Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Natural Sciences
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Introduction to Environmental ScienceUnit Code
SCI1193Year
2015Enrolment Period
1Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Online
Description
This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of environmental science. It provides a foundation for students to understand environmental problems, and their potential solutions, at global, regional and local scales. It also addresses the issue of resource use and the consequences which stem from their unsustainable exploitation.
Equivalent Rule
Unit was previously coded SCI1186
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of underlying causes of environmental problems and how demographic, lifestyle and economic factors contribute to these problems and their consequences.
- Describe a range of tools for measurement and assessment of environmental problems.
- Describe the basic principles of environmental sciences.
- Evaluate potential solutions to environmental problems and how we can contribute to solutions both personally and professionally.
- Identify, characterise and measure pollutants and understand their impact on biological and environmental systems.
Unit Content
- Energy resources and pollution: future of non-renewable and renewable energy; the nature of the pollution associated with energy.
- Global changes: the enhanced greenhouse effect (greenhouse gases, climate modelling); ozone depletion; transboundary pollution, ocean acidification, nitrogen deposition.
- Measurement of pollution, resource use and environmental impacts including life cycle analysis and ecological footprints.
- Underlying causes of environmental problems: population, urbanisation, affluence, lifestyle, unsustainable resource use.
- Water, land and air pollution: causes, impacts, solutions solid waste management.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures (including industry speakers), tutorials, laboratory, group discussion and directed reading.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Report | Laboratory Reports | 40% |
| Participation | Facilitation and Participation in Group Discussions | 10% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 50% |
Text References
- ^ Miller, G.T., & Spoolman, S.E. (2010). Living in the environment. (17th ed.). Belmont, USA: Brooks/Cole
- Cunningham, W.P., & Cunningham, M.A. (2012). Principles of environmental science: A global concern (12th ed.). New York: McCraw Hill
- Wright, R., & Boorse, D.F. (2011). Environmental science: Toward a sustainable future (11th ed.). Boston, USA: Benjamin Cummings
- Harrison, R.M. (Ed.). (2006). An Introduction to pollution science (3rd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry
- Watts, S., & Halliwell, L. (2012). Essential environmental science: Methods and techniques. London, UK: Taylor and Francis
- Chiras, D.D. (2013). Environmental science (9th ed.). Burlington, USA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
- Enger, E., & Smith, B.F. (2013). Environmental science (13th ed.). New York: McCraw Hill
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCI1193|1|1
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Natural Sciences
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Introduction to Environmental ScienceUnit Code
SCI1193Year
2015Enrolment Period
2Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Online
Description
This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of environmental science. It provides a foundation for students to understand environmental problems, and their potential solutions, at global, regional and local scales. It also addresses the issue of resource use and the consequences which stem from their unsustainable exploitation.
Equivalent Rule
Unit was previously coded SCI1186
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of underlying causes of environmental problems and how demographic, lifestyle and economic factors contribute to these problems and their consequences.
- Describe a range of tools for measurement and assessment of environmental problems.
- Describe the basic principles of environmental sciences.
- Evaluate potential solutions to environmental problems and how we can contribute to solutions both personally and professionally.
- Identify, characterise and measure pollutants and understand their impact on biological and environmental systems.
Unit Content
- Energy resources and pollution: future of non-renewable and renewable energy; the nature of the pollution associated with energy.
- Global changes: the enhanced greenhouse effect (greenhouse gases, climate modelling); ozone depletion; transboundary pollution, ocean acidification, nitrogen deposition.
- Measurement of pollution, resource use and environmental impacts including life cycle analysis and ecological footprints.
- Underlying causes of environmental problems: population, urbanisation, affluence, lifestyle, unsustainable resource use.
- Water, land and air pollution: causes, impacts, solutions solid waste management.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures (including industry speakers), tutorials, laboratory, group discussion and directed reading.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Report | Laboratory Reports | 40% |
| Participation | Facilitation and Participation in Group Discussions | 10% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 50% |
Text References
- ^ Miller, G.T., & Spoolman, S.E. (2010). Living in the environment. (17th ed.). Belmont, USA: Brooks/Cole
- Cunningham, W.P., & Cunningham, M.A. (2012). Principles of environmental science: A global concern (12th ed.). New York: McCraw Hill
- Wright, R., & Boorse, D.F. (2011). Environmental science: Toward a sustainable future (11th ed.). Boston, USA: Benjamin Cummings
- Harrison, R.M. (Ed.). (2006). An Introduction to pollution science (3rd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry
- Watts, S., & Halliwell, L. (2012). Essential environmental science: Methods and techniques. London, UK: Taylor and Francis
- Chiras, D.D. (2013). Environmental science (9th ed.). Burlington, USA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
- Enger, E., & Smith, B.F. (2013). Environmental science (13th ed.). New York: McCraw Hill
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
SCI1193|1|2
