Outline
Outline
Marine environments all around the world are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and continued coastal development and resources extraction.
This major responds to the growing need to protect Australia’s coastlines, with an emphasis on marine biology, oceanographic sciences and resource management.
The course is informed and delivered by staff with research expertise in fish ecology, coral reef ecology, marine pollution, coastal geomorphology, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. It has been designed with industry input, to ensure you develop scientific and marine research skills. You will be challenged to think as a marine scientist, developing your initiative and intellectual curiosity to help understand and protect the marine environment.
During your studies you’ll interact with professionals working in marine and coastal science and management, such as Western Australia’s departments of Fisheries, Environmental Protection, and Environment and Conservation; marine science consultancies; and Curtin’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology.
This major sits within the Bachelor of Science (Science). It can also be studied as part of the Bachelor of Advanced Science course. To apply for this major, you will apply for the Bachelor of Science (Science).
Double degree options
You can study a Bachelor of Science (Coastal and Marine Science) with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Commerce.
How this course will make you industry ready
- You'll undertake extensive fieldwork as part of this major, including a 10-day study tour to visit coastal infrastructure and installations on the Western Australian coast.
- You'll interact with professionals working in coastal zone management, such as WA's Department of Fisheries and Department of Environment and Conservation, as well as resource and tourism businesses.
- Curtin uses innovative teaching tools such as 'piercam' to bring the coastal environment into the classroom. Stationed on Ningaloo Reef, piercam is an underwater camera that broadcasts live vision via the web. A second camera will be installed on the North West Cape to track whale migration.
What jobs can the Coastal and Marine Science course lead to?
Careers
- Aquaculturalist
- Ecotoxicologist
- Environmental officer
- Fisheries scientist
- Marine scientist
- Natural resource manager
Industries
- Aquaculture
- Coastal management
- Ecotourism
- Fisheries
- Marine conservation
- Pollution control
Further study
What you'll learn
- demonstrate professional and ethical practice in keeping with community and industry standards, and relevant to marine science
- apply principles and practices of environmental and biological science to the planning and sustainable management of coastal zones
- apply problem-solving and decision-making skills to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Australia’s coastal zones
- locate, extract and interpret relevant evidence and scientific literature to inform decision making; critically assess the value of information and available data in the creation of a scientifically-based argument
- demonstrate written, oral and interpersonal communication skills appropriate to the conduct of a science professional
- argue the merits and limitations of current and developing technologies in marine and coastal research and management
- use research and learning skills to maintain currency of knowledge of the science related to management of coastal and marine areas; evaluate and actively engage in their own continued learning and development as environmental scientists
- recognise the national and global imperatives driving coastal changes to biological, chemical and physical systems; integrate international case studies and experiences in the application of knowledge to coastal decision-making
- incorporate indigenous and other community perspectives in the development of solutions to issues relating to the coastal zone
