Course Outline

Earth and Environmental Science
Preliminary
HSC
General Sources of Information
Preliminary Course
Planet Earth and its Environment-A Five Thousand Million Year Journey
The Local Environment
Water Issues
Dynamic Earth
Planet Earth and its Environment - A Five Thousand Million Year Journey
Evolution of the Solar System
Early Earth and its Evolution
Origin of Living Cells
Evolution of Photosynthesis
Proof for Climatic Change Over Earth's History
The Local Environment
Formation of Rocks
Local Soils and the Local Biological Environment
Impact of Humans on Local Aquatic & Terrestrial Environments
Need for Laws to Protect Biotic and Abiotic Environments
Effect of Human Activities on Habitat
Advantages of Biodiversity
Water Issues
Interacting Sub-systems of Earth
Importance of Water to Australian Environments
Role of Water in Weathering and Soil Production
Past and Present Water Resources
Dynamic Earth
Evolution of the Australian Continental Landmass
Patterns of Continental Movement
Interaction of Continental Plates

HSC Course
Core Topics	Options
Tectonic Impacts	Introduced Species & the Australian Environment
Environments Through Time	Organic Geology - A Non-renewable Resource
Caring for the Country	Mining and the Australian Environment
	Oceanography
Tectonic Impacts
Motion of Lithospheric Plates
Mountain Building
Growth of the Australian Continent
Natural Disasters and Tectonic Activity
Plate Tectonics and Climate
Environments Through Time
Life Forms during the Archean & Proterozoic Eons
Environment of the Phanerozoic Eon
The Cambrian Event
Exploiting New Environments
Past Extinction Events
Caring for the Country
Australia's Land Surfaces
Soil Management
Soil and Water Salinity
Effects of Fertilizer and Pesticide Use
Surface Water Management
Effects of the Industrial Revolution on the Atmosphere and the Hydrosphere
Ozone Layer Depletion
Rehabilitation of Contaminated Sites
Options
Introduced Species & the Australian Environment
Survey of Introduced Species
Analysis of Introduced Species & their Impact on the Environment
Conditions Caused by Introduced Species
Case Study of an Introduced Species
Rehabilitating a Damaged Ecosystem
Modern Quarantine Methods
Organic Geology - A Non-renewable Resource
Economically Important Organic Materials
Coal and Petroleum Formation
Coal and Oil Searching Methods
Uses of Coal and Oil
Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Use
Search for Alternative Sources of Fuel
Mining and the Australian Environment
Economical Value of Ore Deposits
Relationship Between Minerals & the Geological Formations in Determining Searching Techniques
Laws Relating to Mining Leases
Evaluation of Ore Deposits
Environmental Issues in Ore Mining
Oceanography
Evolution of Oceans
Effect of Plate Tectonics on Current Oceans
Differences between Past and Present Oceans
Effect on Terrestrial Climate of Ocean Movement
Different Environments within Ocean Depth Zones
Unusual Communities in Hydrothermal Vents
Variety of Sediments on Deep Ocean Floors
Technology for Data Collection on Oceans
General Sources of Information
NSW HSC Online - Web site created by Charles Sturt University for students and teachers with links to all new HSC subjects containing course content information and revision exercises.
NSW Board of Studies - For reference to the syllabuses of all HSC 2001 subjects, past HSC exam papers and HSC review news.
Infocus - Links students studying for the HSC with information from the State Library of NSW. Please note, some cost is involved with obtaining resources from the State Library.
New HSC Website - This NSW Government site contains a search page to help you find information and resources easily on the New HSC Website by typing a keyword.
EnviroLink Network - A US site exhibiting current world news headlines on environmental issues, updated daily.