School: Science

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

    Soil and Land Processes
  • Unit Code

    SCM2201
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    5
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Robyn PAICE

Description

This unit provides a foundation in the area of land management and will give students an understanding of the physicochemical properties of soil, soil ecology and landscape structure and function, and how the interaction of these elements influence land use.

Prerequisite Rule

For students not enrolled in C55 must have passed SCI1125 Professional Science Essentials AND one unit being either SCI1192 Physical Environments or SCI1185 Ecology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Identify soil and landscape processes, soil properties, and various forms of soil and landscape degradation.
  2. Use discipline specific terms to describe the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil.
  3. Test soils to assess the impact of various land-use practices.

Unit Content

  1. Applied soil ecology: ecosystem concepts as applied to soil communities; the contribution of the soil biota to soil structure, decomposition processes and nutrient cycling.
  2. Hydrology and land management Pathways of water movement in soil. Aspects of hydrogeology relevant to land management and soil conservation. Principles of catchment hydrology and the land phase (surface and groundwater) of the hydrological cycle.
  3. Land degradation processes - Overview of soil degradation processes and the influence of land use. Particular reference to wind and water erosion, degradation of soil structure, degradation of biological function, salinity and waterlogging, soil fertility and acidification and soil pollution.
  4. Soil and landscape processes Relationships between geomorphology, soils and hydrology. Processes of landscape and soil development.
  5. Soil properties - physical, chemical, biological properties and components of soil. Methods (field and laboratory) of soil sampling and description, analysis and classification. Techniques for soil surveying.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour labNot Offered13 x 3 hour lab
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture

For more information see the Semester Timetable

WIL - Field Experience

Students will undertake, and be assessed on, authentic activities through engagement with industry and community partners.

Students experience an environment where they observe and/or participate in the application of theoretical knowledge and skills in a professional setting, under the supervision of an expert or professional in the field. Examples include study tours, observation, shadowing, fieldwork, industry tours.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The learning process involves recorded or live lectures and laboratories, and may include a one-day field excursion. This field excursion represents the WIL component of the unit, where students either complete a land capability assessment for a property owner, or conduct a conservation-focused assessment of soil habitat for a government agency or non government organisation (NGO). Blackboard is used to communicate lecture and practical material, additional reading materials and support resources. All laboratory classes are related to the completion of analyses required for assignments.

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 School Progression Panel.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit information may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestSoil fundamentals quiz10%
AssignmentTechnical report on field and laboratory work25%
Case StudyLand capability assessment portfolio25%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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