Geological Science in Australia

UNE's Bachelor of GeoScience is the only geology degree in Australia that you can complete online. By choosing UNE, you are choosing an industry leader in the provision of online lifelong learning. In fact, year after year, students award UNE 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support, year after year in The Good Universities Guide.

Whether you are studying online or on campus, you will have opportunities to take advantage of UNE's convenient location in the heart of the New England region, which provides an excellent natural laboratory for studying all aspects of geoscience. We capitalise on our location by undertaking regular and diverse field trips in our local area. We are fortunate to have an array of spectacular geology easily accessible within a short drive of our campus. We also run field trips for locations further afield including overseas to countries such as New Zealand and Bhutan.

In each year of your course, you will complete a specialised Applied Geoscience unit, learning from industry professionals, and leading and up-and-coming researchers. Focusing on forming connections between industry and academic, this innovative suite of units is designed to serve your specific needs whilst studying the Bachelor of Geoscience. Focusing on developing work-ready skills, research methodology and scientific communication skills through a combination of seminars, tutorials, and hands-on field, laboratory and/or workplace experiences, you will reflect on your ongoing development and keep a portfolio of key skills throughout.

UNE has a long history of excellence in teaching and research in earth science. Our geology research has been independently ranked as well above world standard. Our internationally recognised staff have diverse expertise in vertebrate and invertebrate palaeontology, biostratigraphy, tectonics, as well as economic geology, geological mapping, GIS, sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic geology. Our small class sizes mean you will have excellent access to our teaching staff.

UNE is well equipped with modern teaching laboratories (including a large teaching collection of minerals, rocks and fossils) and research facilities, including:

• Microscope laboratories
• Thin section facility
• X-ray laboratories (including XRF and XRD analysers and a µCT scanner)
• Dixson Library (with an extensive collection of earth science literature)
• Macrofossil preparation lab
• Acid lab: acid leaching of carbonate and siliceous rocks using acetic, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids to extract fossils.
• Digital macro photography
• Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES)
• Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS)
• Infrared Spectrometer
• Portable field equipment including XRF
• Comprehensive mineral, rock and fossil collections for teaching and research purposes.

Our innovative course allows you to study the fundamentals of geology, coupled with both modern GIS and traditional mapping techniques to ensure you develop the skills you will need on the job and in the field. You will have opportunities to:

• Hone your skills in applying mobile GIS technology, rather than simply learning to map on paper, providing you with advanced skills as a graduate.
• Specialise in the area that interests you most, with majors in geology and palaeontology. You can also complement your major and broaden your scope with a range of interdisciplinary minors, including archaeology, ecology, science communication, chemistry, data science and modelling, spatial science, museum studies, earth surface processes, environmental management and rehabilitation.
• Advance your practical skills in laboratory classes and field trips in the local area and internationally.
• Develop essential, industry-ready, field and laboratory skills during intensive schools and field trips.
• Study online or on campus, giving you the flexibility to balance your studies with your work and other commitments. If you choose to study online, some units include mandatory intensive schools on campus and in the field, which give you the opportunity to interact and engage face-to-face with your peers and academic staff and gain essential practical skills.
• Work on research projects that can be customised to your own interests. You may wish to choose field sites that are local, interstate or overseas.
• Progress to higher level studies, such as an Honours year or Master of Scientific Studies if you are achieving above average academic results.
• Exit with a Diploma in Science or Advanced Diploma in Science if you decide to discontinue your studies at a point where you have met the requirements of those courses.