Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major

Physical Systems (Environmental Engineering) involves the planning, design and management of the natural environment and it interfaces with the built 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, climate change, waste management, energy use efficiency 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 Washington Accord and Eur-ACE, the European accreditation system for professional 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

By the end of a three year Bachelor of Environments degree with a Physical Systems major, students 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

112.5 points (9 subjects) of Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems subjects.

Course planning for a Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major

A major in Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems in the Bachelor of Environment consists of:

• 112.5 points (9 subjects) of Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems subjects;

• 25 points (2 subjects) of core first year subjects (Natural Environments and Reshaping Environments);

• 12.5 points (1 subject) of first year subjects that are core to the major (Constructing Environments);

• 25-37.5 points (2-3 subjects) of mathematics breadth subjects required for the major (see below under Required Level 1 breadth subjects).

This is in addition to electives and breadth to make up the 300 points required for the degree. Specific details of the Bachelor of Environments course structure can be found at:

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/B-ENVS

The following description of the Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major aligns with the Study Plan Structure viewable on the Portal for students who commenced the Bachelor of Environments in 2011 or later.

The components within the structure of this major have been designed to enforce the requirements of both this specific major and of the course overall, e.g. the requirement that at least 62.5 points of Environments discipline subjects (which can include subjects taken within the major) are taken at each of Level 2 and Level 3.

It is strongly recommended that students refer to the full description of this major.

The layout of this description is not necessarily in the order in which subjects are taken.

E.g. breadth subjects should be taken in a student's first year and the information on breadth is displayed at the end of this entry.

Students who commenced the Bachelor of Environments prior to 2011 should also refer to this description for the 9 subjects (112.5 points) required for the major. These students will need to complete 225 Environments Discipline subjects including a major sequence but are not bound by minimum requirements for total Environments Discipline subjects at Level 2 and Level 3. Refer to the B-ENVS entry in the 2010 Handbook for further details.

Level 1 Core subjects - Bachelor of Environments (25 points)

Core subjects that must be taken by all Bachelor of Environments students.

Both of

Level 1 Environments Electives (50 points)

Select four of the following subjects.

(N.B. ENVS10003 Constructing Environments must be taken by students intending to undertake the Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major.)

Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major - core subjects (87.5

All of

Physical (Environmental Engineering) Systems major - Level 2 or Level 3 elective subjects (25 points)

Selected from the following disciplines:

NB. A number of these subjects contributing to this major have prerequisites. Check the individual subject entry for more information. Where required, and subject to compliance with overall course rules, prerequisite subjects may be taken as breadth or as Environments elective subjects.

It is strongly recommended that students select two electives from the one discipline, as this will strengthen students' discipline knowledge within the major.

Geomatics

Biology

Environmental Economics and Management

Chemistry

There is also one Level 1 subject that can also contribute to this major (i.e. as an elective in the major that counts as one of the 9 subjects)

Students interested in taking this subject should include the subject in the Free Points component of their study plan. It can take the place of another subject within the composition of this major but cannot be added to the major in the study plan. Students will need to ensure that they complete at least 62.5 points of Environments discipline subjects (which can include subjects within the major) at each of Level 2 and Level 3.

N.B. Students wishing to substitute either one or two Level 2 electives within this major for Level 3 electives, or one or two Level 3 electives within this major for Level 2 electives will be able to do so. An appropriate adjustment to the Level 2 and Level 3 Environments electives (below) can be made for individual students to ensure that within the Bachelor of Environments course the minimum points requirements for Environments discipline subjects are met (i.e. at least 62.5 points at Level 2 and at least 62.5 points at Level 3).

Level 3 Environments elective subject (12.5 points)

Select one x 12.5 point subject at Level 2 from the list of Environments Discipline subjects

Level 2 or Level 3 Environments elective subjects (25 points)

Select two x 12.5 point subjects at Level 2 or Level 3 from the list of Environments Discipline subjects

Breadth subjects

Bachelor of Environments students must complete between 50 and 75 credit points of subjects selected from those available as breadth for Bachelor of Environments students; with no more than 37.5 points at Level 1. For a complete listing of available subjects please click the 'Find breadth subjects' link on the Handbook homepage and perform a search.

The breadth requirements for the Bachelor of Environments include the restriction of some subjects as breadth options, depending on an individual student’s choice of major. Subjects in the Handbook that are marked as available as breadth in the Bachelor of Environments may be subject to further restrictions, depending up which major a student is completing in that course. Detailed information on these Restrictions for Breadth Options is available.

Required Level 1 breadth subjects

Please note the following regarding the mathematics sequence 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 student advisor if they are unsure):

• Students who have completed VCE Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2 only, should enrol in MAST10012 Introduction to Mathematics, followed by MAST10005 Calculus 1, MAST10006 Calculus 2, and MAST10007 Linear Algebra. One of these subjects must contribute to the Free Points component of the B-ENVS as only 37.5 points at Level 1 can be included in the 50 point required breadth component.

• Students who have completed VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4 with a study score of 25 or more should enrol in MAST10005 Calculus 1, MAST10006 Calculus 2, and MAST10007 Linear Algebra.

• Students who have completed VCE Specialist Maths Units 3 and 4 with a study score of 27 or more are not permitted to enrol in MAST10005 Calculus 1 but should enrol in MAST10006 Calculus 2, and MAST10007 Linear Algebra.

For more information on this major and to view a sample course plan please visit: http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/current-students/course-info/physical-systems.html