GSE811 Coastal Management
About this Unit
Semester 2, 2008
Offered: D2 - Day; Second Half-Year (Block Mode Delivery; Unit is offered alternate years)
Convenor: Dr Rodney James
Prerequisite: Completion of 4 GSE units (including GSE803 OR approval of Head of Department) Approval will be granted if student has completed a science based degree.
Credit Points: 4
Coastal management is a particular component of environmental management. It is an increasingly important subject in NSW and elsewhere as population, climate change and other pressures impinge on 'the coast'.
This course introduces participants to coastal management through a focus on three main aspects of the subject:
- coastal planning, legislation, policy and management experience
- physical coastal processes
- coastal ecosystems, protected areas, species and conservation
Objectives of the unit
- to provide an overview of coastal management
- to describe coastal values, uses and issues
- to analyse selected policy, legislative, social and technical aspects of coastal management
- to demonstrate selected concepts, methods, tools and practical experiences of coastal management
Teaching Staff
Convenor: Dr Rodney James
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)
Visiting Fellow, Macquarie University
Presenters:
Associate Professor Rob Harcourt, Macquarie University
Associate Professor Andy Short, University of Sydney
Professor Bruce Thom, University of Sydney
Classes
The course is run in block mode over 6 individual days. It includes lectures, workshops, a fieldtrip and student presentations. (see schedule below)
Classes will be held in E8A 341 - GSE Computer Lab.
Unit web page
There is no web page for this unit.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit you should have satisfied yourself and the unit convenor that you are able to:
- describe accurately the elements of the coastal zone, including coastal systems, processes and resources;
- identify and analyse coastal management issues in terms of geophysical processes, ecological processes, social and economic values and administrative issues;
- identify, detail and analyse potential solutions to coastal management issues;
- analyse and evaluate coastal management policies, strategies and plans; and
- develop strategies and action plans appropriate for the management of coastal problems, at levels ranging from National or State strategies through to the implementation of specific actions in local areas or sites.
Teaching and Learning Strategy
| Time | 9.00 - 12.00 | 12.00 - 13.00 | 13.00 - 16.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 2008 | Course Introduction |
LUNCH | Coastal issues |
| 21 Aug 2008 | Coastal ecosystems and habitats | LUNCH | Physical coastal processes |
| Saturday 23 Aug 2008 |
FIELD TRIP
Prof Andy Short (9.00 - 17.00) |
FIELD TRIP (9.00 - 17.00) | |
| 4 Sep 2008 | Coastal conservation | LUNCH | Management of coastal fisheries |
| 11 Sep 2008 | Management of coastal species Lecture Notes |
LUNCH | Local Government perspectives |
| 9 Oct 2008 | Future directions for coastal management | LUNCH | Course conclusion |
Required and Recommended Texts/Materials
A list of general references is provided in the first session.
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes
In order to pass this course, students will have to demonstrate their own understanding of coastal management.
Students are required to complete three compulsory assignments. Details of the assignments are provided in the first session.
Plagiarism
The University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on plagiarism. These can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies or on the web at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
University Policy on Grading
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from fail to high distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Under the Senate guidelines, results may be scaled to ensure that there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results.
It is important that you realise that the policy does not require that a minimum number of students are to be failed in any unit. In fact it does something like the opposite, in requiring examiners to explain their actions if more than 20% of students fail in a unit.
The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.
For an explanation of the policy see:
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/Guidelines2003.doc or
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/detailedguidelines.doc
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Equity Support Unit (ESU) provides support and assistance to students with a disability/health condition in aiming to ensure that they do not experience disadvantage in reaching their academic potential. Service provision is determined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment of a student's needs and the provision of supporting documentation. Service provision is also dependent on the availability of resources.
To register with ESU, download an Advice of Disability/Health Condition form from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. This form must be completed annually, irrespective of whether a disability/health condition is temporary, long-term or permanent. Students wishing to request support services from the ESU should make an appointment to see a Disability Advisor immediately after enrolling at Macquarie University.
Phone: (02) 9850 6494/7497
Fax: (02) 9850 6063
TTY: (02) 9850 6493
Email: equity@mq.edu.au
In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A), Macquarie University
Website: http://www.sss.mq.edu.au/equity