Module: Introduction to Marine & Coastal Environments

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Introduction to Marine & Coastal Environments
Module Code	GY239 (ITS) / ENS1014 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	History & Geography
Module Co-ordinator	Niamh Cullen
Module Teachers	Darren Clarke, Gránia Shanahan
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

Marine and coastal systems are vital for climate regulation, biodiversity, fisheries, and recreation. They protect shorelines, provide resources, and support economies. However, they face mounting challenges due to human activities and changing environmental conditions. This module seeks to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the physical marine and coastal environment, the challenges they encounter, and strategies for their sustainable management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Characterise the physical marine and coastal environment and the processes responsible for their formation
2. Recognise the current challenges facing marine environments and their social, economic and environmental costs
3. Assess the vulnerability of marine and coastal environments to climate change
4. Design approaches for their sustainable management of coastal systems using specialised software

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures/Seminars
Independent Study	76	Independent reading, expansion on in-class material, completion of practical exercises, revision
Assignment Completion	25	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Ocean basin and seafloor topography
Formation and distribution, plate tectonics, topographic features, seafloor sediments

Ocean properties and circulation
Ocean water properties, surface currents, thermohaline circulation, coastal circulation

Coastal processes
Waves, tides, sediment dynamics

Coastal environments and geomorphology
Depositional an erosional coastlines

Future Oceans and Coasts
Ocean acidification, sea level rise, coastal management

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Loop Quiz	In class Loop Quiz	30%	Week 6
Assignment	Sustainable Management of Coastal Environments	70%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None