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Course Outline

ENS223 Environmental Impact Assessment

Course Coordinator:Savindi Caldera (scaldera@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC 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

Environmental management systems are the practical means by which organisations minimise their impacts on the environment. In this course you’ll learn how to assess impacts at different scales, and design, implement and monitor mitigation measures. This knowledge will assist you to critically evaluate complex environmental issues and assist in the development of Environmental Impact Statements (EIAs) and the preparation, maintenance and implementation Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in accordance with relevant environmental legislation and international standards.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – There will be a minimum of 12 hours of quality online learning materials available to support student learning. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus workshop 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Fieldwork – Fieldwork dates to be determined. 5hrs Not applicable 3 times

Course Topics

  • Environmental Management Systems (in accordance with ISO 14001) 
  • Risk Assessment 
  • Environmental Impact Assessments
  • Project Implementation and Environmental Performance
  • Corporate social responsibility and environmental reporting

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

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 Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Understand the strategic and organisational context of environmental management in different settings and design and deliver practical outcomes that contribute positively to environmental performance. Engaged
2 Synthesise and prioritise information from desktop and field environmental assessments, rank the relative values identified, assess the risks imposed by the development, and determine appropriate environmental management strategies. Creative and critical thinker
3 Critically evaluate the effectiveness of existing environmental management policies and procedures against relevant criteria and standards. Creative and critical thinker
4 Articulate and justify specific policies or courses of action on complex environmental issues using discipline based knowledge and established management principles. Empowered
5 Understand and adhere to professional and ethical codes of conduct. Ethical

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

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Introductory level knowledge of: global environmental trends and issues from a systems perspective; environmental and sustainable development objectives; environmental management assessment, reporting and compliance and construction environmental performance management.

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

In the third teaching week of trimester there will be a peer review and feedback process relating to Task 1. Regular interactive feedback and guidance will be provided during lectorials.

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 Oral and Written Piece Group 30% 
15-minute presentation with PowerPoint slides
 Week 6 In Class
All 2 Plan Individual 40% 
2000 words equivalent
 Week 11 Online Submission
All 3 Written Piece Individual 30% 
700 words equivalent
 Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Environmental Management System
Goal: 
You will develop skills to undertake an assessment of a company, conduct an environmental risk assessment, and prepare the foundations of an over-arching Environmental Management System (EMS) in accordance with ISO 14001. This will include the assessment of internal and external issues, the needs and expectations of interested parties and the intended outcomes of the EMS.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
An oral presentation with a PowerPoint slide deck including a brief Environmental Management Plan focussing on: Company Environmental Policy, Environmental Objectives, Key Performance Indicators and Risk Assessment.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of environmental assessment methods - Understanding of the relationship between policy, objectives and KPIs, Understanding of the risk assessment process and the practical application of management measures
 1
2 
Evaluation of existing policies and procedures against relevant criteria and standards
 3
3 
Professional and ethical codes of conduct.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Environmental Impact Assessment
Goal: 
You will develop skills to work from a project description, conduct a preliminary desktop assessment, prepare for and undertake a site assessment, and prepare a summary Environmental Impact Assessment and management plan that addresses environmental values at the site (for example Water, Soil, Flora, Fauna, Social, Native Title, etc.), impacts presented by the project, and mitigation measures.
Product: Plan
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Written technical document with summary sections on: 

Site values 

Detailed risk assessment of the project impacts on those values 

Mitigation measures identified in the risk assessment presented in a succinct working reference document
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of risk assessment methods
 1 2
2 
Synthesis and prioritisation of information on environmental issues at various scales
 2
3 
Articulation and justification of specific policies or courses of action
 3 4
4 
Evaluation of existing policies and procedures against relevant criteria and standards
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Environmental Performance Management
Goal: 
To develop skills in presenting a well-researched and contractually sound justification of activities identified on site at the 3rd site visit. .
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Letter in response to a client contract letter.​ 

Letter to be written in a detailed assessment of current legislation, environmental standards, guidelines, management plans and other reference material.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Application of environmental management methods in different situations
 1 3
2 
Synthesis and prioritisation of information on environmental issues at various scales
 2
3 
Understanding of contractual documentation, legal requirements, statutory obligations and industry guidelines.
 5
4 
Articulation and justification of specific policies or courses of action
 4
5 
Evaluation of existing policies and procedures against relevant criteria and standards
 3
6 
Awareness of professional and ethical codes of conduct.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy

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

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended John Glasson,Riki Therivel 2013 Introduction To Environmental Impact Assessment n/a Routledge
Recommended International Standards Organisation 0 ISO 14001 n/a n/a

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

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

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

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

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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