Program summary

Program title: Graduate Certificate in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Award abbreviation: GCIntegCoastZoneMgt
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 6 months minimum full-time, 2 years maximum part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or 2 (subject to enrolment numbers)
Fee type 2010: postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 4
USC program code: SC502
CRICOS code: 063683B

Intensive delivery mode

This program is delivered in an intensive mode. Courses will require a student activity investment of 120 hours, approximately 60 hours of which will be undertaken over six or seven consecutive days on campus. In most cases, the courses are undertaken from 8.30am until 5.30pm for a week including weekends. The remaining 60 hours is undertaken as independent student learning activities, which may include readings, exercises and the preparation of assessment items.

Program overview

The Graduate certificate in Integrated Coastal Zone Management comprises courses equalling 48 units including ENS310 (12 units) and ENS320 (12 units). The courses will be run in intensive mode and the actual scheduling of the individual courses will depend on student demand and numbers. While all courses are offered nominally in Semester 1 and 2 each year, courses could also be conducted during the summer and mid-year breaks, as demand requires.

The program will provide:

• An in-depth understanding of: the natural and human induced forcing factors that are responsible for the rapid rates of environmental and climate change, and the types of governance and community based responses required to address these impacts, vulnerabilities and implications of the changes on physical, biological, social, economic and cultural environmental conditions.

• Professional development in the field of integrated coastal zone management provides practitioners with practical skills in problem solving as related to adaptive environmental assessment and integrated management systems. Such skills will be acquired through a combination of face to face teaching and practical projects. Training sessions will utilise environmental simulation models to practice students in: problem defining, data and information manipulation, management and application. These tools will be used to support the preparation of coastal adaptive assessment documents and with environmental management system/plan preparation for the coastal zone.

• The theoretical understanding and practical tools to enable coastal managers to more effectively integrate best practice environmental impact assessment tools and techniques with nationally and internationally endorsed environmental management systems. Such tools, techniques and systems are designed to mitigate unwanted effects of environmental change and manage the outcomes of the implementation of project implantation in ways that ensure continuous improvement in the biophysical, socio-economic and cultural conditions of the coastal zone.

Skills will be acquired through a combination of lectures, readings, group discussions, practical projects and use of interactive modelling tools. Participants in the program will be assessed by a combination of individual and group project tasks.

Learning objectives

On completion of courses under the Graduate Certificate in Integrated Coastal Zone Management, participants in the professional development education and training program will be well equipped to meet professional challenges and be able to:

• appreciate international trends in environmental assessment and management of coastal areas
• better understand international and national obligations, commitments to applying environmental assessment processes and integrated management systems to coastal areas in particular World Heritage Areas, RAMSAR wetlands and areas accorded protected area status
• proactively address the implications of environmental and climate change on coastal environments
• use the integrated adaptive assessment and integrated management tools and techniques designed to achieve continuous improvement in environmental outcomes in the coastal zone
• more effectively assess and manage complex agricultural, industrial, infrastructure, recreational and urban development proposals for projects in coastal areas using statutory and best practice processes and procedures
• use environmental simulation modelling and decision support tools and prepare assessment and management plan documentation that meets professional and statutory requirements, and
• contribute towards accreditation as an environmental and EA/EIA practitioner from the EIANZ or equivalent overseas accreditation body

Admission requirements

A student entering the Graduate Certificate program will normally be required to hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from a recognised higher education institution. Entry by non-graduates who have extensive relevant industry experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Dean, Faculty of Science, Health and Education.

Advanced standing

Advanced standing up to a maximum of 50 percent (24 units) will be offered to students with approval from the Dean. Prior learning, relevant work experiences and overseas qualifications are recognised.

Program structure

Please note these courses are often run outside the normal Semester dates as intensive courses in Sessions. Please refer to the Faculty of Science, Health and Education course schedule for further information.

4 required courses:
ENS310 Talking History: Memory and the Past
ENS320 Climate Change Adaptation
ENS724 Climate Change Mitigation Theory and Practice
ENS725 Coastal Systems Dynamics

Notes

Program requirements

1. Students are required to successfully complete 4 courses as specified in the Graduate Certificate in Integrated Coastal Zone Management program structure.
2. Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
3. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
4. Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
5. Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including namely, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations.

Enquiries

Dr Shireen Fahey
Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5430 1141
Email: sfahey@usc.edu.au

Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Email: sheinfo@usc.edu.au

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