Unit of Study ERTH2003 Aquatic Pollution and Catchment Management (2025)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Science and Engineering
Placement

No

Enrolment information

To succeed in this unit, you should have completed: CHEM2001 - Environmental Chemistry or equivalent. There will be a 3-day compulsory residential available for all students. Students can attend the Lismore campus or the National Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour. Please refer to http://www.scu.edu.au/timetables for further information.

Unit description

Provides a multidisciplinary approach to defining the major types of catchment derived chemical, physical, and biological pollutants that impact aquatic environments. It also examines how catchment processes affect the pathways, fates and effects of these pollutants. Students will examine different approaches to the design of catchment and aquatic monitoring programs, and undertake aquatic pollution sampling and analysis.

Unit content

1. Introduction to aquatic pollution

2. Measuring, management, and legislation of aquatic pollution

3. Understanding the role of catchments in aquatic pollution

4. Wetlands

5. Marine pollution

6. Case studies of aquatic pollution and catchment management in Australia

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Lismore	Term3	Term3
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour	Term3	Term3
Online	Term3	N/A

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.

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

identify the different sources of aquatic pollution and evaluate the way different pollutants impact aquatic ecosystems

perform quantitative analysis of pollution and compare against guidelines

synthesise knowledge to understand the complex links between catchment management and aquatic pollution

research and present sound scientific information for appropriate audiences.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Residential 3 days (Once)

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Assessment
Quiz	25%
Report	40%
Workbook	35%

Teaching method

Residential 3 days (Once)

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Assessment
Quiz	25%
Report	40%
Workbook	35%

Teaching method

Workshop 1 hour (Weekly)

Residential 3 days (Once)

Assessment
Quiz	25%
Report	40%
Workbook	35%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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