Land and Water (11776.1)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | On-campus |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Science And Technology |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Academic Program Area - Science | Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
The unit covers topics of geomorphology, surface and groundwater hydrology, environmental chemistry and how these interact with soils and biota at the land surface. Practical activities, including field trips, focus on linkages between different parts of the landscape, and will highlight current themes relevant to industry and the community to connect the fundamental theory to applied issues. This unit addresses various Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLO) for environment and sustainability endorsed by the Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (ACEDD).
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Analyse evidence from spatial and temporal patterns the characteristics of soil, biota and water to determine the nature and activity of different environmental processes across the landscape, and how these influence patterns in geomorphic and ecological zones;
2. Interpret how chemical, biological and physical processes influence the flow of nutrients and contaminants around the landscape;
3. Evaluate how a system may respond to change in the fundamental driving forces in catchment properties; and
4. Communicate with diverse groups in various contexts using a range of written, oral and visual means (ACEDD TLO 3.5).
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
Prerequisites
11773 Applied Ecology OR 10231 EcologyCorequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
10224 Integrated Catchment ScienceAssumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 28 July 2025 | On-campus | Dr Duanne White |
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | On-campus | Dr Duanne White |
Required texts
Required reading and manuals are available electronically from the UC Library e-reserve and/or on the unit's Canvas site. Note that students are expected to search for, and review, additional literature for assignments and to read widely on the topics that we cover – a list of relevant articles is available from the Canvas site.
As general background, we recommend reading the e-textbook Fryirs and Brierley (2013) Geomorphic Analysis of River Systems: An Approach to Reading the Landscape througout the unit. This is accessible via the UC Library - please see Canvas for a week-to-week guide on which chapters to cover.
Submission of assessment items
Special assessment requirements
The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Learner engagement
The contact hours for this unit involve 54 hours of contact time (33 hours of lectures and practicals and 21 hours of field trips). The balance of 96 hours should be dedicated to self-directed study, including reading, preparation for workshops and the various assessments.
Participation requirements
It is strongly encouraged that you attend all lectures and your allocated tutorial to make the most of your learning experience. Both lectures and practical classes will provide links to, and guidance for the assignments, and attendence at all of these is strongly encouraged. Lectures will be streamed in hyflex mode where applicable, but practical classes are generally in-person mode only due to the format and limitations of the classroom.
Students are expected to attend/view lectures prior to the practical in that week. Practical activites will involve tasks based on the lecture content and all lecture content is assessable.
Participation in the major field trip during week 8 is a critical learning activity for the unit and its assessments, and non-attendance is expected to be by exception only, to be negotiated with the unit convenor.
Required IT skills
Geographic Information System (GIS) skills will be developed and utilised heavily through the unit and its assessments. Basic familiarity with systems such as ARCMap, ARCGIS Pro or QGIS prior to entry into the unit is desirable, but not essential.
In-unit costs
Students will need to fund accomodation costs not exceeding $200 for the major field trip in week 8
Work placement, internships or practicums
None
