This unit is designed to provide students with academic and generic skills required for successful completion of their science-related undergraduate studies and for professional practice. Activities allow students to learn, develop and utilise various academic and interpersonal skills within the wider context of applied scientific principles in society. Activities encourage development of self-confidence, creative thinking, problem solving, group process, communication and peer support. Academic skills include aspects of scientific reading and writing, assignment preparation, gathering scientific information, research and library skills, oral presentation, group work, taking tests and exams, effective personal and class-based learning strategies, peer assessment and online learning.

Students studying at Campbelltown campus should refer to 300543 - Cell Biology. The cell is the basic unit of life and some basic processes, such as membrane function and the reactions involving DNA, occur in cells of all living organisms. This unit introduces the important biological chemicals involved in those processes and the study of the processes themselves. The unit also examines phenomena such as cell replication, sex cell formation, inheritance, and cell metabolism that are shared by all eukaryotes (animals, protistans, fungi and plants). The biochemical capture of the sun's energy (photosynthesis) is also studied. The evolutionary links between these cellular processes form a framework for the unit, and students consider the origin of life and their own evolution. In addition, students are introduced to the immense potential of recombinant DNA technology.

This unit uses the setting of surface freshwater aquatic environments to develop an understanding of a range of professional skills and values necessary for the theory and practice of environmental management. Working in small groups students investigate the philosophy and practice of science through the design and implementation of field studies that investigate the nature of pollution, evaluate the current condition of aquatic systems and recommend strategies that will improve ecosystem integrity and mitigate the risk of adverse human health outcomes.

A holistic, systemic understanding of the nature of landscape is fundamental to the land and water management professions. Drawing upon examples from the Sydney Basin, this unit will introduce students to the complex interrelationships between biophysical, social and cultural factors which determine the ever changing character of the landscapes we experience around us. Through a series of urban and rural field studies, students will be encouraged to develop an understanding of the formative factors of landscape and their interaction, a sensitivity toward diverse and often conflicting landscape values, and a capacity for landscape description emphasising spatial interpretation.

This unit introduces students to various statistical techniques necessary in scientific endeavours. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using a ‘hands-on’ approach. Topics include effective methods of gathering data, statistical principles of designing experiments, error analysis, describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, non-parametric methods, and simple linear regression and correlation.

Students enrolled in Resource Sustainability will work in groups employing rapid appraisal techniques to score the environmental conditions across a range of landuse categories on the UWS Hawkesbury Campus. Students will be required to design and implement an investigation of the landscape utilizing methods currently in use by relevant legislative & administrative bodies (GPS, GIS, PDT, etc). The development of skills in the area of spatial data management is an essential element in this unit. Having completed an assessment of the environmental conditions on the Campus, students will illustrate their findings and present them in both audio/visual and written reports.

This unit will study the basic biology, ecology, conservation and management of selected terrestrial animals (amphibian, reptiles, birds and mammals) grouped according to their taxonomic affiliations. It will examine the various strategies used in the management of both wild roaming and captive reared animals including those propagated for human use. Students will learn the different management systems and research methods used in the conduct of wildlife research. The use of wildlife as a sustainable resource will be analysed within the context of ecological sustainable development and animal ethics.

This unit examines the complex interaction between power, politics, ethics and scientific paradigms in the management of natural agricultural and built environments. As such its foundations are in the field of environmental studies with a particular focus on the role of science graduates in the social interactions that govern societies use, transformation and impact on these environments. The rationale for the inclusion of a sociological perspective in a science degree is that scientists do not operate in a social vacuum, but are constantly subject to broader social, economic, political, ethical and cultural influences that bear upon the distribution and exercise of power and knowledge in organisations and in society as a whole.

This unit aims to provide students with a broad understanding of the current environmental regulations available to environment protection and planning authorities at the State and Local Government level to protect and manage the environment. It is a suitable subject for students entering Government or industry in environmental management, health and planning roles. This unit will focus on the environmental management opportunities provided by the Local Government Act, Protection of the Environment Operations Act, and Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Commonwealth Legislation including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will also be examined.

