Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
Over the millennia our understanding of our place in space has changed dramatically. This unit takes students from traditional beliefs across different cultures (with a particular focus on the rich cultural tradition of Australian Aboriginal solar system astronomy) to modern discoveries about the planets, their internal structure and how they were created. Students will learn about the near-space environment of the Earth, and gain an understanding of "space weather" and "space debris" - sometimes referred to as space junk. This will be followed by an introduction to "space law" - which is becoming important for national security and the continuing use of space for commerce, such as mining the Moon and beyond. The last part of the unit focuses on the search for life elsewhere in the solar system, and the search for life-bearing planetary systems and extraterrestrial civilisations and the many missions to explore the Solar System.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) discuss the historical and cultural contexts of the connections between humans and space; (2) analyse the most likely theory of Solar System Formation, comparing the theory to observational data of our Solar System; (3) apply the principles of current Space Law to new and emerging situations; (4) discussthe difficulties of space colonisation and exploration; and (5) create, both orally and in written form, a technical and critical review of one of the key topics in the unit.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) short report; (2) written and oral projects; and (3) final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor David Coward
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of24 points of prior study.
- Incompatibility
- SCIE1122 Our Solar System
- Contact hours
- Lectures: 2-hours per week
Practical Classes: 1-hour per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.