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

    Environmental Management Systems and Auditing
  • Unit Code

    SCI6103
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit examines the practice of developing and implementing environmental management systems. It outlines the content of an environmental management system and how they are used in business, industry and government. The unit will also introduce students to environmental auditing and provide the scope, content and process of environmental auditing.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SCI5128

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse an environmental management plan and audit plan for an environmental management issue.
  2. Critique the different types of environmental auditing.
  3. Develop an audit plan for an implementation, performance, prediction, project impact and procedures audit.
  4. Evaluate the information required to undertake an environmental audit for either specific applications as may be required in EIA or for environmental management plans both locally and internationally.
  5. Identify and describe the principles required to develop and implement environmental management systems.
  6. Prepare a communication strategy for the implementation of an environmental management system.
  7. Specify and apply the requirements of ISO 14000 and 19000 and series.

Unit Content

  1. Applicability of standards, guidelines and procedures.
  2. Critical analysis of the applicability of systems and auditing to environmental issues and problems.
  3. Design and implmementation of environmental management systems in business and industry.
  4. Design of an environmental audit strategy.
  5. Information requirements for the conduct of environmental audits.
  6. Legal, administrative and decision making frameworks for the implementation of auditing programs both locally and internationally.
  7. Principles and practice of environmental auditing, including identification of resources, training, monitoring and reporting, audit trails and communication.
  8. The type and application of environmental management systems.

Additional Learning Experience Information

E-learning and support.

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
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay30%
ProjectAudit Plan and Communication Stratgey30%
ReportCritical Evaluation40%

Text References

  • Elliot, M., & Thomas, I. (2009). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice. (5th ed.). Sydney, NSW: Federation Press.
  • Christensen, P. (2002).Coping with environment: Danish companies and their experiences with ISO140001/EMAS. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies 1(1), 1-10.
  • Zutshi, A., & Sohal, A. (2003). Environmental management system auditing within Australasian companies. Managerial Auditing Journal 18(8): 637-648.

Website References


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.

SCI6103|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

    Environmental Management Systems and Auditing
  • Unit Code

    SCI6103
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online

Description

This unit examines the practice of developing and implementing environmental management systems. It outlines the content of an environmental management system and how they are used in business, industry and government. The unit will also introduce students to environmental auditing and provide the scope, content and process of environmental auditing.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SCI5128

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse an environmental management plan and audit plan for an environmental management issue.
  2. Critique the different types of environmental auditing.
  3. Develop an audit plan for an implementation, performance, prediction, project impact and procedures audit.
  4. Evaluate the information required to undertake an environmental audit for either specific applications as may be required in EIA or for environmental management plans both locally and internationally.
  5. Identify and describe the principles required to develop and implement environmental management systems.
  6. Prepare a communication strategy for the implementation of an environmental management system.
  7. Specify and apply the requirements of ISO 14000 and 19000 and series.

Unit Content

  1. Applicability of standards, guidelines and procedures.
  2. Critical analysis of the applicability of systems and auditing to environmental issues and problems.
  3. Design and implmementation of environmental management systems in business and industry.
  4. Design of an environmental audit strategy.
  5. Information requirements for the conduct of environmental audits.
  6. Legal, administrative and decision making frameworks for the implementation of auditing programs both locally and internationally.
  7. Principles and practice of environmental auditing, including identification of resources, training, monitoring and reporting, audit trails and communication.
  8. The type and application of environmental management systems.

Additional Learning Experience Information

E-learning and support.

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.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay30%
ProjectAudit Plan and Communication Stratgey30%
ReportCritical Evaluation40%

Text References

  • Christensen, P. (2002).Coping with environment: Danish companies and their experiences with ISO140001/EMAS. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies 1(1), 1-10.
  • Elliot, M., & Thomas, I. (2009). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice. (5th ed.). Sydney, NSW: Federation Press.
  • Zutshi, A., & Sohal, A. (2003). Environmental management system auditing within Australasian companies. Managerial Auditing Journal 18(8): 637-648.

Website References


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.

SCI6103|1|2