Course summary
Understanding and conserving our marine environment is vital to a sustainable future. Establish your dream career and help make a difference with the Bachelor of Marine Science and Management.
The course combines marine science with contemporary management concepts and has a focus on conservation issues in both coastal and marine ecosystems.
This degree has a strong practical component. You will develop skills in the laboratory and field in a range of tropical and subtropical environments including the Solitary Islands, Cape Byron and Great Barrier Reef marine parks.
Explore global environmental issues including marine pollution and climate change, while also learning more about coral reef ecology and marine mammal conservation among other fascinating subjects.
You will also have the option to gain a nationally recognised qualification in scientific scuba diving.
Major areas of study
This course combines marine science with contemporary management concepts and includes a wide range of elective units such as ocean change biology, marine mammals, coral reef ecology, marine pollution and scientific diving.
Teaching Methods
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes, field trips, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Please note:
The Bachelor of Marine Science and Management is delivered at the National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) Coffs Harbour, Lismore and online. Delivery mode within each of these offerings differs and is described below.
On-campus students (NMSC and Lismore) experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes, field trips, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.
NMSC students can complete the entire degree at the Coffs Harbour facility. Depending on unit selection, students may wish to take some Lismore-based or online units. First and second year units are generally session-based and may involve interactive streamed lectures from Lismore. The final-year units are delivered in intensive mode, each over three weeks with a compulsory six-day on-campus period.
Lismore students generally complete their first two years of study by undertaking session based units, whereas the final-year units are offered only at the NMSC Coffs Harbour. Units at the NMSC are delivered in intensive mode, each over three weeks with a compulsory six-day on-campus period.
Online students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. This offering strives to be highly interactive and promotes collaboration and a sense of community. For the majority of online units, students are required to attend compulsory residential workshops at Lismore and the final-year units need to be completed at the NMSC Coffs Harbour. Units at the NMSC are delivered in intensive mode, each over three weeks with a compulsory six-day on-campus period.
Career opportunities
Our graduates work in a diverse range of fields In public and private environmental sectors. You may be employed as a consultant, marine park planner, marine biologist and ecologist, marine reserve officer, aquaculturalist, fisheries manager, project officer, technical officer, state coordinator; or work in marine research.
Professional placement
Students can complete an eight-week professional placement to gain industry experience. Interns can work with organisations across the marine science spectrum including local, state or federal government agencies; private consultancies; or business enterprises in Australia or overseas.
Learning outcomes
Intellectual rigour
Demonstrate skills of critical analysis and application of scientific methods in marine science and management.
Make decisions and exercise informed judgement in relation to marine science and management.
Creativity
Demonstrate imagination, initiative and enterprise in problem-solving.
Respond creatively to intellectual, professional, environmental and social challenges.
Ethical practice
Evaluate issues with reference to sound ethical frameworks and sustainability.
Demonstrate well-developed judgement on principles of social justice and professional standards.
Knowledge of a discipline
Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge of marine science and management.
Apply disciplinary knowledge and skills in professional and community settings.
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.
Lifelong learning
Demonstrate cognitive and technical skills in self-managed learning.
Critically reflect on practice.
Demonstrate information literacy skills
Communication and social skills
Communicate clearly and coherently knowledge and ideas in marine science and management contexts.
Collaborate effectively on personal scholarly and professional terms.
Cultural competence
Demonstrate awareness and respect for cultural diversity and the relationship between people and the environment.
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