Module: Research skills for Catchments

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Research skills for Catchments
Module Code	GY332
School	68
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Susan Hegarty Semester 2: Valerie McCarthy Autumn: Susan Hegarty
Module Teachers	Grania Shanahan Valerie McCarthy
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

None

Description

If we are to have good water quality in our rivers and streams, and in our coastal waters, we must understand how water moves through the environment. This module is a practical module which enables students to explore water and water quality in catchments, both in the field and using GIS. Within groups, students will explore the threats to water quality in a particular catchment, and will add their own data to a database within the GIS. Students will be expected to engage in the module and in fieldwork.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and classify threats to water quality in Irish catchments
2. Predict the effects of point and diffuse pollutants on a variety of Irish catchments
3. Gather, manipulate and analyse environmental datasets from both online sources and field-gathered data
4. Evaluate the importance of different datasets for water quality monitoring
5. Effectively communicate results through maps and a report

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	44	Classes
Assignment Completion	30	Data gathering and manipulation
Assignment Completion	40	Mapping: Mapping and analysis of data
Group work	46	Storymap development: Developing group storymap
Report	90	Researching and writing reports
Total Workload: 250

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

GIS datasets
GIS datasets - vector and raster

Discharge in rivers and streams
Quantifying discharge in rivers and streams

Effect of rainfall events
Measuring the effect of rainfall events on different catchments

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group project	Group project	50%	As required
Assignment	Regular individual exercises to feed into the module	20%	As required
Report(s)	Individual Report	30%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

BAJH	Bachelor of Arts (BAJH)
BAJHI	Bachelor of Arts (BAJHI)
BAJP	Bachelor of Arts (BAJP)
BAJPI	Bachelor of Arts (BAJPI)
BAJPN	Bachelor of Arts (BAJPN) - Intra P

Archives: