ERTH10002 Understanding Planet Earth
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 65%: exam-heavy
- About 5 class hours a week
Is ERTH10002 hard?
ERTH10002: About average. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Final exam 65%, You must pass the exam on its own, 1 other hurdle task, 5 class hours a week. The easier and harder points roughly balance out. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How Earth formed and changed over 4.6 billion years: rocks, fossils, volcanoes and past climates, plus a field trip.
After it you can
- Identify minerals, rocks and fossils
- Collect data in the field and lab
- Explain how Earth has changed over geological time
What you need first
None
What it leads to
Careers
Helps toward: Geologist, Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 35%, Final exam 65%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2014–2025)
- Strongly recommended as a fun, interesting intro to geology, even for those not sure they like earth science.
- The field trip is a highlight and carries a lot of marks, so put in the work there.
- Pracs on rocks and minerals are enjoyable; one recent review warns it still needs real study for quizzes and exams.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate ERTH10002
Quick answers
- When is ERTH10002 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking ERTH10002?
- No prerequisites.
- Does ERTH10002 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 65% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Assignments 35%, Final exam 65%.
- Is ERTH10002 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Strongly recommended as a fun, interesting intro to geology, even for those not sure they like earth science.
- What do students say about ERTH10002?
- Strongly recommended as a fun, interesting intro to geology, even for those not sure they like earth science. The field trip is a highlight and carries a lot of marks, so put in the work there. Pracs on rocks and minerals are enjoyable; one recent review warns it still needs real study for quizzes and exams.
- How many class hours a week does ERTH10002 have?
- 5 h a week in class
- Can I take ERTH10002 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after ERTH10002?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example GEOG20002.
- Can I rate ERTH10002?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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