Future Students

Marine Science

Marine Science is therefore a fascinating and important area of study for the future of the state. The Marine Science program at UWA ranges from marine biology to coastal planning and management.

There are three options for studying Marine Science at UWA:

• Marine Science as a named program
• Marine Biology as a major
• Marine and Coastal Management also as a major

Students who want a broad background in Marine Science may choose to study this named program and graduate with a named degree – Bachelor of Science (Marine Science). This program combines the two majors Marine Biology and Marine and Coastal Management. The program in Marine Science is for students who are fascinated by all aspects of our marine and coastal environments. This course combines knowledge of aquatic life with a solid understanding of the physical environment of marine and coastal zones, marine plants and animals as well as topics such as geomorphology, oceanography, and coastal planning and management.

Level 1
You will choose units from Earth and Environmental Sciences; Core Concepts in Biology; Plant and Animal Biology; Maths, and Chemistry or Physics.

Level 2
You will study the units Introduction to Marine Science;  Invertebrate and Vertebrate Zoology, Coastal Environments and Processes; Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, and Aquatic Botany or Plant Physiology. Plus two optional units.

Level 3
You will study Animal Ecology; Field Techniques in Marine Science; Biological Oceanography; Physical Oceanography;  Marine and Coastal Planning and Management; Marine Geology; and Environmental Geomorphology of Coasts and Rivers.  Plus one unit from the following: Aquaculture; Marine Ecology; Waterway Restoration and Conservation;  Environmental Change;  Management Decision tools; Saving Endangered Species and Oceanographic Engineering.

If you are interested in finding out which subjects you will study then have a look at the Course Outline. This will show you the core units and the options for the course, along with course rules.

You will notice that each unit has a unit code, for example BIOL1130. The first number in the unit code indicates the level of the unit - in this case level one. For a more detailed description of a particular unit, click on the unit code.

Career opportunities

Graduates of this program will have a broad-based knowledge of marine and coastal systems and will be well-qualified for a wide range of jobs in areas of resource development. Employment is to be found in government departments and agencies (such as Department of Environment and Conservation, CSIRO), tertiary institutions, consulting firms, the fishing industry, and as planners in state and local agencies. Marine Scientists work for the oil industry, in aquaculture, and for agencies such as Greenpeace and Reef Check. The expertise of marine scientists is also used in conjunction with other specialists working on marine environmental problems.