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GEPL305 Coastal Environments and Climate Change

Updated: 17 October 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
18 April 2012 22 April 2012 Mandatory Field school at Arrawarra Marine Field Centre, Arrawarra Headland, 4km north of Woolgoolga, NSW.
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 12cp or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions GEAR210 or GEAR310 or GEAR410 or GEPL405 or GEPL505
Notes None
Combined Units GEPL505 - Coastal Environments and Climate Change
Coordinator(s) Robert Baker (rbaker1@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The unit demonstrates, from field study, the current operation of coastal processes and how coastal systems have evolved in Australia over the past 20,000 years as a result of global climatic change. The past and present impact on human occupation is assessed relative to such changes, from the evidence left by past sea-level movements on local coasts and estuaries. The unit develops observational, recording and analytical skills relevant to the study of marine environmental change.
Recommended Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Coastal Geomorphology: An Introduction
ISBN: 9780470517307
Bird, E., John Wiley 2nd ed. 2008
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Field Report 40% 2500
Assessment Notes
Field report with graphical and statistical analysis
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-8
Literature Review 30% 1500
Assessment Notes
Overview of management and scientific issues specific to GEPL305, including a presentation of a visual record of coastal landscape processes
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-4
Final Examination 2 hrs 30%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 and 5 GA: 1-4 and 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. appreciate, from field observations, how marine environments are currently changing and have changed over the past 20,000 years;
  2. use skills in recording evidence of change from marine species, geomorphology and human occupation;
  3. develop group responsibility gathering of information and its presentation;
  4. synthesise environmental information from a wide variety of sources to recreate present and past environments and human interaction with these environments;
  5. interpret critically field observations in the context of these information sources.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
The students, at the end of the unit, are able to identify features of past and present coastal processes and landforms related to climate change. This is assessed in the assessment tasks. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will develop effective written skills in disseminating academic information relevant to the discipline at a high scholarly level as assessed through the assessment tasks. The students also undertake tutorial discussion and group work. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
The students will develop an understanding of the global consequences of past and present changes in the sea-level (e.g. rising sea-levels). This is assessed in the assessment tasks. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
The students will be able to recognise, gather and critically evaluate academic information relevant to the area of coastal environments and climate change. Students complete a field worksheet and present a report based on their observations and discussions. This is assessed in the assessment tasks. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The students will learn to appreciate the evidence-based research on the topic and the implications for the global climate change debate. This is assessed in the assessment tasks. 		True True True
6 Problem Solving
The students are required to interpret observed anomalies of coastal processes at the intensive school field trip. Students will be able to draw upon the knowledge gained for application towards understanding and solving real-world issues. This will be assessed through the field report and final exam. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students are encouraged to recognise and consider the political and social issues raised in the climate change debate. This is assessed in the assessment tasks. 		True True True
8 Team Work
The students conduct their fieldwork in assigned groups, and learn the benefits of sharing information and working collaboratively. This is an assessed component of the unit. 		True True True
   

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