Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science

Work with some of the most unique and diverse coasts and marine ecosystems in the world

Learn from experts in marine, coastal and ecological fields, giving you practical skills to make a difference to our world. Our coastal and marine environments face issues like climate change, pollution and urbanisation. By understanding these ecological, physical, conservation, societal and management issues, we can help find solutions to these problems.

You will engage in contemporary issues in the marine environment from day one. Our program features skills-based courses and extensive fieldwork opportunities and integrates subjects like biology, ecology, earth science and management of the coastal zone into your program.

Course overview

You will experience relevant field-based scenarios and engage with managers and policymakers from industry, government and the not-for-profit sectors. This will enable students to progress into a career that spans all sectors of the coastal and marine space. Courses that you will study could include:

• chemistry
• food science
• plant biology
• sustainability
• environmental science
• animal biology
• biodiversity and conservation
• coastal processes
• geography
• politics and policy

Your fundamental marine science skills can be complemented by up to two minors, from a traditional science or non-traditional areas such as social science or communication.

Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.

Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.

In the application portal, you can enter the program you wish to study and upload relevant documents needed as part of your application. It is recommended you submit your application a minimum of 12 weeks before your intended semester of trimester start date.

Our skills-orientated courses provide students with strong expertise in conducting fieldwork using both traditional and novel techniques. and to analyse and interpret resultant data.

Our graduates are fully aware of the need for such data to be used for informing management approaches, and the expectations by the scientific and broader community to communicate those results in different forms.

The flexible structure of this degree allows students to pursue careers that span all sectors of the marine and coastal workforce.

Professional Outcomes:

• Environmental/Marine Consultant
• Aquatic Ecologist
• Scientific Officer
• Catchment Management Officer
• Environmental Education Officer
• Fisheries Research Scientist/Technician/Officer
• Aquaculture Research Scientist/Technician
• Environment and Sustainability Coordinator
• Land and Sea Ranger
• Marine Policy Analyst
• Marine Resource Manager
• Ecotourism Coordinator