Courses & Units

Earth, Climate and Life KGA507

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 and alpine places, and will help students understand reasons for the variety in attributes of landforms and plant and animal species. The unit 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 KGA507
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 Associate Professor Joanna Ellison
Delivered By University of Tasmania

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

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 20/2/2023 21/3/2023 10/4/2023 28/5/2023

* 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 2023 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2023 will be available from the 1st October 2022. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe key concepts in physical geography to inform environmental decision-making
  • Solve environmental problems using physical geography approaches and methodologies
  • Justify environmental management strategies to improve landscape integrity and function
  • Disseminate data and findings to a range of audiences using quantitative and spatial geographic techniques
Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
050999 $1,037.00 $1,037.00 not applicable $2,922.00

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KGA204

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

AssessmentAT2 Project reconnaissance report and hypothesis (5%)|AT1 Workshop quizzes (10%)|AT3 Project plan (10%)|AT4 Position Paper (35%)|Online test (40%)
TimetableView 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.

LinksBooktopia textbook finder

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.