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National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour Session 1 Session 1
Online Session 1 N/A

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Advanced

Pre-requisites

192 Credit Points in any SCU units

Unit aim

Examines processes and issues, and integrates principles of natural science and legislation as they relate to the global marine environment. Covers the complex coupling and feedback mechanisms linking the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and the biosphere, and provides insights into international and national marine resource management.

Unit content

Ocean basins and ocean chemistry

Ocean circulations

Waves and tides

Deep-sea environments

Early life histories of marine invertebrates and fishes

Marine chemical ecology: the language of life in the sea

Human uses of marine systems

Introduction to marine resources management

Marine management systems

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: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 demonstrate an understanding of our major oceans, and how the unusual nature of water affects the oceans and climatic systems of the planet
2 explain the nature and operation of currents, waves and tides in coastal and oceanic waters
3 understand the way in which the abiotic (physical and chemical) factors control biological events
4 recognise the ways in which we use the marine environment and how those uses may interact with natural processes
5 demonstrate an understanding of what resource management really does, and how it tries to do it
6 write a scientific report that incorporates statistical analysis of data, follows the instructions to authors for a peer-reviewed journal, and uses Endnote for referencing.

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

  1. demonstrate an understanding of our major oceans, and how the unusual nature of water affects the oceans and climatic systems of the planet
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. explain the nature and operation of currents, waves and tides in coastal and oceanic waters
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. understand the way in which the abiotic (physical and chemical) factors control biological events
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. recognise the ways in which we use the marine environment and how those uses may interact with natural processes
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. demonstrate an understanding of what resource management really does, and how it tries to do it
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  6. write a scientific report that incorporates statistical analysis of data, follows the instructions to authors for a peer-reviewed journal, and uses Endnote for referencing.
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed texts

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