锘� Course specification for REN8101

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Course specification
The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web at .
Please consult the web for updates that may occur during the year.

REN8101 Environment, Society and Sustainability

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Environment, Society & Sustain
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Sciences
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 050999 - Environmental Studies not else
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Other requisites

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at <>.
Students who have enrolled in or completed REN1201 Environmental Studies cannot enrol in this course.

Rationale

As the effects of population pressure, unsustainable resource use and pollution increasingly influence global social and economic stability and quality of life, an understanding of the biophysical environment, social and political aspects, and current global issues is essential for future resource managers. This course aims to develop an understanding of the nature of the biophysical environment, the causes and symptoms of environmental degradation, corrective actions and sustainable alternatives.

Synopsis

This course provides a general introduction and overview of the emergence of environmental issues at the global scale and covers such topics as the physical environment, biological diversity, and human impact on the natural environment. Issues examined from a global perspective include food and fibre resources, water resources, energy production and use, mining, fishing and forestry, atmospheric pollution, climate change, urbanisation and waste management. The principles for sustainable development are introduced and possible future management of resources and the environment are discussed.

Objectives

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the factors contributing to global and national environmental problems;
  2. demonstrate an appreciation of the inter-relationships between ecological, social and economic aspects which make up modern environmental issues;
  3. demonstrate an understanding of the processes involved in human interactions with the environment;
  4. integrate knowledge of the biophysical and social environment into the examination of historical and current environmental issues;
  5. critically evaluate, as case studies, current local and global issues in environment and possible solutions.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. The Global Crises 15.00
2. Global Issues in the Environment 40.00
3. Society & Environment 15.00
4. Sustaining the Future 30.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=REN8101)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Miller, G.T. & Spoolman, S.E (2019), Living in the Environment, 20th edn, Cengage Learning Inc, Boston, MA, USA.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Botkin D & Keller E 2014, Environmental science: earth as a living planet, 9th edn, John Wiley and Sons, Inc, New York.
Cunningham W & Cunningham, MA 2017, Environmental science: a global concern, 14th edn, McGraw Hill, New York.
Elliott, L 2004, The global politics of the environment, 2nd edn, Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire.
McConnell R & Abel D 2008, Environmental issues: an introduction to sustainability, 3rd edn, Pearson - Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Wright R & Nebel B 2017, Environmental science: toward a sustainable future, 13th edn, Pearson - Prentice Hall.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Assignments 40.00
Directed 精东传媒app 24.00
Examinations 2.00
Online Lectures 26.00
Online Tutorials 8.00
Private 精东传媒app 56.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1 60 20 19 Mar 2020 (see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 2 60 40 05 May 2020 (see note 2)
Online Exam 120 40 End S1 (see note 3)

Notes
  1. Assignments must be submitted via the online submission system on the course studydesk
  2. Assignments must be submitted via the online submission system on the course studydesk
  3. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official examination timetable has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. It is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Candidates are allowed access only to specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination). Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. 精东传媒app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to USQ via electronic assignment submission on the course website. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within five days if required by the Examiner. In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.

  2. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete-Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete-Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

  3. Students must use the assignment template (.doc or .docx document) provided on the course Website for electronic submission of assignments. The templates include an assignment cover page and marking criteria and must be submitted in a Microsoft Office Word 2007 compatible format.

  4. In accordance with Faculty of Sciences and USQ regulations, applications for extensions to assignment due dates must be made in writing to the Examiner before the due date. Applications must be accompanied by appropriate supporting information.

  5. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.

Date printed 19 June 2020