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

    Introduction to Sustainability
  • Unit Code

    SCI1001
  • Year

    2018
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David John BLAKE

Description

This unit provides the conceptual and theoretical foundations for the principles of sustainability. It provides students with ways of conceptualising real-world problems and solutions where environmental, economic and social issues are involved together. Students will be introduced to an operational understanding of interdisciplinarity, and practical approaches to achieve integration across disciplines and fields of endeavour, using systems thinking and critical thought.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Articulate the nature of disciplines, describe the ways in which disciplines relate to one another, and be able to identify and distinguish multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to apply principles of sustainability to real-world and global situations.
  3. Explain how principles of sustainability can be formulated from ethical, cultural and empirical foundations.
  4. Use systems concepts and terminology in appropriate contexts, and describe the differences between systems thinking and other forms of thought.
  5. Use teamwork to analyse a case study and identify the changes in attitudes and behaviours (at individual and community levels) that are required across environmental, economic and societal domains to achieve sustainability or sustainable development.

Unit Content

  1. Exploration of case studies in sustainability and sustainable development.
  2. Introduction to disciplinarity, and the nature of multi-, inter-, cross- and transdisciplinarity.
  3. Introduction to systems thinking.
  4. Principles of sustainability.
  5. Teamwork for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary pursuits.
  6. The construction of problem statements, and the nature of sustainable solutions.
  7. The multiple perspectives of sustainability and sustainable development.
  8. The roles of instigating and managing changes in attitudes and behaviours in sustainable solutions.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials/workshops (includes skills workshops and teamwork exercises using debates and role playing).

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
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination40%
PortfolioTutorial/Workshop Exercises30%
Case StudyAnalysis of a case study in sustainability30%

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.

SCI1001|1|1

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

    Introduction to Sustainability
  • Unit Code

    SCI1001
  • Year

    2018
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr David John BLAKE

Description

This unit provides the conceptual and theoretical foundations for the principles of sustainability. It provides students with ways of conceptualising real-world problems and solutions where environmental, economic and social issues are involved together. Students will be introduced to an operational understanding of interdisciplinarity, and practical approaches to achieve integration across disciplines and fields of endeavour, using systems thinking and critical thought.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Articulate the nature of disciplines, describe the ways in which disciplines relate to one another, and be able to identify and distinguish multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to apply principles of sustainability to real-world and global situations.
  3. Explain how principles of sustainability can be formulated from ethical, cultural and empirical foundations.
  4. Use systems concepts and terminology in appropriate contexts, and describe the differences between systems thinking and other forms of thought.
  5. Use teamwork to analyse a case study and identify the changes in attitudes and behaviours (at individual and community levels) that are required across environmental, economic and societal domains to achieve sustainability or sustainable development.

Unit Content

  1. Exploration of case studies in sustainability and sustainable development.
  2. Introduction to disciplinarity, and the nature of multi-, inter-, cross- and transdisciplinarity.
  3. Introduction to systems thinking.
  4. Principles of sustainability.
  5. Teamwork for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary pursuits.
  6. The construction of problem statements, and the nature of sustainable solutions.
  7. The multiple perspectives of sustainability and sustainable development.
  8. The roles of instigating and managing changes in attitudes and behaviours in sustainable solutions.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials/workshops (includes skills workshops and teamwork exercises using debates and role playing).

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
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination40%
PortfolioTutorial/Workshop Exercises30%
Case StudyAnalysis of a case study in sustainability30%

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.

SCI1001|1|2