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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Environmental Management and Sustainability
  • Unit Code

    SCI2108
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Katrina Leanne O'MARA

Description

In this unit students will explore a range of mechanisms (policy instruments) through which positive environmental management and sustainability outcomes can be achieved, at the local, national and global levels. This involves understanding of how human activities and behaviour can cause environmental problems, and therefore how behaviour change can be effected at different scales.

Prerequisite Rule

Must have passed 1 unit SCI1193 or SCI1001

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain how and why human activities and behaviours can cause environmental problems.
  2. Describe and identify a range of environmental management mechanisms available to encourage behaviour change at the local, regional, national and international scales.
  3. Evaluate the effectiveness of different management mechanisms in delivering the desired outcomes.
  4. Make a compelling argument to an identified decision maker as to how environmental management mechanisms can be strengthened.
  5. Critique the concept of sustainability and its relationship to environmental management.

Unit Content

  1. Understanding environmental issues from global to local scales.
  2. Environmental management mechanisms: command and control, voluntary, information and education, market.
  3. Environmental policy and law in Australia.
  4. The science/policy interface.
  5. Stakeholders in environmental management: roles, responsibilities and perspectives.
  6. The concept of sustainability and its relationship to environmental management.

Learning Experience

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

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not OfferedNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 113 x 4 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit introduces the students to mechanisms (policy instruments) for environmental management and sustainability. Concepts are presented in live or recorded lectures with illustrative examples, and students explore the practical application of these concepts through small group discussions, debates and other activities in class, as well as through their assignments. Guest lecturers and facilitators provide additional input, with particular focus on the realities of transforming science into policy to ensure sound environmental management and sustainability. Material in addition to the lecture content is provided on Blackboard, and students may be required to prepare for classes by completing reading tasks and/or reflecting on materials presented in class through discussion questions.

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
AssignmentCritical analysis40%
Tutorial PresentationOral Presentation (Video) 30%
AssignmentEssay20%
ParticipationParticipation in Discussion Board topics.10%

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.

SCI2108|2|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.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Environmental Management and Sustainability
  • Unit Code

    SCI2108
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Katrina Leanne O'MARA

Description

In this unit students will explore a range of mechanisms (policy instruments) through which positive environmental management and sustainability outcomes can be achieved, at the local, national and global levels. This involves understanding of how human activities and behaviour can cause environmental problems, and therefore how behaviour change can be effected at different scales.

Prerequisite Rule

Must have passed 1 unit SCI1193 or SCI1001

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain how and why human activities and behaviours can cause environmental problems.
  2. Describe and identify a range of environmental management mechanisms available to encourage behaviour change at the local, regional, national and international scales.
  3. Evaluate the effectiveness of different management mechanisms in delivering the desired outcomes.
  4. Make a compelling argument to an identified decision maker as to how environmental management mechanisms can be strengthened.
  5. Critique the concept of sustainability and its relationship to environmental management.

Unit Content

  1. Understanding environmental issues from global to local scales.
  2. Environmental management mechanisms: command and control, voluntary, information and education, market.
  3. Environmental policy and law in Australia.
  4. The science/policy interface.
  5. Stakeholders in environmental management: roles, responsibilities and perspectives.
  6. The concept of sustainability and its relationship to environmental management.

Learning Experience

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

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not OfferedNot Offered13 x 2 hour lecture
Semester 113 x 4 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit introduces the students to mechanisms (policy instruments) for environmental management and sustainability. Concepts are presented in live or recorded lectures with illustrative examples, and students explore the practical application of these concepts through small group discussions, debates and other activities in class, as well as through their assignments. Guest lecturers and facilitators provide additional input, with particular focus on the realities of transforming science into policy to ensure sound environmental management and sustainability. Material in addition to the lecture content is provided on Blackboard, and students may be required to prepare for classes by completing reading tasks and/or reflecting on materials presented in class through discussion questions.

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
AssignmentCritical analysis40%
Tutorial PresentationOral Presentation (Video) 30%
AssignmentEssay20%
ParticipationParticipation in Discussion Board topics.10%

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.

SCI2108|2|2