Bachelor of Applied Geology, Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

This four‑year double degree combines the excitement of Applied Geology with the life‑focused insights of Environmental Biology, giving you a rare mix of Earth science and living systems knowledge that today’s employers are really excited about. It’s perfect for curious problem‑solvers who love being outdoors, enjoy hands-on lab work, and want to explore natural resources responsibly while protecting the ecosystems that make life possible.

Curriculum Structure:
In your first year, you’ll lay the groundwork across both disciplines. You’ll dive into units like Introduction to Geology, Cell Biology and Ecology, and Chemistry for Earth and Life Sciences, starting to see how rocks, water, plants, and animals all connect. Lectures and labs will give you the theory, while your first taste of fieldwork — sampling and species surveys — lets you get hands-on and start thinking like both a geoscientist and a biologist.

By second year, your classes become more interactive and specialized. Alongside Mineralogy and Petrology and Environmental Physiology, you’ll take Hydrology and Ecosystems, deepening your understanding of how water moves through landscapes and sustains life. Expect more fieldwork and team projects, from mapping rock formations to tracking biodiversity, bringing textbook concepts to life in the real world.

In third year, it’s all about sharpening your practical and analytical skills. Units like Geological Field Methods, Population and Community Ecology, and Environmental Impact Assessment give you bigger, more complex field excursions. You’ll collect and interpret data, start focusing on your areas of interest, and prepare for your final year project.

Your final year is where everything comes together. Advanced units like Resource and Environmental Management and your Capstone Research Project let you design your own investigation, combine geology and biology insights, and present professional-level results. You’ll also have the chance to pick electives that match your career goals, whether in conservation, rehabilitation, or resource exploration.

Focus Areas: Earth systems exploration, ecosystem analysis, field methods, data interpretation, and sustainable environmental solutions.

Learning Outcomes: By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to blend geological and biological thinking to assess natural resources, design sustainable interventions, communicate science confidently, and tackle real-world environmental and resource challenges.

Professional Alignment: This degree prepares you for professional roles with credibility. You’ll graduate with practical skills and scientific grounding that industry values, ready to work with environmental consultancies, government agencies, or research teams. Many graduates also pursue further accreditation or specialized training.

Reputation and Employability: Curtin is ranked in the top 1% of universities globally and is especially recognised in Earth Sciences. Employers know the quality of the training here — the depth of your lab and field experience will give you a strong edge in careers spanning geology, conservation, and environmental management.

If you’re looking for a degree that’s as dynamic as the world around us — one that lets you explore the deep Earth while protecting the living world above it — this program could be a perfect fit.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you’re looking at Curtin’s Bachelor of Applied Geology, Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology), you’re choosing a degree that really gets you out of the lecture hall and into the real world. From the very start, you’ll be applying geological and biological principles in practical ways—working with real data, tackling industry-style problems, and building skills that professionals actually use every day. You’ll also explore how ecosystems and landscapes function, seeing firsthand how theory connects to environmental protection and resource management. On top of that, Curtin’s advanced research facilities give you access to tools that let you analyse and interpret data just like scientists do.

Some of the hands-on experiences you can expect include:

Practical, real-world work: You won’t just be listening to lectures—you’ll be doing tasks that mirror what geologists and environmental scientists do in the field and the lab.
Data analysis and communication: You’ll learn how to collate, visualise, and interpret geoscience and environmental data using current digital technologies—and communicate your findings clearly to both industry and the community.
Ecosystem and landscape management: You’ll gain real experience in managing ecosystems and rehabilitating impacted landscapes, building a strong understanding of environmental protection and sustainability.
High-level research tools: At the John de Laeter Research Centre, you’ll get hands-on with advanced geoscience characterisation and analysis facilities, engaging with tools and techniques that researchers use every day.

In short, this isn’t just about learning concepts—it’s about building skills, confidence, and experience that will make you job-ready from day one.

Progression & Future Opportunities

If you’re looking for a degree that really prepares you for work that matters, Curtin University’s Bachelor of Applied Geology and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Biology) is a strong choice. Graduates leave not just with scientific knowledge, but with practical, hands-on experience that employers value — ready to step confidently into roles like environmental consultant, geologist, natural resource manager, or biodiversity and conservation officer in government, industry, or consulting firms. The mix of fieldwork and lab-based science means you’ll show you can solve real-world problems, not just ace exams.

Support for your career from day one
At Curtin, your career journey starts the moment you enrol. The Curtin Careers & Employability team helps you refine your resume, boost your interview confidence, and connect with employers through job boards, workshops, and fairs. Even better, your career development is woven into your course, so you’re building professional skills as you go. And once you graduate, you can still access guidance and resources to help with your next steps.

Hands-on learning that mirrors the real world
This degree isn’t just about theory. You’ll gain work-integrated learning through fieldwork, projects, and practical experiences that reflect what professionals actually do. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a portfolio of skills that shows you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Strong connections to industry
Curtin has deep ties with organisations across resources, environmental management, government, and consulting. That means your studies are always aligned with current industry expectations, so your skills are directly relevant the moment you finish.

Solid graduate outcomes
Curtin graduates generally do well in the job market. For science and maths fields, around two-thirds to three-quarters of graduates secure full-time roles and competitive starting salaries — which highlights how valuable your degree will be in today’s workforce.

Opportunities to keep growing
If you want to go further, this double bachelor opens doors to honours programs, Master’s degrees in geoscience or environmental science, or even research degrees (MPhil/PhD) through Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. These pathways can lead to leadership positions, specialised consultancy roles, academia, or high-impact research anywhere in the world.

In short, this combination of applied geology and environmental biology isn’t just about getting a degree — it’s about preparing for meaningful work today and giving yourself plenty of options for the future.