MajorUndergraduate

CLATMSCI01 Climate and atmospheric science

Faculty of Science

Climate and atmospheric science (CLATMSCI01) is a major worth 48 credit points, listing 17 units, taught at Clayton. It is offered in 9 courses, including Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Science; and Bachelor of Science.

Credit points
48
Units
17
Campus
Clayton
Offered in
9 courses

This is the 2022 handbook entry. See the 2025 entry.

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Requisite map

Overview

Climate and atmospheric science explores the structure and evolution of the physical climate system, and includes addressing how we forecast our weather as well as how we understand the climate. Weather and climate are both critical to understanding the natural and built environment and how it is changing under anthropogenic and other influences. Climate and atmospheric science is an interdisciplinary science that draws on the strengths of environmental science, applied mathematics and physical geography and the applications of concepts in physics and chemistry.

The area of study offers a balance of field work, data analysis, theoretical research and advanced modelling that is taught by experts in the field and which is supported by state of the art facilities. People who study climate and atmospheric science can expect to work in closely-aligned sectors such as the Bureau of Meteorology or consultancies that deal with weather and climate, advisory government roles or in a broad range of industries such as risk management for banks and insurance companies.

There are two streams available within this major: the Weather and climate stream and the Climate change science stream. It is recommended that students complete one of these two streams as they contain coherent sets of interconnected units in key areas of Climate and Atmospheric Science that have been put together to target employment opportunities. All successful students graduate with a major in Climate and Atmospheric Science. While streams are not listed on the transcript, a letter recognising the particular stream chosen is available from Science Student Services on request.

Availability
Climate and atmospheric science is listed in S2000 Bachelor of Science, S3001 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours) and S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours) at Clayton as a major, minor and extended major.

Structure

Mathematics requirement
This major relies on the successful completion of MTH1030 and MTH2010. Note that these two units have the following special enrolment rules:

MTH1030: You must have passed MTH1020 with a mark of at least 60 or VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4 with a raw study score of at least 30. Exceptions for students who passed MTH1020 with a mark in the range of 50 to 59 can be made with permission from the unit coordinator based on a diagnostic test.

MTH2010: Students must have passed MTH1030, MTH1035, or MTH1040 with a mark of at least 60. Exceptions for students who passed these units with a mark in the range of 50 to 59 can be made with permission from the unit co-coordinator based on a diagnostic test.
Supporting studies in Mathematics
You must complete MTH1030 and MTH2010 and completion of MTH2032 is highly recommended.

Double degree with engineering requirements

18 credit points

Software engineering specialisation requirements

18 credit points
Core units30 credit points
Elective units18 credit points
You must complete 18 credit points from the following list or one of the two streams listed below, noting that at least two of these additional units (12 credit points) must be level at 3. Note 1: You can only complete one of EAE2011 and EAE2111 (the unit not completed as part of the core). Note 2: EAE3121 and EAE3152 have mathematics prerequisites (see details in Weather and climate stream below).

Weather and climate stream

You must complete three units (18 credit points), noting that there is a choice listed for the third unit (you can only complete one of EAE3051 and EAE3132).

Required supporting studies

Note 1: Mathematics studies that include at least MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) and MTH2010 (Multivariable calculus) are pre-requisites for EAE3121 and EAE3152. MTH2032 (Differential equations with modelling) and MTH3360 (Fluid Dynamics) are highly recommended. Note 2: Students who have not met the VCE entry requirements for MTH1030 must also complete MTH1020. Note 3: Students in the double degree E3007 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science complete ENG1090 and/or ENG1005 instead of MTH1020 and/or MTH1030 and ENG2005 instead of MTH2010.

Climate change science stream

You must complete three units (18 credit points), noting that at least two of these additional units (12 credit points) must be level 3. Note: You can only complete one of EAE2011 and EAE2111 (the unit not completed as part of the core).

Courses that offer it

Notes

Requirements for progressing to honours and other further studies
You must meet the entry requirements for S3701 Bachelor of Science (Honours), M5021 Graduate Diploma of Health and Science Research or meet the progression requirements to the fourth year of S3002 Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours).

You must also complete prerequisite study as per the intended discipline. Refer to the honours prerequisites table.

Learning outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of your course, and successfully completing this area of study, you will be able to:
  1. 1

    discuss the physical processes of the Earth's climate systems in relation to climate projections and climate and weather forecasts

  2. 2

    apply and interpret the mathematical analyses and/or numerical modelling used to construct projections and forecasts

  3. 3

    apply advanced techniques, terminology and processes to analyse authentic problems in at least one of the following areas of climate and atmospheric science; clouds, weather, forecasting, large-scale weather, climate variability, Australia atmospheric environment and Earth boundary layer

  4. 4

    discuss the importance of climate and atmospheric sciences to a range of environmental issues, including environmental and coastal management, climate risk and climate change

Contacts

Academic Coordinators
Dr Shayne McGregor

Common questions

Major details

Type
Major
Study level
Undergraduate
Credit points
48
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Organisational unit
School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Handbook years
2022202320242025