Environmental science examines the interactions between the chemical, physical and biological components of the environment and the associated human impacts. The course will examine a variety of key environmental issues using local, regional and global case studies, which will provide an insight into the need for environmental sustainability and stewardship.

Each week: 2-hour lecture and 2-hour tutorial/workshop/project work, or all day field trip

None

None

Open exam within 24 hours (50%)

Group Project (50%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The oral presentation of the Group Project is group based and cannot be repeated in the August diet, however an essay title would be offered as an alternative to missed components.

The main aims of the course are:

1. to introduce some key scientific principles which relate to the functioning of the natural environment;

2. to develop key skills in experimental design, from the initial hypothesis to presentation of the findings;

3. to explore the interactions that exist between different elements of the environment;

4. to examine local, regional and global environmental case studies;

5. to develop specific graduate attributes in areas such as investigation, independent work, critical analysis, communication, reflection, confidence. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. show an understanding of the key scientific principles that lie behind at least three environmental issues;

2. illustrate an understanding of experimental design from writing the initial hypothesis to presenting the group's findings in an oral presentation;

3. explain how different elements of the environment are linked and interact;

4. provide an assessment of at least three environmental case studies;

5. demonstrate: investigative skills through the experimental design project which includes critical analysis of data independently acquired, communication skills of their findings in the form of an oral presentation, reflection on the adequacy of data acquired, and confidence in drawing conclusions based on their research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.