Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Ecotoxicology

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ENVI1004

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

ENVI1004

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022

Course Coordinator: Prof. Dayanthi Nugegoda

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7150

Course Coordinator Email: dayanthi.nugegoda@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora campus 223.1.44

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

 

Assumed Knowledge

This course requires knowledge and capabilities from courses in plant and animal structure, classification and physiology, as well as chemistry at first year level, an equivalent course or evidence of equivalent capabilities.


Course Description

This course introduces you to the field of environmental toxicology and teaches you practical skills in pollution sampling techniques and their application to the study of environmental assessment. This course enables you to develop a detailed knowledge of ecotoxicological principles. It prepares you to utilise ecological sampling techniques in the field to solve applied ecotoxicological problems and in preparing critical scientific reviews, specifically in important areas of ecotoxicology.

 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes at AQF Level 9:

PLO-1   Scientific knowledge

PLO-2   Critical thinking and problem solving

PLO-3   Application of skills and knowledge

PLO-4   Communication


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Define critical terms and concepts in ecotoxicology;
  2. Describe and evaluate the biological, ecological and chemical factors affecting toxicity testing;
  3. Differentiate between toxicants in their effects on organisms and ecosystems;
  4. Explain the effects of bioaccumulation and biotransformation in organisms and ecosystems and the impacts of major pollution events such as oil spills;
  5. Describe, discuss and apply tests for pollution using biota.
  6. Describe and evaluate biological indicators of pollution at the habitat and organism level;
  7. Evaluate the risk to ecosystem function from a pollutant


Overview of Learning Activities

 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks:

This course contains hurdle requirements. All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching). 

Assessment Task 1: Lab reports (HURDLE)
You must attend laboratory practical classes and labs online and achieve a pass mark for the assessment of laboratory reports
Weighting 35%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1,2,5 & 7

Assessment Task 2: Group Literature review and seminar
Weighting 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2,4,5,6 & 7

Assessment 3: Online Multiple Choice Question test
Weighting 10%
This assessment supports CLOs 1-6

Assessment 4: Online case study assessment)
Weighting 30%
This assessment supports CLOs 1-7

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.