Geoheritage and Geotourism
UndergraduateTAS-KGA3272026
Previously TAS-KGA332
Course information for 2026 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Enrol today with instant approval and no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 15 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Price from
- $3,382
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Geoheritage and Geotourism
About this subject
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Communicate geoheritage and geotourism concepts and data.
- Accurately apply geographical concepts to contemporary global challenges.
- Curate and communicate geoheritage inventory.
- Exhibit professional conduct by complying with organisational guidelines and expectations of responsible personnel.
- Key concepts of Geoconservation and natural values
- Geosites - Scientific values assessment
- Impacts and degradation
- Assessing degradation risk in the field
- Additional values, secondary geodiversity, and geotourism
- Introduction to geotourism
- Making complex decisions in geoconservation and geotourism
- Geotourism experience valorisation and interpretation
- Sustainable development goals
- Rare, special and wonderful
- Geoparks and geotourism
- Communicating geoheritage and geotourism
Human activity has altered fifty percent of the Earth's surface, leading to various consequences, both positive and negative, on our landscapes. However, the opportunities to explore, conserve, and appreciate pristine and exposed landscapes are growing, giving rise to the fields of geoconservation and geotourism. This unique subject explores strategies for investigating, understanding, and addressing issues related to geoconservation and geotourism. Through a series of hands-on, field-based, and problem-based learning experiences, you will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to create and manage (geo)heritage inventories, evaluate potential sites for geotourism and geoeducational purposes, design new geotouristic experiences, and develop materials for both consumers and operators in the fields of geoconservation and geotourism.
Our program is the only one of its kind in Australia, allowing you to work on real-world case studies and collaborate with leaders in these fields. We look at all forms of Geodiversity - waterways, soils, mountains, fossils, volcanoes and more. Imagine a world where rocks are not just 'rock and roll,' but the rockstars of Earth's history, and geoheritage is our backstage pass to study and conserve their epic stories! Join us as we provide guidance on how to recognise and nominate sites for conservation, restore degraded lands, create trails and geotouristic experiences and explore UNESCO Geoparks whilst utilising field and digital technologies, conducting social and scientific research, and fostering close relationships with industries and protected area groups. Absolutely no background knowledge is required to undertake this subject, and all are welcome. All techniques and experiences will be provided to you within the subject.
This subject provides students with opportunities to undertake 25 hours of in-field training for students wanting to travel to Tasmania, or online professional training if you live elsewhere in the world. Online students should note that there is a requirement for some 'live' online participation in order to complete 'assurance of learning' assessment tasks.
All students in this subject (including those studying via distance, online and on campus) must attend EITHER a face-to-face field trip departing from Hobart (overnight, departing 7am Sat 11th April, returning Sun 12th April approx. 7pm AEST 2026), OR an online interactive training session (10 am - 4 pm AEDST Sat 28th and Sun 29th March AEDST 2026) in order to complete an assurance of learning assessment task. Any student can choose to attend either or both sessions, irrespective of enrolment or location - simply register on MyLO when prompted at the start of the semester.
- AT1: Data Collection Inventory. You must complete this task to pass KGA327. (10%)
- AT3: Geoconservation Nomination (35%)
- AT2: Geotrail or Heritage Trail (25%)
- AT4: Video experience (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Equivalent subjects
You won't be able to enrol into this subject if you've already successfully completed or currently enrolled in the following subject(s) as they are considered anti-requisites due to the similarity of the content.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement: KGA327 is delivered online and face-to-face, on-campus and in the field by a series of 12 workshops. All students in this subject (including those studying online and on campus) must attend EITHER a face-to-face field trip departing from Hobart (overnight, departing 7am Sat 11th April, returning Sun 12th April approx. 7pm AEST 2026), OR an online interactive training session (10 am - 4 pm AEDST Sat 28th and Sun 29th March AEDST 2026) in order to complete an assurance of learning assessment task. Any student can choose to attend either or both sessions, irrespective of enrolment or location - simply register on MyLO when prompted at the start of the semester. For students attending the online sessions: The assurance of learning task necessitates that our staff have a chance to interact with you directly, so you will be required to join into the session using a device with a microphone and camera setting. Contact the unit coordinator (Melinda.McHenry@utas.edu.au) prior to enrolment to discuss ways in which you can access a place with microphone and camera settings if you do not have these items where you reside. A separate whole-day (8 hour) field trip occurs during semester (dates above, confirmed in Week 1 of Semester). This field trip may be attended in-person or via dynamic online immersive experience. For each 8 hours in the field, there may also be bus travel of up to 2 hours each way. Students participating in-person must therefore allow for these travel times in their scheduling. If you are unable to join in-person due to time constraints, please arrange to join the online activities. Students attending camp will need to fund their own food, transport and accommodation costs, which in 2025 were approximately $150 for a 'mid-cost' option of coach transfer, shared cabin, purchased night-time meal and parks entry passes. Interstate students can arrange to loan camping equipment from our school at no cost, including sleeping mats, bags and tents. The assurance of learning task will be held during the camp.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
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What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Science (Geography and Environment)
UndergraduateTAS-SCG-DEG
Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Science
UndergraduateTAS-BBS-DEG
Bachelor of Science (Sustainability)
UndergraduateTAS-SUS-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Science
UndergraduateTAS-PSC-DEG
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