This unit is designed to help students understand and navigate their way through the scientific inquiry process, and to make inquiry a meaningful experience. It highlights the creative and strategic thinking skills needed to negotiate research, and covers the entire inquiry process from conceptualisation and design through to data collection, analysis, and report writing. The unit transcends traditional paradigmatic and disciplinary boundaries by approaching research from the ground up – a research question based perspective.

This unit will assist students develop a sound framework for the analysis of land use and its interactions with the environment. The skills gained will assist in evaluation of land use at various levels from household to international level. Particular emphasis will be placed on students gaining a sound conceptual framework from which to examine sustainability at the environmental, economic, social, and production levels. Emphasis will be placed on the use of ecological footprinting as a tool.

This unit is an introduction to environmental planning for “non-planners”. It is particularly targeted at those who will work with Environmental Planners within a local and state government context. This unit will provide the student with a brief introduction to the ways that the environmental planning system can be used to protect the natural environment and/or encourage sustainable development practices. There is a particular focus on setting goals for environmental protection and then looking at ways in which the current planning regulations can be used to assist with achieving these goals. Current metropolitan planning and strategy will be examined including the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney and subordinate Subregional Strategies.

This unit introduces students to a range of concepts from the protection of aquatic environments in terms of the need to monitor and maintain water quality to the application of biological, chemical and physical methods of maintaining the suitability of water quality to meet its use criteria. The unit covers the healthy aquatic environment, pollutants and their sources, health and ecological impacts of water quality degradation, the use of legislation, regulation, policy, guidelines and standards. The concept of water in catchments and catchment management principles are introduced. The fundamental objective in the unit is to broadly address integrated urban water cycle management and explore several case studies through field visits. The unit seeks to develop graduate competencies in water monitoring, regulation, treatment and management. The unit is particularly applicable to those students who are interested in achieving the status of authorised officers with the regulatory authorities.

This unit is being replaced by 300707 Building 2 from Spring 2009. The aim of this unit is to provide students with an overview of the design, classification, applicable Australian Standards, structural systems, construction techniques, materials handling systems, building services, fit-out and finishes for larger scale buildings.

This unit requires students to initiate a major project with clients from industry, research organizations or public utilities associated with the professional practice domains of the natural sciences. The project work includes a number of activities (eg developing project proposal and methodology etc) negotiated with the client and will draw together all of the previous learning in the B. Nat Sci./BSc. The project will entail interdependent relationships with the client, staff supervisor and other resource people and will involve the full range of project management skills. Students will be required to demonstrate their capacity to implement the project by production of a literature review and detailed project proposal. This subject prepares students for 300660 Field Project 2 which focuses on students putting their knowledge into action in a professional setting.

This unit aims to examine the world of environmental management, introducing students to environmental management systems concepts, as well as practical operational tools for doing. Students are introduced to the processes of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Auditing; the tools and methods required for assessment, and their role in the review and processing of an EIS/EA. This unit further develops the students applied approach to solving real world problems.

This unit requires students to undertake a major project with clients from industry, research organizations or public utilities associated with the professional practice domains of the natural sciences. The project work includes a number of activities developed in 300659 Field Project 1. The project will entail interdependent relationships with the client, staff supervisor and other resource people and will involve the full range of project management skills. Students will be required to demonstrate their capacity to implement the project by production of a major report and seminar. The unit places a heavy emphasis on continued development of professional competency in preparation for students to enter the workforce.

This unit will explore the relationships between community, the natural environment and government within an urban context. Students will examine means of investigating communities and establishing their needs. They will look at ways that this information can be mapped and translated into a graphic representation, including the use of GIS. Urban Development Systems will explore the principles of sustainability and then look at ways that community needs are provided for within an urban environment while seeking to meet sustainability objectives. The unit will examine infrastructure and service needs to support human settlements as well as government assessment systems and legislation. Students will investigate community power, political systems and how this can influence government to deliver beneficial outcomes.

Students will learn to use tools and appreciate the complexity of regional environmental management and planning. Building on their local and site specific environmental management knowledge, the regional planning looks at the difficulties encountered when practicing environmental management on a broader spatial scale.