Beyond the Ice: A Journey into Antarctic Science and Culture
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2026-07-06 | - |
Program Overview
Introduction to SCIS 313: Beyond the Ice
SCIS 313: Beyond the Ice: A Journey into Antarctic Science and Culture is a fully online course that explores the geology, biology, history, governance, and art of Antarctica. The course features lectures by Antarctic experts filmed on location on Ross Island and in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica.
Course Details
- Course Code: SCIS 313
- Duration: 18 weeks
- Start Date: 6 July 2026
- End Date: 8 November 2026
- Trimester: Trimester 2
- CRN: 30130
- Fees:
- Domestic students: NZ$1,095.15
- International students: NZ$5,058.00
- Campus: Taught Online
- Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.3 hours per week
- Points: 15
Entry Restrictions
- Prerequisites: 60 200-level points
- Corequisites: None
- Restrictions: None
Course Structure
The course includes modules on:
- Antarctic Science History
- Antarctic Geology
- Life in Antarctica
- Managing the Frozen Commons
- Engaging with Antarctica
Course Learning Objectives
Students who pass this course should be able to:
- Evaluate the relevance and role of contemporary Antarctic science for addressing global issues.
- Recognise and evaluate interconnectivities and relationships between contemporary Antarctic science, politics, art, policy, history, and broader society.
- Discuss and assess the contribution and role of field research to the broader scientific process.
- Find and critique published responses to Antarctica.
- Explain the complex and multidimensional nature of Antarctica.
How the Course is Taught
This course features pre-recorded video lecturers and is designed to be taken fully online. Students will be required to view online lectures, read and review set texts, participate in an online discussion board, complete quizzes, undertake additional relevant research, and complete two written assignments plus one annotated bibliography.
Assessment
- Quizzes (5): 35%
- Annotated Bibliography for Essay 1: 10%
- Essay 1: 25%
- Written Assignment: 30%
Mandatory Requirements
There are no mandatory requirements for this course.
What You'll Need to Get
You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.
Disclaimer
This course outline may be subject to change.