This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses in Environmental science
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Ecology and Conservation)
UndergraduateUSQ-EAC-DEG2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Explore and protect the connections between people and the environment
Study the environment and zoom in on conservation. You’ll build skills in communication, statistics, and maths. Get hands-on with ecosystems in the field and lab. Practice sampling and surveying. Prepare for roles in land management and sustainability.
- Study method
- Online & on-campus
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Ecology and Conservation)
About this degree
On completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply a broad and coherent body of theoretical and applied knowledge in the environmental sciences, with in-depth knowledge in one or more specialist disciplines.
- Apply a range of cognitive, technical and practical skills reflecting the underlying principles of one or more environmental science disciplines, to collect, analyse, interpret and present environmental science data using appropriate experimental, computational, statistical and technological approaches.
- Exhibit well-developed scientific literacy and oral, written and digital communication skills to explain environmental sciences issues and scientific results to a range of audiences.
- Work independently and collaboratively to critically and creatively analyse issues and develop appropriate understanding and solutions to complex environmental problems across a range of cultural, institutional, national and global contexts.
- Display ethical, professional and cultural awareness, including those of Indigenous knowledge systems and practices, in a wide diversity of professional applications.
- Discover more about the relationship between people, the environment and other organisms, the impacts of humans on biodiversity and the environment, and how we can live more sustainably. Learn about Indigenous relationships with country and how this knowledge and perspective can be incorporated into natural resource management. Learn the scientific and ecological theory underpinning land management and biodiversity conservation. Develop skills and hands-on industry experience with extensive ecological field work across a range of ecosystems as well as site visits, residential schools and laboratory sessions, and over 100 hours of industry placements.
Recommended study pattern
Year 1
REN1201 Environmental Studies
CLI1110 Weather and Climate
BIO1101 Biology 1
MAT1100 Foundation Mathematics
CMS1100 Communicating in the Sciences
SCI1001 Succeeding in Science
STA1003 Fundamental Statistics
IDK2203 Indigenous Environmental Perspectives and Knowledge
Year 2
REN2200 Ecology for Sustainability
REN2201 Ecological Methods
BIO2100 The Australian Biota
5 x Electives
Year 3
REN3104 Applied Freshwater Ecology
REN3103 Applied Terrestrial Ecology
REN3302 Sustainable Resource Use
SCI3302 Work-Integrated-Learning
REN3301 Biodiversity and Conservation
3 x Electives
Award requirements
Completion of 24 units as outlined in the Recommended Study Pattern section.Exit points
Diploma of ScienceOpen Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$8,948
Indicative total fee $26,844
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
As Australia’s #1 university for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2022), University of Southern Queensland is the right place to make real progress. Regardless of your education history, your age or your aspirations, at UniSQ you’ll be inspired by quality learning experiences matched with top resources and research. Having delivered distance and online learning for over 40+ years, UniSQ supports you to learn at your own pace—exactly how it suits you.
Learn more about USQ.
Explore USQ courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 24
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 24
Entry requirements
- ATAR - 62.00 or equivalent Subject pre-requisite: General Mathematics (Units 3&4, C) or equivalent; proof of meeting the English Language Proficiency requirements is also required.
- Completed VET qualifications can be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
- Work and Life experience may be used to derive an ATAR score or Selection Rank which may be used to meet the Entry Requirements for the program. We encourage you to reach out to the UniSQ team to discuss your options further.
- Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the UniSQ Credit and Exemption Procedure. Claims for credit for previous study should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with UniSQ policy.
Study method requirements
Residential School/s + Work Integrated Learning.
Residential School requirements to complete practical components of some courses.
Career opportunities
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Conservation Officers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Consultants | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Managers | Over $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Research Scientists | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Environmental Scientists | $93K to $120K | Up 22.4% |
Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 31.7% |
Park Rangers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
^ There is no data available