EAE3311 Oceans and coasts
Faculty of Science
EAE3311 Oceans and coasts is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before EAE3311
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EAE3311
No unit lists EAE3311 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PREREQUISITE: 36 credit points of level 1 units
Overview
In this unit you will apply active learning approaches to examine ocean circulation and mixing, ocean chemistry and productivity, sediment transport in the oceans, and hydrodynamic forces affecting coastlines. Particular attention will be paid to key processes that pose significant management challenges for human societies and the natural world, such as runoff, ocean acidification, eutrophication, coastal erosion, ocean warming and sea level rise.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- QuizzesQuiz / Test40%
- Laboratory reportsDemonstration40%
- Field trip reportDemonstration15%
- Oral presentationPresentation5%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Evaluate the effect of stream loads, waves and sea levels on coastal geomorphology, and their variation among physiographic, hydrodynamic and climatic environments;
- 2
Analyse ocean circulation patterns and explain their importance for global climate, marine pollution, carbon and nitrogen cycles, species distributions and local marine management;
- 3
Quantify the transport of sediments in the oceans and along the coastline;
- 4
Collect relevant samples and interpret biodiversity and environmental conditions in marine environments;
- 5
Use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) effectively for spatial and remote sensing data analysis.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities36 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Total 144 hours over 12 weeks, which includes:
- One 3-hour practical class per week
- An additional practical component conducted over a weekend, comprising a one day field trip, and one day processing field samples in the laboratory and
-
Additional self-directed learning activities.
Learning resources
Technology resources
You will need to bring your own computer to the practicals, the specialist software for your class can be accessed at the website move.monash.edu or as downloaded open source programmes (QGIS and R).
Where it fits
EAE3311 is part of 5 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- ENVEASCI01Additional discipline studiesEnvironmental earth scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVEASCI03Additional discipline studiesEnvironmental earth scienceNo reviews yet
- ENVIROSC04Level 3 unitsEnvironmental scienceNo reviews yet
- HUMNGEOG06Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHuman geographyNo reviews yet
- HUMNGEOG09Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHuman geographyNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Ruth Reef
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Ruth Reef
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EAE3311?
EAE3311 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is EAE3311 offered?
In 2026, EAE3311 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is EAE3311?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EAE3311 have an exam?
No. EAE3311 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include EAE3311?
EAE3311 is part of Environmental earth science, Environmental science and Human geography.