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Overview

Course Prescription

Current research related to marine protected areas is reviewed, including planning principles and processes for designing marine protected areas, and its role in science, conservation of biological diversity, and fisheries. Practical components include visits to marine reserves, exposure to planning software, and analysis of marine protected related data. The knowledge and skills gained are applied with an independent research project.

Course Overview

MARINE 703 Marine Protected Areas uses a number of approaches to develop highly specialised knowledge and skills in the field of marine protected areas, and then requires students to apply these through a large independent project (55% final grade). 
Students are given a series of seminars by leading researchers and practitioners in the field, which provides specialist knowledge on the current issues in Marine Protected Area (MPA) management and the latest findings from MPA research. Students gain additional knowledge by undertaking a critical review of recent literature and through field trips to two marine reserves in the Auckland region. A number of fundamental skills are taught and assessed, including critical assessment of literature and peer review, designing and planning research, communicating research plans and findings through seminars. The course also teaches important practical skills specific to the field of MPAs, in particular a practical assessment (20% final grade) using the Zonation MPA planning software. Current research related to MPAs is reviewed, including planning principles and processes for designing MPAs, and the role of MPAs in science, conservation of biological diversity, and fisheries. Practical components include visits to marine reserves, learning MPA planning software, and analysis of MPA related data. The knowledge and skills gained are applied with an independent research project on a related topic.
The knowledge and skill gained above are applied in an independent research project worth 55% of the final grade. The goal is to select a topic or question and conduct original research into it, and report this as a research paper. It can be a desk-based study or research project involving data collection and analysis. Marks are split between the final written paper, a proposal and two prior presentations on the topic to the class. Students are required to demonstrate advanced knowledge of their field, develop and present their new ideas within this project.
On completion of MARINE 703 students will be literate, highly knowledgeable, and articulate in science and management issues around MPA with appropriate professional skills in scientific methods and communication.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 28 hours of lectures, 6 hours of labs, and two field trips (16 hours), 30 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments/project.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs and field trips in order to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including field trips and labs will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

A list of core references are provided, but students are expected to search available literature to support their own research topic

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

All students are expected to attend classes, labs and field trips in person, except for those international students still overseas due to border restrictions.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

The plagiarism-detection software Turnitin is used to check all submitted written work.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Special Requirements

Attendance at seminars is compulsory. Must complete practical work and participate in field trips.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

We particularly welcome constructive feedback.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.