Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Environmental law is a relatively new and innovative area of law. It has been created in response to growing concerns in our community regarding the need to protect our environment from excessive harm, whilst enabling industrial activities to continue to operate and contribute to our economy. Environmental law has emerged in recent years as a significant area of professional legal practice. This unit will introduce you to the key concepts of environmental law through analysis of a series of real world environmental law scenarios which will integrate your understanding of the law and legal system. This unit is designed for international students and domestic students who have no previous experience in Australian environmental law or practice. This unit will provide a strong foundation for more in-depth postgraduate study of particular aspects of environmental law.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to enable you to understand, analyse and evaluate the concepts and principles of environmental law and how they apply to contemporary environmental issues present in our society.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Critically analyse evaluate and synthesise environmental law issues and policy considerations;
2. Apply your knowledge of environmental law to real world problems;
3. Critically analyse and evaluate the development of environmental law in response to social, economic and political changes both internationally and within Australia;
4. Understand and evaluate the main legal and policy arguments underpinning the debates about law reform in the content areas of the unit;
5. Conceptualise, plan and write a research paper on an environmental law issue.

Content

This unit will analyse and discuss Queensland, national and international environmental law across a number of key areas including:

• The key features of the environmental legal system;


• Laws for the environmental assessment and approval of projects;


• Laws for the protection of the environment from harm; and


• Laws for the conservation of resources including water and energy.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The teaching and learning approach in this unit consists of weekly two hour large group interactive discussions for the 13 weeks of semester addressing the unit content. The teaching approaches are closely tied to the learning outcomes, and are designed to enhance and foster deeper approaches to student learning.

The teaching and learning approach involves an integrated program where you will prepare each week by working through the study guide and undertaking the prescribed readings. You will then build upon your understanding of the unit materials by engaging with the large group interactive discussions during which you will engage in real world problem solving activities.

Prescribed readings for each week will be listed in the Study Guide for this unit and these will be discussed in the class. Internal students are strongly encouraged to attend and engage with these large group discussions, to ask questions, and receive feedback on their understanding of the materials.
The large group discussion will be taped for external students and audio-streamed on the Blackboard site.

Assessment

In this unit you will be graded on a scale of one to seven.
Assessment will be the same for internal and external students. Summative assessment will be based on a proposal for your research paper, an essay and a research paper.Formative feedback is designed to provide you with feedback on your understanding of unit concepts and on your ability to demonstrate the graduate capabilities and skills being taught in this unit. In this unit, formative feedback will be given to you through feedback from the lecturer in the large group discussions and in consultation with the lecturer.
The summative assessment is broken down as follows

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: 6,000 - 7,000 research paper
The research paper must be submitted by the first Monday of the examination period. The paper should comply with the rules for presentation of theses in the section on "Guidelines for Presentation of Research Papers and Research Projects" in the Postgraduate Information Handbook. The research paper implements the research project approved by unit coordinator.
Relates to objectives: (1) - (5).
Weight: 80%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: 1st wk of exams

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Essay on allocated topic of 800-1000 words. The topics will be allocated in week 1.
Relates to objectives: This assessment is designed to achieve learning outcomes 1-5.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Wk 7

Assessment name: Project (research)
Description: 500 word research proposal. The proposal must clearly identify the issues to be explored in the research paper.
Relates to objectives: (1) - (5).
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Wk 6

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Prescribed materials:
Douglas Fisher, Australian Environmental Law: Norms, Principles and Rules ( 2nd edition, Lawbook Co, Sydney, 2010).
Study Guide
Materials for in-class analysis, including relevant legislation and associated caselaw, as listed in the Study Guide.

Recommended References:

Godden L and Peel J, Environmental Law: Scientific, Policy and Regulatory Dimensions (Oxford University Press, Victoria, 2010).
Bates GM, Environmental Law in Australia (7th ed, Butterworths, Sydney, 2010).

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Jan-2013