Course Title: Environmental Sampling and Analysis

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental Sampling and Analysis

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption. 

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209. 

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ENVI1145

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

ENVI1145

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022

Course Coordinator: Assoc. Prof Graeme Allinson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3561

Course Coordinator Email: graeme.allinson@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 3.2.23

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the courses CHEM1015, ENVI1142, ENVI1008 and ENVI1009 before you commence this course.  

Alternatively you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. For further information go to Recognition of prior learning (RPL) in Higher Education.


Course Description

This course aims to provide you with work integrated learning experiences which simulate the types of  tasks you might have to do as a practising environmental scientist.  This includes working in small teams consisting of people from different areas of expertise on projects which will involve sampling, analyses and report writing. The theory and practical work is focussed on enhancing field, laboratory and analytical skills using environmental samples taken from air, water, soil and biota. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes at AQF level 7: 

  • Understanding science. Demonstrate a coherent understanding of environmental science and be able to explain the role of environmental science in the community.
  • Scientific knowledge. Exhibit depth and breadth of environmental science knowledge.
  • Inquiry and problem solving. Critically analyse and solve problems in environmental science, be able to select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques with technical competence in conducting field and laboratory-based experiments. 
  • Communication. Be an effective communicator of environmental sciences. 
  • Personal and professional responsibility. Be accountable for individual learning and scientific work in environmental science.



After successfully completing this course you will be able to:

 CLO 1.        demonstrate abroad and coherent knowledge of sampling and measurement techniques for monitoring environmental parameters

 CLO 2.        demonstrate knowledge of the causes and effects of human impacts on the environment

 CLO 3.        gather, synthesize and critically evaluate information from arangeofsources in order to produce consultancy style report

 CLO 4.        collect, accurately record, interpret and draw conclusions from scientific data you have collected or sourced from the literature

 CLO 5.        work safely on field trips

 CLO 6.        work effectively, responsibly, ethically and safely in an individual and in a team context.


  



Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities you will undertake will consist of:

  • Lectures where syllabus material will be explained and illustrated with real-world problems and examples (CLOs 1&2)
  • On-line assignments covering aspects of theory (CLOs 1&2)
  • Fieldwork projects designed to give you practice in the application of theory and analytical procedures (CLOs 1,3,4,5)
  • Written assignments consisting of a field report, team report and reflective writing (CLOs 1,2,3 & 4)
  • Collaborative team work (CLO 6)

Total Study Hours

You will be expected to attend 8 hours of formal lectures, a 4 day field trip and work with your team members for 3 hours a week during formally allocated class time (~70 hours).

The expected independent study time for assignments and report writing is 50 hours



Overview of Learning Resources

You will be provided with a field manual. Other material will be provided in class and through MyRMIT.

You will also be able to access course information and learning material through the Learning Hub (through myStudies via myRMIT ).


Overview of Assessment

Note that:

☒This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment for this course will consist of both of individual and team assessments

Assessment 1 (individual): On-Line tests (24%) CLOs 1 & 2

Assessment 2 - Field trip related work (66%), including:

  • Fieldwork Reports (Team: 3 parts; 20, 20 and 16%) CLOs 2 1,2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
  • Team functioning report (Team) (10%) CLO2 1,2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment 3 (Individual): Reflective report (10%) CLO 6