Course Outline

ENS305 Environmental Chemistry

Course Coordinator:Ryo Sekine (rsekine@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

This course focuses on chemical processes in the environment and their analyses. Laboratory work focuses on methods development and evaluation and the analysis of environmental samples. Students evaluate the results of their analyses in a scientific manner.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Learning Materials are available online and delivered asynchronously. Learning Materials consist primarily of formative quizzes and interactive screencasts. Other available materials include simulations and on-line demonstrations. 2hrs Week 1 12 times
Laboratory 1 – Laboratory work is conducted face-to-face on-campus. Each practical session is thematically linked to theoretical material covered in the screencasts. Students are expected to work in teams during practical sessions. 3hrs Week 1 6 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Tutorials are delivered face-to-face on-campus. Tutorials consist of focus questions and group work. 2hrs Week 1 6 times

Course Topics

  • Overview of Environmental Chemistry
  • Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Soil Chemistry
  • Aquatic Chemistry
  • Microbial transformations
  • Pollution
  • Heavy Metals and Organics
  • Bioremediation
  • Emerging pollutants
  • Global environmental challenges

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 Propose and justify ethical, sustainability-focussed solutions to current and potential environmental chemistry problems Ethical
Sustainability-focussed
2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental chemistry incorporating regional and global perspectives Knowledgeable
3 Design, optimise and demonstrate environmental chemistry experiments Empowered
Engaged
4 Communicate in scientific writing and orally (to post graduate students and staff) Empowered

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

SCI105

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

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 is supplied by way of formative assessment in the first few weeks of trimester.

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 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 25%
1 hour, <1000 words
Week 6 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Report Individual or Group 35%
1 x 2000 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 40%
2 hours < 1500 words
Exam Period Online Test (Quiz)
All - Assessment Task 1:Mid-trimester exam
Goal:
Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental chemistry and propose and justify solutions to problems
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Short and extended answer, problem solving, calculations based on material from learning material, tutorials, laboratory activities to date.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Apply and discuss key concepts in relation to environmental chemistry and sustainability.
1
2
Effectively communicate both orally and in scientific writing.
4
Generic Skills:
Collaboration
All - Assessment Task 2:Scientific report
Goal:
Produce environmental chemistry data (from field samples and laboratory experiments) to write a report.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, references.Report submitted through Turnitin.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Analyse environmental chemistry information in formal contexts.
3
2
Analyse data and effectively communicate.
4
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 3:Final Exam
Goal:
Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental chemistry and propose and justify solutions to problems
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Short and extended answer, problem solving, calculations based on material from the learning materials, tutorials, laboratory and field activities.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrate and apply knowledge of environmental chemistry incorporating regional and global perspectives
1 2 4
2
Propose and justify ethical, sustainability-focused solutions to current and potential environmental chemistry problems
1 2 4
Generic Skills:

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 Colin Baird,Michael Cann 2012 Environmental Chemistry 5th Edition W. H. Freeman

Specific requirements

Laboratory coat, safety glasses, closed in footwear for laboratory.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all laboratory classes and a moderate level of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks are those associated with laboratory work such as working with chemicals and hazardous substances. You will be required to undertake laboratory induction training and it is also 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

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: