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Course Outline

ENS333 Special Field Studies Topic

Course Coordinator:Gabriel Conroy (gconroy@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Session 5

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 enables you to develop and apply fieldwork skills in a unique location in relation to a special topic in environmental studies or ecology. The course topics and learning activities will contribute to your ability to: plan and conduct fieldwork; analyse and evaluate information to complete a range of activities; generate, analyse and transmit solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems; and transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others. Fieldwork locations and topics may include: Studies of tropical ecosystems in Borneo,Studies of subtropical ecosystems on the Sunshine Coast; Animal Ecology research in Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Geography of Surfing in Noosa. Please review the course outline to determine suitability for topics/locations.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Information session – Field trip discussion 1hr Pre-trimester/session Once Only
Fieldwork – Fieldwork 1-3 weeks depending on location. Minimum 80 hours. Dates to be confirmed 80hrs Not applicable Once Only

Course Topics

This course will have specialist topics for each offering depending on the location and context. The course focuses on a diversity of field work skills and experiences and revolves around an immersive field trip guided by experts in a variety of environmental and ecological disciplines. 

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 Plan for a field-work based study including conducting background research, acquiring specific expert knowledge, analysing data, and synthesising and documenting your findings. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
2 Identify and manage potential risks associated with your field- study location and method and demonstrate appropriate field-work skills. Knowledgeable
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

Course Coordinator approval to enrol as well as completion of at least 1 semester of second year level courses

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

Feedback will be provided to help you progress from your current practice to more effectively achieve the learning goals of the course. The format of feedback may include: verbal comments to individuals or to the class about academic progress relevant to the assessment; ongoing dialogue with learners to help develop the process of self-regulation and reflection; comments on presentations; and/or written feedback on drafts or outlines of a task.

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 Literature Review (or component) Individual 30% 
2,000 words
 Refer to Format Online Submission
All 2 Oral and Written Piece Group 20% 
10 minutes
 Refer to Format In Class
All 3 Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece Individual 50% 
2,000 words
 Refer to Format To Supervisor
All - Assessment Task 1:Literature review and research plan
Goal: 
To develop and demonstrate skills in planning a "fieldwork based" study, including conducting background research and literature review and undertaking a risk assessment.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Structure to follow a conventional scientific research plan. Specific details will be available via Canvas.
Task 1 is due prior to field trip departure.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
You will be assessed on:
•	Scope and quality of background research
•	Appropriateness of risk assessment
•	Quality of presentation and communication
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Project report
Goal: 
In this task you develop and demonstrate your ability communicate your findings.
Product: Oral and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Narrated PowerPoint or video presentation of approximately ten minutes duration.
Task 2 is due during the field trip.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Description, explanation and communication of topic, site and/or data
 1
2 
Communication of field work design, methods and presentation of results
 1 2
3 
Style of presentation and answering questions
 1
4 
Contribution to group
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Fieldwork skills and data collection
Goal: 
With initiative and judgement in planning, you will demonstrate critical fieldwork skills including: field safety, organisation, observation and recording.These skills and qualities of thinking are important elements in professional scientific practice.
Product: Artefact - Technical and Scientific, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
A written report not to exceed 2,000 words not including appendices. 
Task 3 is due within three weeks following return from the field trip.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
You will be assessed on the application of your fieldwork skills including:
•	Accuracy and comprehensiveness of record keeping
•	Appropriate acquisition of data or samples
•	Field safety 
•	Communication of field work, methods and results
 1 2
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

You will be required to travel to the location for field studies and abide by the local laws. You may be required to pay a fee for accommodation, transport and food. You will be required to wear covered footwear, hat, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers for field safety. Ensuring you have up to date immunisations and associated travel medical advice is strongly recommended for international field work.

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

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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