Availabilities:

LocationDomesticInternational
National Marine Science Centre Coffs HarbourSession 2Session 2
OnlineSession 2N/A

Unit description

Explores a multidisciplinary approach to major types of chemical, physical, and biological pollutants that impact upon marine environments. This unit investigates pathways, fates and effects of these pollutants on marine ecosystems and human health. Different approaches to the design of monitoring programs for detecting and techniques for controlling pollutants are examined. Students gain practical skills in sampling techniques and analyses of polluted samples.

Unit content

Read the study guide topics and directed readings.

An Introduction to Marine Pollution

Nutrients and oxygen demanding wastes

Oil and hydrocarbons

Antifoulants, past and present

Metals and mining

Compartments, distribution processes and community response – case studies on sediments and dredging

Plastic wastes – the floaters

Radioactivity

Water and sediment quality monitoring, risk assessment and compliance testing. Risk assessment tools: Ecotoxicology, multiple lines of evidence, community response

Understanding management actions and legislation that can reduce and minimise pollution.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1critically analyse and evaluate pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with marine environmentsIntellectual rigourKnowledge of a disciplineLifelong learning
2investigate the chemistry associated with pollutant behaviour in marine environments including nutrients, oil, metals, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, and radioactivityIntellectual rigourKnowledge of a disciplineLifelong learning
3synthesise information from multidisciplinary perspectives about the impacts of pollution and apply this to management decision makingIntellectual rigourCreativityEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
4develop tools that expand their inquiry to reflect on management outcomesEthical practiceKnowledge of a disciplineLifelong learning
5analyse and synthesise sound scientific information related to research and data collection associated with marine pollutionKnowledge of a disciplineCommunication and social skills
6research and present sound scientific information for appropriate audiences.CreativityKnowledge of a disciplineCommunication and social skills

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. critically analyse and evaluate pollution issues, their sources and the relationship humans have with marine environments
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
  2. investigate the chemistry associated with pollutant behaviour in marine environments including nutrients, oil, metals, pesticides and herbicides, solid plastics, antifoulants, and radioactivity
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
  3. synthesise information from multidisciplinary perspectives about the impacts of pollution and apply this to management decision making
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA2: Creativity
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  4. develop tools that expand their inquiry to reflect on management outcomes
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
    • GA5: Lifelong learning
  5. analyse and synthesise sound scientific information related to research and data collection associated with marine pollution
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  6. research and present sound scientific information for appropriate audiences.
    • GA2: Creativity
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
    • GA6: Communication and social skills

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future study periods.

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2020 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 2

Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

+