Course Outline
CIV403 Environmental Engineering
Course Coordinator:Rick Jaeger (rjaeger@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2025Semester 2
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
In this course you will develop knowledge and experience in environmental engineering through application to a specific project around an environmental challenge. You will work in small groups to plan and develop designs relevant to the project. Designs will typically involve analysis, calculations and preparation of engineering drawings plus communication of the approach.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 4 | 10 times |
| Learning materials – Asynchronous weekly learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Seminar – On campus | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
| Laboratory 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 2 | 5 times |
Course Topics
Topics may include:
- Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience
- Material & Energy Flows
- Sustainable Energy System
- Sustainable Water Management
- Environmental Impact Assessments and Risk Assessment and Management
- Environmental Policy and Regulations
What level is this course?
400 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Discuss solutions to address environmental engineering challenges. | Knowledgeable |
1, 1.1.a, 1.1 |
| 2 | Explain the application of environmental solutions and demonstrate advanced appreciation of the interactions with other disciplines and global environmental contexts. |
Knowledgeable Sustainability-focussed |
1, 1.1.a, 1.5.c, 1.1, 1.5 |
| 3 | Evaluate and synthesise knowledge to identify and generate solutions to complex environmental problems. | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2.1.a, 2.1 |
| 4 | Solve environmental problems by applying theoretical concepts to assess complex ideas | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2.1.a, 2.1 |
| 5 | Apply knowledge and skills to make high level, independent judgements relating to environmental engineering for a range of ethical or management functions in varied specialised contexts. |
Empowered Ethical |
2, 2.3.b, 2.3 |
| 6 | Develop, plan, implement and evaluate short, medium and long term plans and schedules for an environmental problem. | Empowered |
2, 2.3.a, 2.3 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base |
| 1.1.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline: Engages with the engineering discipline at a phenomenological level, applying sciences and engineering fundamentals to systematic investigation, interpretation, analysis and innovative solution of complex problems and broader aspects of engineering practice. |
| 1.5.c | Knowledge and Skill Base - Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline: Appreciates the issues associated with international engineering practice and global operating contexts. |
| 1.1 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.5 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. |
| 2 | Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability |
| 2.1.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Identifies, discerns and characterises salient issues, determines and analyses causes and effects, justifies and applies appropriate simplifying assumptions, predicts performance and behaviour, synthesises solution strategies and develops substantiated conclusions. |
| 2.3.b | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Addresses broad contextual constraints such as social, cultural, environmental, commercial, legal political and human factors, as well as health, safety and sustainability imperatives as an integral part of the design process. |
| 2.3.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Proficiently applies technical knowledge and open ended problem solving skills as well as appropriate tools and resources to design components, elements, systems, plant, facilities and/or processes to satisfy user requirements. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. |
| 2.3 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in GC002, GD002, MC002, GC006, GD006, MC006, SC410, SC411 or SC425
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
CIV404
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback will be provided through completion of weekly activities in workshops. Furthermore, feedback on each assessment will be provided which will be used to help with the following assessment.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 50% | Several activities and quizzes in class, spread throughout the semester, up to 30 mins. |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
| All | 2a | Activity Participation | Individual and Group | 20% | 10 minutes |
Week 10 | In Class |
| All | 2b | Report | Individual and Group | 30% | Max. 2500 words |
Week 13 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Quizzes | |||||||
| Goal: | Testing of learning outcomes throughout the semester |
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| Product: | Quiz/zes | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | 3 Canvas quizzes will test the knowledge gained throughout the course with a variety of questions. Quizzes will be held over 3 weeks throughout the semester. More details in Canvas. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | |||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2a:Presentation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Presenting developed concepts of the group project |
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| Product: | Activity Participation | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Developed Concepts for the group project |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration |
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| All - Assessment Task 2b:Final report | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Demonstrate the appropriateness of the solution |
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| Product: | Report | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Group report demonstrating the appropriateness of the solution. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
N/A
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au