Earth and Environmental Science 2 unit

Year 11 (Preliminary) Course [Board Developed] 2 units
Year 12 (HSC) Course [Board Developed] 2 units

The new Earth and Environmental Science syllabus has been developed using the established NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabus development process. The syllabus includes Australian curriculum content and reflects the new directions of the Stronger HSC Standards reforms.

Earth and Environmental Science may be studied ON ITS OWN or alongside ONE or TWO other Science courses. 

Earth and Environmental Science is the study of the Earth and its processes. It encompasses elements of biology, chemistry, geology and physics. It is one of the most “real” sciences as it seeks to describe the contemporary world in which we live our daily lives.  Earth and Environmental Science is becoming more and more relevant as climate change begins to bring about noticeable effects on ecosystems and humans engage in competition for fewer and fewer natural resources. 

Students will trace the story of the Earth from its formation as a planet, through the processes that have shaped its surface and the internal dynamics that continue to change it. Human impacts will also be explored. The course has a focus on land use issues, conservation and strategies to control the degradation of the Earth’s surface and resources, with emphasis on Australian examples, such as the Murray-Darling basin. An understanding of the Earth’s resources and the ability to live sustainably on the planet is a central purpose of the study of Earth and Environmental Science.   

Students will address a broad range of applications including mining methods; plate tectonics; mountain forming; water management; introduced species; impacts of natural disasters resulting from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, drought and flood; and climate change. The coursework involves, research, experimentation, modelling and analysis of case studies. 

Related careers areas include: 

• Resource Management and Conservation 
• National Parks Ranger  
• Environmental Communications  
• Energy Conservation and engineering  
• Land and Water Conservation / Mapping  
• Mining and resource Exploration / Petroleum  
• Waste Management Water and Groundwater Resource Management  
• Volcanology and seismology 
• Environmental law 
• Sustainability 
• Environmental management 

The EES course builds on particular understandings, skills and attitudes that students have acquired during their K-10 Science course. With sufficient effort over two years, students from classes 10A1 and A2 and the top half of all other classes should be able to make a success of their studies in Earth and Environmental Science. 

Modules Covered: