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Course Outline

ENS317 Coastal Conservation Planning

Course Coordinator:Andrew Olds (aolds@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 1

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

Coastal ecosystems are facing escalating threats from development and the consequences of climate change. In this course, you will explore the threats faced by coastal ecosystems, learn the principles and tools of conservation and management, and investigate challenges in the coastal strip. You will apply your knowledge in a practical context to undertake a supervised research project that addresses a topical issue for local coastal conservation and/or management. The course emphasises the integration of knowledge and skills to address regional or local conservation and management issues.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – 2-hr face-to-face workshop on campus each week. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Fieldwork – 4-day field course, delivered face-to-face at an off campus location in April (i.e. between weeks 6 and 9). Specific dates are yet to be confirmed and will depend on weather conditions. 24hrs Week 8 Once Only
Learning materials – 1.5-hrs of recorded online learning materials each week. 1.5hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

  • Be provided with a fundamental grounding in the theory and practice of coastal conservation planning
  • Discuss the practical and ethical implications of coastal conservation and management
  • Be guided in identifying the nature and scope of a practical study, in developing an associated literature review to contextualise this study within your knowledge of coastal conservation and management, and in presenting a project proposal that outlines how and why the proposed study is important
  • Under supervision, complete the proposed research and produce a report that demonstrates a sound understanding of coastal conservation and/or management

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 Synthesise and critically evaluate specialist scientific literature, data and information from a diversity of sources for application to an advanced coastal management issue. Creative and critical thinker
2 Apply specialist practical, conceptual and theoretical tools and techniques in coastal ecology and conservation planning to formulate advanced research questions and design a substantial research project. Engaged
3 Utlise advanced knowledge and apply specialist skills associated with research principles and methods to plan, execute and deliver a field project that addresses a significant problem in coastal conservation and management. Empowered
4 Integrate advanced theoretical knowledge, and apply specialist technical skills, to summarise and synthesise research findings, and to critically examine these in the context of current paradigms in marine science and coastal conservation. Knowledgeable
5 Communicate specialist knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in appropriate oral and written formats for peers, and other scientific audiences, through application of advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills. 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

(ANM203 or SCI202 or MTH203) and (ENS213 or ENS221 or ENS222 or ENS253 or ENS282) or enrolled in Coastal and Marine Environments Minor

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Adequate technical and scientific research skills including experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing skills that will allow you to demonstrate your foundation and developing knowledge of coastal conservation and management issues.

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

Feedback on your Project Proposal will be provided in class in Weeks 1 to 4.

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 Group 30% 
Oral presentation in media pre-approved by course coordinator, no more than 15 minutes in duration.
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 20% 
2 hrs
 Week 7 Online Test (Quiz)
All 3 Report Individual 50% 
Project Report no more than 3,000 words (± 10%) in length, excluding references, table of contents, figure legends, and title page.
 Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Project Proposal
Goal: 
To demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge and skills required to identify a problem, communicate why it is important, develop appropriate aims and objectives, and develop appropriate methods to address them.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
An oral proposal, presented as part of a group, that contains the following elements: Background (summary of a preliminary literature review); Rationale for the project (why it is necessary, timely and important); Aims and Objectives (overall aim, and clearly defined objectives that help you achieve the main aim); Proposed methods and analyses (clearly articulated and justification); and Potential outcomes (possible wider implications for conservation and environmental management).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Synthesis of specialist scientific literature to provide an advanced summary of the state of understanding, and identify knowledge gaps, for research on your chosen coastal management issue.
 1
2 
Critical evaluation of published data and information to establish a rationale for your chosen research topic, and to justify the significance of this project in the context of existing research in the field of coastal conservation and management.
 1
3 
Application of specialist conceptual, and theoretical, techniques in coastal ecology and conservation planning to establish advanced research questions with clear, and appropriate, aims and objectives.
 2
4 
Selection and application of advanced practical tools, and methodologies, for the collection and analysis of data to design a substantial research project, which will address the objectives of your chosen research question/s.
 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Exam
Goal: 
Demonstrate your understanding of key theoretical concepts, applied techniques, and practical approaches in the field of coastal conservation and management.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
A comprehensive 2-hour online exam based on material covered in the workshops and online learning materials.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Integration of advanced theoretical knowledge of modern paradigms in coastal ecology to accurately answer a diversity of research questions on topics related to marine conservation and restoration.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Project Report
Goal: 
To present, summarize and synthesize, the results of your research project, including the rationale for the work, the techniques and approaches used (including for data analysis), the results of the study, and their potential implications for coastal conservation and environmental management.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The Project Report will be formatted as a manuscript for publication in a chosen academic journal. It will contain the following elements: Introduction; Research Objectives and hypotheses; Methods (including study area, survey techniques, and data analysis); Results; Discussion; Conclusions; References; Tables and Figures. The chosen target journal must be relevant to the field of research, and should be approved by the course coordinator.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Utilisation of advanced knowledge of research principles, experimental design and fieldwork logistics, to plan a field project that addresses a significant problem in coastal ecology and conservation.
 3
2 
Application of specialist skills, practical research methods, and analytical techniques to execute and deliver a field project that addresses the objectives of your chosen research question/s in marine science and management.
 3
3 
Integration of advanced theoretical knowledge to summarise and synthesise findings of your chosen research question/s in marine science and management.
 4
4 
Application of specialist technical skills to critically examine the findings of your research in the context of current paradigms in marine science and coastal conservation.
 4
5 
Communication of knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in an appropriate written format for peers, and other scientific audiences, through application of advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills.
 5
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, 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

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Access to internet and search engines. You will be required to undertake field studies over four days. You will be required to wear covered footwear, hat, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers for field safety. Accommodation costs will be covered. Details of costs and opportunities for travel and food will be set out at the beginning of the trimester. Discuss any financial hardship that might be associated with the field studies with the Course Coordinator.

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

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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