ERTH20003 Past Climates: Icehouse to Greenhouse
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 4 class hours a week
Is ERTH20003 hard?
ERTH20003: Easier. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (7 reviews).
What you learn
Earth's climate history from Snowball Earth to ice ages, read from ice cores, tree rings and corals.
After it you can
- Explain what drives climate change over time
- Use proxy records to rebuild past climate
- Put today's warming in the context of past climates
What you need first
None
What it leads to
Can’t be taken together with
- ATOC30005
Careers
Helps toward: Geologist, Meteorologist
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 50%, Quizzes 10%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2019–2025)
- Generally seen as interesting and not too hard, but you still need to take good notes and keep up.
- Two essays with a choice of topics; some markers are strict on referencing and grammar.
- Recent exams allow a double-sided A4 cheat sheet, which makes them much more manageable.
- Prac quizzes are easy marks, though the pracs themselves can be dull.
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 ERTH20003
Quick answers
- When is ERTH20003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking ERTH20003?
- No prerequisites.
- Does ERTH20003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 50%, Quizzes 10%, Final exam 40%.
- Is ERTH20003 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: Generally seen as interesting and not too hard, but you still need to take good notes and keep up.
- What do students say about ERTH20003?
- Generally seen as interesting and not too hard, but you still need to take good notes and keep up. Two essays with a choice of topics; some markers are strict on referencing and grammar. Recent exams allow a double-sided A4 cheat sheet, which makes them much more manageable.
- How many class hours a week does ERTH20003 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take ERTH20003 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 ERTH20003?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example GEOG30023.
- Can I rate ERTH20003?
- 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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