Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems

Major/Minor/Specialisation !B-ENVS-MAJ+1008 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus: 2009

Coordinator

Dr Graham Moore

Contact

Environments Student Centre
Old Commerce Building
The University of Melbourne
VIC 3010
T:+61 3 8344 6417
F: +61 3 8344 5532
E: envs-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Overview:

Physical Systems (Environmental Engineering) involves the planning, design and management of the natural environment. Environmental Engineers require an understanding of the complexity and variability or natural systems. They focus on land and water engineering, examining issues such as land use and management, water quality, and soil rehabilitation.

Careers and further study

Students pursuing a career in Environmental Engineering will complete the Bachelor of Environments with a major in Physical systems, followed by the two-year Master of Engineering (Environmental). The five-year Bachelor-Master combination leads to professional accreditation by Engineers Australia, the Institute of Engineers. For more information on the Masters of Engineering and graduate careers, please visit the Melbourne School of Engineering web site: www.eng.unimelb.edu.au

Objectives: By the end of a three year Bachelor of Environments degree with a Physical Systems major, you will have developed a deep understanding of the interaction between the built and natural environments, and problem solving skills with regard to ecologically sustainable development. For more information visit: www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au
Majors/
Minors/
Specialisations

Course Requirements

Students majoring in Physical Systems must completethe following in addition to the 75 points breadth requirement:

  • the second year (200-level) core subjects listed below; PLUS
  • the third year (300-level) core subjects: Fluid Mechanics, Risk Analysis, Systems Modelling and Design; PLUS
  • two second year (200-level) OR third year level subjects chosen from one of the following disciplines: geomatics, environmental chemistry, biology, environmental economics/management.

Please note the following regarding the Mathematical stream of subjects that are essential to the Physical Systems Major (students must check the prerequisite requirements of subjects before enrolling to ensure it is appropriate and should consult a course advisor if they are unsure):

  • Students who have completed VCE Mathematical Methods 3 and 4 with a study score of 25 or more should enrol in Calculus 1 in Semester 1 of first year and Calculus 2 in second semester of first year, followed by Linear Algebra and Engineering Maths in their second year.
  • Students who have completed VCE Specialist Maths with a study score of at least 27 are not permitted to enrol in Calculus 1 but should enrol in Calculus 2 in first semester and follow on to enrol in Linear Algebra in second semester and Engineering Maths in their second year.

For more details on the most appropriate maths subjects please view the subject pages by clicking on the links below.

Subject Options:

Recommended first year subjects

Students planning to major in Physical Systems will need to take the following first year electives and breadth subjects as they form prerequisite for subjects offered in later years.

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50
Summer, Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50

Core second year subjects for the Physical Systems major:

Students majoring in Physical Systems must complete the second year (200-level) core subjects outlined below. As well as two second year (200-level) OR third year (300-level) subjects chosen from one of the following disciplines:

  • geomatics,
  • environmental chemistry,
  • biology,
  • environmental economics/management.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50
Summer, Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50

Core third year subjects for the Physical Systems major

Students majoring in Physical Systems must complete the third year (300-level) core subjects outlined below. These subjects will be availableto Bachelor of Environments students from 2010.

  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Risk Analysis
  • Systems Modelling and Design.

Bachelor of Environments electives

All Bachelor of Environments students must complete 37.5 points of Bachelor of Environments electives.

For a complete listing of available subjects please see:

http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/electives

Breadth subjects

All Bachelor of Environments Students must complete 75 credit points of subjects selected from those available as breadth for Bachelor of Environments students; including at least one subject at 300-level. For a complete listing of available subjects please see:

https://app.portal.unimelb.edu.au/CSCApplication/faces/htdocs/user/breadth/BreadthSearch.jsp

.

For more information on this major and to view a sample course plan please visit:

http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/about/fields-of-study/physical-systems.html

.

Related Course(s): Bachelor of Environments

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