Environmental Management
Overview
This unit aims to provide an understanding of ecology, environmental systems and environmental management. The various topics give a critical insight into the diversity and complexity of environmental issues, and the major causes and effects of environmental pollutions resulting from anthropogenic activities.
The unit also aims to develop high levels of awareness for the ubiquity of hazardous substances and specific skill sets for their management. Students will also acquire new skills and knowledge in preparing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and generic risk assessments. Finally, the unit will provide an overview of mitigation strategies to minimise ecological footprint.
Requisites
100 credit points
02-November-2025
31-May-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Describe the structure and dynamics of socio-ecological systems within the context of the Anthropocene, highlighting the interdependence between human societies and natural ecosystems
- Explain key ecological concepts including population and community ecology, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, and their relevance to conservation strategies
- Analyse the sources, impacts, and control measures for environmental pollution, including emerging contaminants, across air, water, soil, and noise domains
- Evaluate environmental policies, governance frameworks, and international agreements in terms of their effectiveness and implementation challenges
- Apply technological innovations and decision-support tools—such as AI, remote sensing, and predictive modelling—to assess environmental risks and inform sustainable management practices
- Design and conduct field investigations using appropriate sampling techniques and experimental design, incorporating Indigenous knowledge and ethical considerations in environmental research
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Workshop |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Learning Activities |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Online Learning Activities |
1.00 | 4 weeks | 4 |
| On-campus Lab |
4.00 | 4 weeks | 16 |
| Specified Activities Various |
4.00 | 1 weeks | 4 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Individual | 30 - 40% | 1,2,4,5,6 |
| Online Quizzes | Individual | 10 - 15% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Laboratory Report | Group | 10 - 20% | 1,5,6 |
| Technology Report | Individual | 5 - 15% | 1,5,6 |
| Mid-Semester Test | Individual | 20 - 25% | 1,2,4 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.
Content
- Socio-ecological systems and the Anthropocene: a holistic framework for understanding the complex interactions between human societies and natural ecosystems.
- Ecology and conservation: expands on first-year principles of ecology by exploring population and community ecology, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
- Environmental pollution and control: types, sources, and impacts of air, water, soil, and noise pollution, emerging contaminants
- Environmental policy and governance: cover the development and implementation of environmental laws, regulations, and international agreements.
- Climate science and climatology: provide a deeper understanding of Earth's climate system, including atmospheric processes, climate change drivers, and the impacts on ecosystems and human societies.
- Technological innovations in environmental management: AI-based monitoring, sensor networks, satellite remote sensing, and emerging opportunities and trade‑offs in deploying these technologies.
- Environmental risk assessment and decision tools: tools for assessing environmental risk, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), due diligence, incorporating AI, remote sensing and predictive modelling for environmental decisions.
- Energy and sustainability: explore the current global energy landscape, the environmental impacts of different energy sources, and the principles of sustainable energy systems and transitions.
- Waste management and circular economy: solid and hazardous waste practices, growing plastic volumes, and strategies such as circular economy in construction, materials reuse, and recycling
- Indigenous engagement and traditional ecological knowledge: Indigenous Australians manage significant portions of land and contribute valuable insights for sustainable land and water stewardship.
- Field methods and experimental design: a practical, hands-on topic that would train students in the essential skills of field sampling, data collection, and experimental design.
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.