Unit Outline
HPP314
Governing the Antarctic and Oceans
Semester 2, 2025
Joanna Vince
School of Social Sciences
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Joanna Vince
Email: Joanna.Vince@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit utilises various analytical approaches concerning the development, implementation, evaluation and legitimacy of Antarctic and oceans governance at both the international and national levels. Three broad interrelated issue areas are examined: [i] the evolution of the Antarctic Treaty System; [ii] global, regional and domestic fisheries policy management; and [iii] emerging issues and policies in oceans governance. Case material concerning controversial, contemporary issues such as Antarctic tourism, climate change in polar regions, marine environmental protection, controlling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, whaling, and seabird conservation are also explored.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Apply key concepts and theories of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains.
2
Analyse and evaluate concepts, theories and case studies on national and/or international levels of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains.
3
Communicate knowledge and research results about Antarctic or oceans governance coherently in written and/or oral formats applying referencing and style conventions as appropriate.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any faculty
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
HSD242 AND HPP214 AND HSD342
Alterations as a result of student feedback
The teaching pattern has changed from weekly lectures and fortnightly tutorials to a flipped classroom approach with lectures delivered online and weekly tutorials. Online and face-to-face tutorials are now 90 minutes in length. The lecture content and essential readings (listed below) are discussed in detail in weekly tutorials. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Assessment Task 2: Quiz
Week 5
10 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Assessment Task 3: Assignment
Week 12
35 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Assessment Task 1: Tutorial Participation
Week 13
15 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:
Assessment Task 4: Take-home Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 2: Quiz
Task Description:
Complete one online quiz on Antarctic and oceans governance within a certain time limit on MyLO. You will be assessed on your knowledge from the beginning of Week 1 to the end of Week 7.
Task Length:
 
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply key concepts and theories of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains in discussion topics.
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 3: Assignment
Task Description:
Write an essay on one of the topics provided with reference to theoretical frameworks/approaches discussed in this unit.
Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Week 12 (17/Oct/2025)
Weight:
35 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 
1
Apply key concepts and theories of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains in the essay topics.
LO1
2
Analyse and evaluate concepts and theories in relation to essay topics and/or case studies.
LO2, LO3
3
Communicate knowledge and research results about Antarctic or oceans governance coherently in academic writing.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Assessment Task 1: Tutorial Participation
Task Description:
Review lecture and readings in advance to ensure active and informed participation in weekly tutorials and online discussions. Tutorials will be held weekly, beginning in Week 1. Instructions on active participation in the discussion boards for off-campus students is available on MyLo.
Task Length:
 
Due Date:
Week 13 (24/Oct/2025)
Weight:
15 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply key concepts and theories of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains in discussion topics.
LO1
2
Analyse and evaluate concepts and theories in relation to weekly topics and/or case studies.
LO2
3
Communicate your developing understanding of Antarctic or oceans governance coherently.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 4: Assessment Task 4: Take-home Exam
Task Description:
Take-home exam
Task Length:
2,500 words
Due Date:
Exam Period (10/Nov/2025)
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply key concepts and theories of governance in the Antarctic and marine domains in answering the exam questions.
LO1
2
Analyse and evaluate concepts and theories in relation to the unit’s topics and/or case studies.
LO2
3
Communicate knowledge and research results about Antarctic or oceans governance coherently in academic writing.
LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Essential readings and resources will be available on the unit’s MyLO site.
 
Recommended reading materials
Relevant marine, Antarctic and environmental journals include:
Coastal Management, International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, Marine and Freshwater Research, Marine Policy, Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs (AJMOA), Ocean and Coastal Management, Ocean Development and International Law, Polar Record, Journal of Environmental Management, Marine and Freshwater Research, Frontiers in Marine Science, Environmental Policy and Governance, Environmental Science and Policy, Cambridge Prisms: Plastics.
Relevant governance journals include:
Governance, Policy Sciences, Policy and Politics, Policy and Society, Journal of Public Policy, Review of Policy Studies, Critical Policy Studies, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, Politics and Governance, International Organisations, Regulation and Governance, Policy Design and Practice, Environmental Policy and Governance.
 
Other required resources