51茶馆

Staffing

Examiner:

Other Requisites

Recommended Pre-requisite: REN1201.

Rationale

The future management of the earth's natural resources and the conservation of biodiversity requires up-to-date and reliable information and knowledge from a wide variety of disciplines. Biodiversity and conservation are emerging areas of ecological science that take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the processes involved, and problems associated with, the maintenance of the diversity of species, habitats and ecological systems. The course provides an ecological perspective to understanding the Earth鈥檚 biodiversity, human impacts leading to its loss and the conservation of biodiversity. The course is of value to professional ecologists, field biologists, environmental scientists, environmental engineers and resource and business managers. The course is also of value to teachers and other educators, and those interested in careers in ecotourism.

Synopsis

The course incorporates an interdisciplinary approach to the study of biodiversity and conservation, with a foundation in ecological theory and principles as a basis for the conservation and management of natural, production and disturbed systems. The concept of biodiversity, key threatening processes and theories regarding extinction and biodiversity loss are examined . The impact of humans on the Earth's biodiversity and current practices and problems in conservation are also examined, in both global and regional settings.

Objectives

Topics

Text and Materials

Reference Materials

Student Workload Expectations

Assessment Details

Important assessment information

1. Attendance requirements:
   
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
   
   
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   
   To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
   
   
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   
   Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)
   
   
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.
   
   Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
   
   To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).
   
   
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
   
   
6. Examination information:
   
   An Online Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed, written, or online material as well as a calculator.
   
   
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   
   Deferred and Supplementary examinations will be held in accordance with the Assessment Procedure .
   
   
8. University Student Policies:
   
   Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
   
   

Assessment Notes

1. The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to USQ via electronic submission on the course website. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within five days if required by the Examiner. In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.
   
   
2. Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course
   
   
3. It is not possible to extend or defer the online quizzes. Students will need to complete the quizzes in the specified period on the course Studydesk.
   
   
4. Students must use the assignment format indicated on the course studydesk for written assignments.
   
   
5. In accordance with Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences and USQ regulations, applications for extensions to assignment due dates must be made in writing to the Examiner before the assignment due date. Applications for extensions must be accompanied by appropriate documentary evidence.