Key facts
UNE unit code: EM402
*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Not offered in 2027
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- 6
Unit information
With an emphasis on Australia and its precious water resources, this unit introduces you to the distribution, hydrology and ecology of freshwaters. With that broad background, the unit focuses on key threats to catchment health and the current management techniques to reduce the impacts of these threats. These include declining water quality and quantity, changes to native vegetation and sediment regimes, pollution, declining aquatic biodiversity and water-based emergencies.
As well as the technical knowledge required to manage catchments well, this unit provides an opportunity to develop key skills that are instrumental in managing complex and conflicting environmental issues. Equip yourself to respond to tomorrow’s water challenges with up-to-date knowledge of catchment management and governance, as well as essential management skills.
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 3 days | Mandatory Intensive School | All offerings | The intensive school is mandatory for both online and on-campus students. The intensive school will be located at the Parramatta campus. Students are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the intensive school, and accommodation. For further information please contact the unit coordinator. Dates to be advised. |
Enrolment rules
Notes
For on campus students teaching will include weekly lectures and interactive tutorials. All online students will have online access to unit materials, including topic notes and guided readings, Powerpoint presentations and podcasts of lectures and tutorials.
The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence.
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- critically analyse and evaluate the distribution of Australia's surface and groundwater resources, the major elements of their ecology and their principal management issues;
- make high level, independent judgement in using relevant methods to assess and reduce the likely impacts of human activities on catchment health;
- demonstrate an advanced cognitive and technical understanding of the trade-offs between water resource use and ecological sustainability for effective catchment management and be able to communicate this to technical and lay audiences; and
- independently apply key skills to effectively manage complex and conflicting environmental issues within the context of catchment management and catchment management planning.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Sequence of Quizzes | Yes | 15% | All offerings | No. Words: 1000 equivalent |
| Catchment Management Project Plan | Yes | 15% | All offerings | No. Words: 2000 |
| Final Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 40% | All offerings | There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Presentation – Assurance Task, Workbook - Assurance Task, and Final Examination – Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Presentation - Assurance Task | Yes | 15% | All offerings | Community Presentation. Approximately 10 minute presentation and 5 minutes question time. The presentation will be offered face-to-face or online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Presentation – Assurance Task, Workbook - Assurance Task, and Final Examination – Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit.
|
| Workbook - Assurance Task | Yes | 15% | All offerings | Practical workbook completed at Intensive School. No Words: 1000. The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across Presentation – Assurance Task, Workbook - Assurance Task, and Final Examination – Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Australian Freshwater Ecology - Processes and Management
ISBN: 9781118568224
Boulton, A., Brock, M., Robson, B., Ryder, D., and Chambers., J., John Wiley & Sons (UK) 2nd Edition 2014
Text refers to: All offerings
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