SLE345 - Oceanography
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Kay Critchell |
| Prerequisite: | SLE108, SLE240 and one of: SLE245 or SLE304 |
| Corequisite: | SLE010 |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week, 1 x 3 hour practical experience (field trip) per trimester, 1 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester, 1 x 3 hour practical experience (computer practical) per trimester, 1 x half day practical experience (field trip). 2 x 2 hour practical experience (workshop) per trimester. Practical experiences (laboratory and field trip) are held at the Deakin University Queenscliff Marine Science Centre. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth's surface and is fundamentally important to human wellbeing (food, cultural, economic, and biodiversity benefits). Despite the local to global importance, the marine environment faces significant threats, including over fishing, pollution (e.g., nutrients, plastics), and climate change. To better manage and protect our ocean-based ecosystem services, we need a more robust understanding of how oceans work, as well as the interdependence on marine life. This course will provide you with a clear foundation in physical and biological oceanography (past and present), and an understanding of the impact these dynamics have on marine biology and ecology. You will explore the atmospheric-ocean coupling and the implications for humans and marine life and gain experience with different data-collection platforms (satellites, drones, buoys, ship-board sensors). Specific topics include: global ocean dynamics, biogeochemistry, ocean physics and circulation, waves and tides, plankton, biological adaptations, coasts, and human impacts and change. The unit will progress through class-based learning activities, practical laboratory exercises and field-based data collection. Finally, students will further develop quantitative skills in acquiring and analysing oceanographic data.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Compare and evaluate different ocean regions and understand their geochemical history and potential biological dynamics. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Assess and apply the appropriate oceanographic principles to the design of sampling strategies to investigate a coastal social-ecological problem. | GLO3: Digital literacy |
| ULO3 | Evaluate coastal and oceanographic data to produce a scientific article answering a unique scientific question. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Demonstrate strong teamwork and collaborative skills to answer a unique scientific question. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Collaborative scientific project (Group) | Part A: Project proposal 1,000 words maximum Part B: Scientific article 4,000 words | 50% (20%, 30%) (Part A, Part B) | Part A: Week 4 Part B: Week 11 |
| Assessment 2 Digital oceanographic data assimilation | Report and 5-minute presentation | 50% | Week 8 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SLE345 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.