Summer School courses

The School of Environment offers a number of courses that are delivered during this short intensive teaching format. All courses offered are taught and examined to the same standard as normal semester courses.

In Summer School 2012, the School of Environment offers six courses. The maximum Summer School course workload is 30 points. All courses are 15 points. To discuss your summer programme with us, please contact:

David Hayward
Room HSB 440
Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88454
Email: d.hayward@auckland.ac.nz

Timetable information

All students must check on SSO (Student Services Online) for the latest and most accurate timetable information.

Visit Student Services Online

An introduction to space-modifying technologies such as Geographic Information Systems, transport, and communications and their historical significance. Practical exposure to current digital technologies through laboratories, texting and web interaction, and an introduction to the social impact of the technologies through media such as cyberspace, cellular phones and location based systems. Critical perspectives on new technologies, society and space, and the representation of such technologies in popular and academic writing.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C)

Coordinator: Pip Forer
Format: 2 one hour and one 2 hour lectures, and one 2 hour lab per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Timetable SS C: Check SSO

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This course provides a foundation for understanding the complex mix of human and biophysical factors that must be considered by those involved in environmental management. Key concepts are introduced, and a variety of contemporary case studies explored to illustrate how environmental management decisions are made in practice. This course is offered in summer school (SS C) and second semester (S2 C), and is a requirement for the Environmental Science specialisation.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C);  Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Summer Coordinator: Vicky Walters
Format: three 2 hour lectures per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework (two essays worth 20% each), 60% final examination
Timetable SS C: Check SSO

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Note: Please consult the coordinator regarding any timetable issues. Labs will not run in every week of semester

Connections between environment and community in New Zealand are explored on the ground through consideration of topics from among the following themes: biodiversity and vegetation change; land transformation; heritage values; environmental management; Maori resource management; coastal and fluvial geomorphology; regional economics; community development and planning; tourism development and government policy. The course involves a one week field trip. Course limited to 60 students.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C)

Coordinator: Nick Lewis
Format: two and a half days of lectures on 12, 13 and 26 January per week; plus a five day field trip (Mon to Fri) departing Monday 16 January; a fee to cover food costs may be charged
Points: 15
Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% final examination
Preparation: no prerequisites

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This course is field-based at Port Waikato, introducing geological mapping and field geology. The first three days cover use of the compass, recognition and tracing of rock bodies in the field, identification of fossils as mapping aids, location of faults and recording of field observations. The following four days focus on geological mapping. Students live in the local school camp and traverse the area on foot and by bus to study rocks exposed on farms, in the bush and on the coast. It is essential that appropriate equipment is brought for safety and comfort; a basic list is given in Field Geology – A Handbook of Basic Techniques and Safety Practice (a textbook for the course), and also is detailed in CECIL.

This course is taught in: Summer School, City Campus (SS C); First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

The summer school offering of this course is dependent on enrollment numbers.

Summer Coordinator: Paul Augustinus
Format: one day of lectures and a lab on the 9th January, plus a 7-day field trip (10th-16th January)
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: 30 points from GEOLOGY 101, GEOLOGY 102, GEOLOGY 103, GEOLOGY 104 or GEOLOGY 110

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Introduction to advanced field techniques and photogeology. Students will be required to undertake a variety of field studies and produce field reports and geological maps of selected areas. This is an advanced field course that builds on the skills developed in GEOLOGY 201 and is compulsory for students intending to major in Geology. The course involves 9 days in the field. The trip involves significant time spent walking and working out of doors and this requires moderate levels of fitness. Assessment for the course is on the basis of class exercises, field maps and reports.

This course is taught in: Summer school, City Campus (SS C)

Coordinator: Lorna Strachan
Format: 8 days in the field (18-26 January); note: this fieldtrip has a limit of 35 students; in case of significantly higher enrolments it is possible another stream may be offered, please see the course website for details.
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: GEOLOGY 201 and 30 points from GEOLOGY 202 - GEOLOGY 204

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This field based course provides hands-on experience in outcrop mapping, geomorphic mapping and simple field testing of rocks and soils for geotechnical purposes. A variety of rock masses and soil masses in the Auckland region will be mapped during 8 days of fieldwork. Two days of tutorial follows. You will be able to develop the art of observation and description, draw engineering geological models and recognise and map geotechnical hazards.

This course is taught in: Summer Semester, City Campus (SS C)

Coordinator: Nick Richards
Format: this course runs from 31 january-10 February inclusive; and is largely taught as a non-residential field course
Points: 15
Assessment: entirely based on the field mapping assignments
Prerequisites: GEOLOGY 372
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Geology and Applied Geology programmes

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