Courses & Units
Earth, Climate and Life KGA204
Introduction
The physical and living aspects of the global environment interact to produce the extraordinary variety of landscapes, ecosystems and species that occupy this planet. This unit highlights the interplay and conservation of controlling processes so that they continue to maintain Earth's ecosystems and inspire future generations. Earth, Climate and Life develops intermediate understanding of factors controlling geomorphological distinctiveness of earth surface features, weather and climate processes from global to local scales, and distributions and habitats of plants and animals and how they interact within ecosystems. These topics are integrated across various time and spatial scales, emphasising distinctive biomes including island places, and will help students understand reasons for variety in the attributes of landforms and plant and animal species. The unit prepares students for several third year units in physical geography, and develops key skills in demand among employers, including analysis of multiple factors that may be in operation, and presentation of convincing reports.
Summary
| Unit name | Earth, Climate and Life |
|---|---|
| Unit code | KGA204 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | College of Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Discipline | Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Coordinator | Doctor Lydia Mackenzie |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Intermediate |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 1 | On-Campus | International | Domestic | |
| Launceston | Semester 1 | On-Campus | International | Domestic | |
| Online | Semester 1 | Off-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Key
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 26/2/2024 | 22/3/2024 | 15/4/2024 | 2/6/2024 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Explain key concepts in physical geography and apply them to distinctive natural places;
- Apply physical geography approaches and methodologies to a range of environmental settings;
- Explain the relationships between earth, climate and life systems;
- Communicate with discipline-specific terminology and approaches to a range of audiences.
Fee Information
The 2024 Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) rates are still being finalised by the Government and we will update the domestic fee information as soon as we have more details.
Requisites
Prerequisites
KGA171 OR KGA172 OR 25 credit points at Introductory level or higher from environmental science, earth science, climate science or ecology.Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | All students: 1 hours recorded lectures each week, 1 hour online discussion each week Project: including reconnaissance, hypothesis forming, data collection, data analysis and reporting findings (45 hours) Face-to-face students: 1 day-long field trip 6 * 2 to 3 hour on-campus workshops (some include outside fieldwork) Online students: 1 day-long virtual field trip 6 * 2 hour online workshops |
|---|---|
| Assessment | AT2 Project reconnaissance report and hypothesis (5%)|AT1 Workshop quizzes (10%)|AT3 Project plan (10%)|AT4 Project report (35%)|Online Test (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Christopherson, R.H. & Birkeland G.H. (2015). Geosystems. Pearson. 9th Edition. | Links | Booktopia textbook finder |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.