Bachelor of Applied Science, Environmental Studies

Claire Barnaby, a graduate of the AUT Bachelor of Applied Science, environmental studies, is doing her PhD in marine ecology. Picture / Greg Bowker

The Course

The course AUT has offered its Bachelor's degree in environmental studies since 1993 to keen demand.

Programme leader Roger Whiting says students are often attracted to the course by a desire to work on high-profile environmental projects, such as saving whales. Most found, though, that they ended up "saving the planet bit by bit" in jobs that included monitoring waterways and advising on the impacts of, or sites for, factories and motorways.

One year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry hired almost all the course's graduates for jobs in border control, he says.

The three-year, fulltime course is offered at AUT's Wellesley Campus. It can also be studied part-time.

Each week, students spend about 16 hours in class and around 24 hours in self-directed study. The university's rule of thumb is that students need to match every hour in class with 90 minutes of work at home.

Students gain skills in ecological monitoring, species identification, and the application of environmental law. They also study natural resource management, and marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology.

First year papers include biodiversity, environmental science, microbiology and organic chemistry. In the second year studies include environmental monitoring and risk assessment, food and environmental analysis, genetics and pharmacology. In year three papers range over marine, freshwater and coastal ecology, biological chemistry, and human anatomy and physiology.

Assessment is done on assignments and practical fieldwork and by exams. Graduates can go on to study for a Masters degree or PhD.

Students need university entrance or the equivalent to enrol for the course, which costs around $5000 a year. Enrolments are currently being taken until July 11 for the course start in the second semester. Enrolments close on November 30 for the course beginning next year.

Graduates find work in regional councils, environmental consultancies and Government departments at salaries of around $45,000 and above.

What students think

Claire Barnaby, 25
PhD student, lecturer
Auckland
Graduated 2002

First off I did a national diploma in science at the then Waikato Polytech, and they recommended you go on to study applied science at AUT or Christchurch Polytech. Auckland had an environmental setting that really appealed.

My Bachelor's degree was quite general. I studied terrestrial and freshwater ecology but did an under-graduate project on marine-based ecology and that got me into marine science.

My Master's thesis was a bit left field. It looked at re-using waste from mussel processing factories but I'm back into marine ecology for my PhD. I stuck to environmental studies because I had some inspiring lecturers, linked up with some marine ecologists and got tied up with work in the Centre for Earth and Oceanic Sciences (EOS).

Professor John Buckeridge supervised my undergraduate project, which was pretty exciting.

I now work for the centre and lecture as well. I like teaching and doing research. Ideally I'd like to get into pure applied research - the sort of stuff Niwa [National Institute for Water and Atmosphere] does, and with a bit more experience do a bit of consulting. I'd like to continue to teach.

What employers think

Professor John Buckeridge
Director, Centre for Earth and Oceanic Sciences
Auckland

The Centre for Earth and Oceanic Sciences is an umbrella organisation involving people from several AUT faculties and from outside. Earth is in the title but it has a strong oceanic focus.

We do a lot on the economic exclusion zone - unsustainable practices and conservation of fish stocks. Some of our staff have been involved in the debate on bottom trawling by the fishing industry. At the moment we have quite a few students looking at the actual diet of fish, compared to what people think they eat.

Others are looking at New Zealand's unique frogs, a very good indicator of what is happening in the environment.

Claire is a part-time curator in charge of collections. She is still a student and managing collections is a good teacher because you are organising data and dealing with institutes overseas.

It's a responsible position but it's a part-time one. I expect when she's finished her PhD she will move on.

Bachelor of Applied Science, Environmental Studies

Auckland University of Technology
Contact: www.aut.ac.nz
Phone: 09 921-9999
Earnings: from $45,000