Bachelor of Environments (Degree with Honours)

The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) provides an advanced, specialised year of study that follows completion of the requirements of the Bachelor of Environments. It extends a student’s knowledge and skills through a supervised research project together with advanced coursework in related areas of study. The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) can be taken in two different programs: Landscape Management or Environmental Geographies, Politics & Cultures.
The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) provides students with the opportunity to integrate their previous studies and focus their knowledge, skills and intellect on an exciting piece of original research.

Each program within the Bachelor of Environments (Honours) comprises two components:
• The advanced coursework component provides opportunities for increasing students’ depth of knowledge in their particular areas of interest and expanding the theoretical basis on which they will undertake their research work. It provides students with the opportunity to develop expertise in the broad scientific field(s) in which their individual research project is placed, including the methodologies of the relevant field(s), and the use of the scientific literature in their specialist area of study.
• The research project provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and technical skills in a supervised research project and develop skills in experimental design, project implementation and in the communication of the outcomes of a research project. The project develops students’ technical and data acquisition skills, their problem-solving and critical thinking capacities in the context of research, their skills in communicating to a variety of audiences and the application of appropriate risk assessment and ethical approval processes.
Honours also develops students’ capacity for independent study and research that will help develop maturity and skills for transition to employment in a range of occupations and industries or a research higher degree

The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) programs are prescribed 100-point programs (equivalent to eight 12.5-point subjects) comprising advanced coursework and research project components as outlined below.
The balance between the advanced coursework and research project components may vary from program to program, with each comprising at least 25 points and no more than 75 points of the 100-point program respectively. The balance specific to each program will be specified in the Handbook entry for each program.

1. Advanced coursework:
• two 12.5-point honours or postgraduate-level advanced coursework subjects.
The coordinator of the honours program in which the student is enrolled must approve each student’s advanced coursework program.
Each student’s advanced coursework program will comprise advanced coursework subjects offered by one or more departments teaching into the degree’s honours program, which may include cognate subjects offered in relevant master’s degrees where students meet the prerequisite requirements of those subjects.
The honours coordinator may approve a student including one 12.5-point level 3 coursework subject. Inclusion of a level 3 subject will also require approval of the appropriate subject coordinator. This option is only available if it specified in the details of the individual program which can be found using the links below.

2. Research project:
• A research project subject or subjects with total points value of 75 points.
Duration and commencement of honours programs

The duration of the Bachelor of Environments (Honours) programs is approximately 36 weeks within a total duration of 40 weeks for Semester 1 entrants, and approximately 36 weeks within a total duration of 46 weeks for semester 2 entrants. Not all programs are available via mid-year entry. Refer to individual program entries for details.
The dates of the honours programs may vary between programs.
For semester 2 entrants, up to ten weeks of leave may be taken within this 46-week period, in negotiation with the supervisor.

Completion requirements

To be awarded honours, students must gain:
• a pass in at least 100 points of subjects in their chosen program;
• a result of at least 65% in the research project;
• a weighted credit point average of 65% or greater.

Students may be given permission to repeat an advanced coursework honours subject or enrol in additional subject(s) in order to meet the requirement to pass 100 points. However, the honours result will be determined over all subjects for which a result is entered. When the weighted credit point average is less than 65%, the honours degree will not be awarded.

There are two specialisations in the Bachelor of Environments (Honours):

• Landscape Management; and
• Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures.

Additional information about these specialisations are detailed below.

Honours programs available within the Bachelor of Environments (Honours) are managed through the Melbourne School of Land & Environment:

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to successfully pursue the course using the following criteria:
• a three-year undergraduate degree
• a Standard Grade Point Average (SGPA ) of at least 70% in second and third year subjects within the major, or equivalent

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Notes:
1. Ranking students during selection will be based on students’ Standard Grade Point Average (SGPA).
2. Selection is not automatic and in particular is subject to competition, to any relevant quotas, and to the availability of supervision and resources in suitable project areas. Entry into an honours program is subject to the capacity of the department(s) or schools(s) offering the program to provide adequate supervision in a project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student. At the time of applying for entry into one of the programs, students must obtain the approval of one or more academic staff to supervise the research thesis. This ensures supervision arrangements are in place well before the commencement of the first semester of study.

The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and degree policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the degree.
The Bachelor of Environments (Honours) requires all students to enrol in subjects where they will require:

1. the ability to comprehend complex concepts;
2. the ability to clearly and independently communicate knowledge and the application of relevant principles and practices during assessment tasks;

Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

There may be additional inherent academic requirements for some subjects, and these requirements are listed within the description of the requirements for each of these subjects.

It is the University policy to take all steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the university’s programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements in this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison Unit.

The opportunity to specialise during the honours year provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates. Graduates may progress to higher degree research in the sciences at the master’s or doctorate level. They are also eligible to progress to a range of graduate coursework programs.

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

Academically excellent
Our graduates will be expected to:
* Have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
* Reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
* Be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self directed learning
* Be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies.

Knowledgeable across disciplines
Our graduates will be expected to:
* Examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
* Expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
* Have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
* Have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment.

Leaders in communities
Our graduates will be expected to:
* Initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
* Have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
* Mentor future generations of learners
* Engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs.

Attuned to cultural diversity
Our graduates will be expected to :
* Value different cultures
* Be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
* Have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
* Respect Indigenous knowledge, cultures and values.

Active global citizens
Our graduates will be expected to:
* Accept social and civic responsibilities
* Be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
* Have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equality and ethics.

* A profound respect for truth, intellectual and professional integrity
* Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning and research
* An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social, technical or economic information from primary and other sources
* Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
* Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
* Ability to integrate information across a relevant discipline to solve problems in applied situations
* Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
* Highly developed oral communication skills to allow informed dialogue and liaison with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community.
* Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context
* Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
* Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects.