    BIOEB305Marine Ecology15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
    An introduction to the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. The paper explores the fundamentals of ecology (e.g. disturbance/recovery, recruitment, organism interactions with their environment, nutrient cycles, limits on productivity) in a marine setting. We also cover human impacts on marine environments including fishe...
    CHEMY304Advanced Analytical Chemistry15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper covers advanced aspects of analytical chemistry including mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Mossbauer and Raman spectroscopy, quality control and assurance, sampling techniques and method validation.
    EARTH313Engineering Geology15.024A (Hamilton)
    Engineering Geology is the application of the principles of Earth Sciences to ensure hazards associated with landslides or unfavourable soil and rock conditions are identified in engineering or environmental work. This paper gives an introduction to the field of engineering geology. Topics covered include: landslide processes and t...
    EARTH322Soil and Water Management15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper integrates an understanding of land/soil and water processes that occur at paddock to catchment to national scales. A focus is on management practices that optimise resource use for productive purposes with attention to avoidance or minimisation of environmental effects. Topics include soil degradation, soil fertility, ...
    EARTH331Hydrology15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper examines aspects of the hydrological cycle at a regional scale, focussing on catchments in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, including lake processes. The paper is predominantly practical and involves the measurement and analysis of hydrological processes, emphasising precipitation, river flow and runoff processe...
    EARTH341Coastal Oceanography15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper focuses on the physical oceanography of the coastal zone. Topics include estuarine circulation, wind driven currents on the shelf, longwaves, resonance, seiching, methodologies for quantifying processes and coastal responses, waves and surfzone processes.
    ENVPL303Environmental Assessment and Policy15.024B (Hamilton)
    This is a project-based paper that provides an understanding of how environmental assessments are prepared, and used to assist decision-making and inform policy implementation for complex environmental problems such as climate change impacts, freshwater quality, and environmental pollution.
  • 400 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    LEGAL434Environmental Law15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper examines the foundations and principles of environmental and resource management law, their expression in key areas (biodiversity, climate change, freshwater, and oceans), and the planning, adjudication and compliance techniques used to implement the law.
  • 500 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    BIOEB503Terrestrial Ecology15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper aims to develop students' understanding of ecological theory with a focus on terrestrial ecosystems, and of how theory can inform ecosystem management and our understanding of environmental problems. As well as exploring some of the big questions in contemporary ecology (both nationally and internationally), the paper fo...
    BIOEB504Freshwater Ecology15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper explores how advances in ecological theory and scientific methods can deliver new insights into the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems. The paper also considers how this knowledge can improve our understanding of environmental problems and help guide freshwater management.
    BIOEB505Coastal and Estuarine Ecology15.024X (Block)
    This paper emphasises multi-disciplinary science to better understand the functioning of soft-sediment ecosystems. The course will cover ecological principles through to the impacts associated with human activities and their management.
    BIOEB506Environmental Physiology15.024B (Hamilton)
    An examination of selected topics in environmental physiology, considering how animals and plants interact with their environment and influence ecological processes in natural and managed ecosystems.
    BIOMO503Microbiomes15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper explores microbiomes in the environment and in association with multicellular organisms, including humans, to understand their critical ecological roles in ecosystem and host function and health.
    BIOMO512Molecular Techniques for Environmental Science15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper will introduce students of diverse scientific backgrounds to current and emerging molecular analytic and diagnostic techniques used across biological and environmental sciences.
    CHEMY503Analytical Methodology15.024A (Hamilton)
    An advanced study of analytical methodology and instrumental techniques, this will investigate sample extraction techniques, and instrument choice for a variety of sample matrices.
    EARTH501Volcanic Techniques and Applications15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper investigates geological techniques used to reconstruct eruption processes and histories, and their application to society, including volcanic facies analysis, tephra studies (tephrochronology), volcanic glass and mineral studies, juvenile and lithic studies, and volcanic hazards.
    EARTH503Coastal Processes: Analysis and Prediction15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper considers techniques to predict coastal processes for management and research, including assessment of which processes to observe, how to obtain and analyse data, and using results for prediction.
    EARTH504Geohazard Risk15.024B (Hamilton)
    This seminar paper evaluates the methodologies used to characterise risk associated with geohazards, and assesses the impact of strategies employed to avoid or mitigate this risk.
    EARTH506Sedimentary Geology15.024A (Hamilton)
    A paper that builds on the foundational knowledge of sedimentary geology established at the undergraduate level. It focuses on examining the application of sedimentological, stratigraphical, and geophysical principles to mapping Earth materials and building cross sections through sedimentary basins.
    ENVSC502Conservation and Restoration: Theory and Practice15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper examines the application of scientific principles and theories in conservation biology and restoration ecology, with particular reference to New Zealand examples showcasing management of species and ecosystems impacted by human activities.
    ENVSC503Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Land15.024A (Hamilton)
    Processes and factors controlling exchanges of water, carbon and greenhouse gases in natural or managed ecosystems, methodologies to quantify them, and approaches to mitigate undesirable anthropogenic consequences.
    ENVSC504Pollution and Environmental Contaminants15.024B (Hamilton)
    This paper examines the ecological effects of chemical and non-chemical pollution. Analysing online databases and the scientific literature provides practical and theoretical understanding of the impacts of pollution and methods to measure such effects.
    ENVSC505Environmental Systems: Biogeosciences across Scales15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper examines how core concepts in the multidisciplinary field of biogeochemistry provide a systems understanding across scales.
    ENVSC592Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation - 60 points.
    ENVSC594Environmental Sciences Thesis120.024X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research - 120 points.
    SCIEN512Data Analysis and Experimental Design15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper covers aspects of research design for experiments, and methods for analysis of scientific data using modern statistical techniques.
    SCIEN589Directed Study15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton), 24B (Tauranga), 24C (Hamilton) & 24C (Tauranga)
    No description available.
  • 800 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    ENVSC800Environmental Sciences MPhil Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
    No description available.
  • 900 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    ENVSC900Environmental Sciences PhD Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
    No description available.

2024 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 March 2024 8:11pm

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