The Bachelor of Science, majoring in Environmental Science and Geography, provides the knowledge and skills required to understand and manage a cross-section of practical, social, economic and environmental issues confronting Australia and other countries, with particular emphasis on those relevant to the tropics. It is a critical time in earth and human history. The environment is under enormous pressure from a rapidly growing global population. Humans have changed the world’s climate and ocean chemistry, and destroyed, degraded or fragmented key ecosystems. Human activities that compromise natural environmental processes and diminish environmental quality continue to increase. All of these pressures are particularly problematic for communities and ecosystems in the tropics. This provides a thorough background of the physical, biological and social dimensions of the environmental challenges facing humanity. You will gain the knowledge and skills to understand, describe and predict fundamental environmental processes, and the effects of human activities on the physical and biological components of natural and man-made environments. You will learn about geomorphology, climate, hydrology, coastal science, natural resource management, environmental economics, impact assessment, and urban and regional development. Graduates of our Environmental Science and Geography major will understand global environmental challenges – with an emphasis on those relevant to the tropics – and will be able to contribute to environmental decision-making and management to address them. You will be equipped to make a difference.

Our Environmental Science and Geography graduates are sought by a range of industry sectors. Employment opportunities include working for public sector environmental and planning agencies, the resource and energy sector, tourism, and education. JCU’s Tropics focus opens doors to working across the tropical world, where 40% of the world’s people live, and where environmental problems affect millions. Specific roles can include: environmental management and protection; environmental consultants; resource management; catchment management; local, state and federal government agencies and planning and development officers. You may work on issues including: conservation planning; land and water quality assessment; planning, protection and remediation; coastal management and planning; river and floodplain management; and community risk assessment to natural hazards, such as storm surge and sea level rise.