The Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences (Honours) degree program was offered for the first time in 2006. This is Australia's first Bachelor degree to link the study of oceans, climate, earth science and ecology. Fenner School course form a vital component of the BGOS(hons) degree.

Academic Program

4 years full-time Honours degree (students who do not satisfy the progress requirements to undertake the 4th year may instead take out a 3 year pass degree, the Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences).

The Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences (Honours) is a new multidisciplinary science degree offered at the ANU that encompasses many fields, in particular, biology, chemistry, ecology, geography, geology, (geo)physics, and mathematics with emphasis on modeling, all applied to an understanding of global environmental change and the world’s oceans. In addition, this degree requires knowledge of how science is incorporated with, and impacts upon, policy and regulation, nationally and internationally.

Courses within the degree are taught by members of different schools and departments from the Faculty of Science, in combination with members of several Research Schools and Centres.

Students are encouraged to diversify their study program as much as possible to gain a broad knowledge of the Earth and its oceans and how the oceans relate to global climate change, resources and environmental change. Importantly, students will have opportunities to learn about chemical and physical oceanography, biogeochemistry, marine ecology, atmosphere-ocean coupling, palaeoceanography and its modeling, and past, present and future climate change variability. Students are also required to take at least one course from a spectrum that includes policy, economics, legal aspects and science communication.

Admission Requirements

Students are required to have completed an ACT College or equivalent level of Mathematical Methods and have a passing grade in chemistry to the level of at least a minor in the ACT or NSW HSC Chemistry or the successful completion of a bridging course in chemistry is required. Students require a UAI of 95 for entry into the Honours program.

Program Requirements

For the 4-year Honours Degree option you will need to complete a total of 192 units.

Cadetships:

There will be several additional cadetships on offer to students accepted into the BGOS degree. The cadetships can only be offered after the ANU has offered you a place in the degree.

One of the most valuable will be the Geoscience Australia cadetships. Basically, once a student has an offer of entry from ANU to the BGOS degree, students can apply for a Geoscience Australia cadetship. These cadetships are very valuable - they are like a job - and as part of your job, you study for the first four years.

Further details about Geoscience Australia can be found on the web (www.ga.gov.au).

Fenner School courses make up part o the BGOS degree. More information on the pass and honours BGOS degrees are available:

Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences

Bachelor of Global and Ocean Sciences (Honours)

BGOS Fact Sheet (PDF, 192KB)

Career Opportunities

See also Factsheets and Handbooks and Fenner UG courses table