Honours Overview

Description
Note: this honours specialisation is not available for new enrolments in 2026.

Honours in Geophysics will provide you with an understanding of the frontiers of modern geophysics. You will learn and apply key concepts in seismology, wave propagation, three-dimensional and time-lapse (four-dimensional) imaging of the subsurface, computational geophysics data modelling and inversion, as well as gain exposure to non-seismic methods such as gravity, electromagnetics (EM), and ground penetrating radar (GPR).
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand and apply core principles of 3D and time-lapse exploration seismology and near-surface geophysics to solve real-world geophysical, geological and geotechnical problems; (2) code basic geophysical and other scientific applications in C and/or Fortran and use these programs to help solve questions in geoscience disciplines; and (3) use their developed skill set to solve an individual geophysical research problem using field data.

Entry requirements

A weighted average mark of at least 75 per cent in Level 3 units of the Physics, Engineering or Geophysics major; or equivalent, as recognised by UWA.

Intake periods

Beginning of year and mid-year

Courses

Honours in Geophysics can be taken as a specialisation in the following degrees:

No study plans found for this course. Check your chosen major, see study plans or contact your student advising office for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
N/A
not available in 2026 – may be available in 2027 or 2028
NS
non-standard teaching period
Take all units (42 points):
AvailabilityUnit codeUnit nameUnit requirements
N/A GEOP4001 Exploration Seismology
Prerequisites
PHYS1001 Physics for Scientists and Engineers or equivalent
or PHYX1001 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
and MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods or equivalent
NS GEOP4002 Near-Surface and Environmental Geophysics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
73540 Master of Petroleum Geoscience
or 72540 Master of Hydrogeology
or 72550 Master of Geoscience
or HON-GEOGY Geology
or HON-GEOPH Geophysics
N/A GEOP4011 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 1
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
BH004 Bachelor of Science (Honours)
or HON-GEOPH Geophysics
Co-requisites
Enrolment in
or Successful completion of
GEOP4012 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 2
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE4501 Science Research Dissertation Part 1
and Unit(s) SCIE4502 Science Research Dissertation Part 2
and Unit(s) SCIE4503 Science Research Dissertation Part 3
and Unit(s) SCIE4504 Science Research Dissertation Part 4
N/A GEOP4012 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 2
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-GEOPH Geophysics
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
Unit(s) GEOP4011 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 1 (ID 5657)
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE4501 Science Research Dissertation Part 1
and Unit(s) SCIE4502 Science Research Dissertation Part 2
and Unit(s) SCIE4503 Science Research Dissertation Part 3
and Unit(s) SCIE4504 Science Research Dissertation Part 4
N/A GEOP4013 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 3
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) GEOP4011 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 1
and Unit(s) GEOP4012 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 2
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
GEOP4014 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 4
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE4501 Science Research Dissertation Part 1
and Unit(s) SCIE4502 Science Research Dissertation Part 2
and Unit(s) SCIE4503 Science Research Dissertation Part 3
and Unit(s) SCIE4504 Science Research Dissertation Part 4
N/A GEOP4014 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 4
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-GEOPH Geophysics
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
Unit(s) GEOP4013 Honours Research Project in Geophysics Part 3
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE4501 Science Research Dissertation Part 1
and SCIE4502 Science Research Dissertation Part 2
and SCIE4503 Science Research Dissertation Part 3
and SCIE4504 Science Research Dissertation Part 4
S1 SHPC4001 Computational Methods for Physics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in in the
HON-GEOPH Geophysics
or HON-PHYSC Physics
or CM015 Bachelor of Science Frontier Physics and Master of Physics
or 53560 Master of Physics
and
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
and
completion of the core units in the Physics major or equivalent
or
Course Enrolment in the
65550 Master of Quantum Technology and Computing and ( CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and PHYS2001 Quantum Physics and Electromagnetism
and PHYS3001 Quantum Mechanics )
or 73660 Master of Medical Physics
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
AvailabilityUnit codeUnit nameUnit requirements
NS GEOS5503 Advanced Energy Geoscience for a Low Carbon Future
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
72550 Master of Geoscience
or 73540 Master of Energy Geoscience
and Successful completion of
GEOS4412 Petroleum Systems
Incompatibility
Unit(s) GEOS4416 Petroleum Resources
N/A SHPC4002 Advanced Computational Physics
Prerequisites
Enrolment in in the
HON-GEOPH Geophysics
or HON-PHYSC Physics
and
completion of the core units in the Physics major or equivalent
Incompatibility
CITS3402 High Performance Computing
and CITS5507 High Performance Computing
and PHYS4022 Advanced Quantum Computing