Faculty of Arts

 Environmental Studies

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions
        Fourth Year Honours

Environmental Studies combines a knowledge of natural environments with an understanding of how human societies work, in order to address a range of issues and problems concerned with environmental management. The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a major in Environmental Studies which can be undertaken as part of a standard Bachelor of Arts degree. The major in Environmental Studies aims to provide a knowledge of the main theories and methods used in addressing environmental problems, and to develop policy ideas for people interested in environmental management in developing and industrial economies.

Students who complete the major should:

• have a basic operating knowledge of environmental systems and processes and what happens to environmental systems under stress;
• be able to use some techniques to (a) measure components of environmental systems under stress and (b) assess the environmental impact of different environment users;
• understand how and why conflicts over the use of environments arise;
• know the principles of environmental valuation and the relationships between development and the environment;
• understand the broad social, economic and regulatory frameworks in which environmental problems are resolved.

Students who complete the BA(Honours) in Environmental Studies, should also:

• be able to design and execute a piece of research about environmental systems or environmental impacts or environmental conflicts, regulation and valuation.

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies also offers a Specialist Program in Environmental Studies, which is more focused than the ordinary B.A. major in that students concentrate more of their studies in the environmental field and undertake a number of approved environmental electives from other faculties. For further information on that program see the Environmental Studies: Specialist Program entry in this Handbook.

For information on the Department's major in Geography, see Geography. In addition, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers pathways for students who wish to gain privileged entry into professional postgraduate courses in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning: for further information see Planning and Design.

 1. Career opportunities

Graduates with a major in Environmental Studies can expect to find creative and useful employment in a wide variety of situations. Some of the most common opportunities are:

• as scientific, planning or education officers in government departments and authorities (Conservation and Natural Resources, Housing, Transport, Melbourne Water, and their interstate counterparts);
• in private environmental consultancy, planning or exploration firms;
• as teachers and lecturers in educational institutions;
• as planning and project officers for nature conservation bodies such as The Australian Conservation Foundation, The National Trust or Greenpeace;
• as environmental officers for major development companies such as BHP, oil companies or any number of smaller organisations;
• as environmental consultants to overseas nations either through aid programs or direct employment.

 2. Prerequisites

Applicants wishing to major in Environmental Studies as part of a Bachelor of Arts must meet the admissions requirements of the Faculty of Arts.

The normal prerequisite for a major in Environmental Studies is completion of the following first year subjects:

• 121-171 Environmental Change;
• 121-172 Global Ecology and Biogeography.

The following subjects in other departments are also suitable for entry into the major:

• 600-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms;
• 600-142 Genetics and the Evolution of Life;
• 625-101 Earth Sciences: the Global Environment.

Students who have completed first year without these prerequisites and who wish to complete a major in Environmental Studies should consult the Head of Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

 3. Requirements for a major

Course structure
	To complete the major in Environmental Studies students must complete at least five second or third year subjects totalling 83.3 points, including both of the following core units:
	121-219 Environmental Politics and Management	1
	121-303 Sustainable Development	2
	at least one and up to three of:
	121-208 Society and Environments	2
	121-220 Water Resources	2
	121-221 Urban Environments	2
	121-254 GIS and Remote Sensing in Geography	2
	121-270 Biodiversity	1
	950-300 Environmental Management Systems	1
	950-301 Global Environmental Governance	2
	121-340 Principles of Ecological Biogeography	2
	121-341 Techniques in Ecological Biogeography	2
	121-342 Research Design in Geography and Environmental Studies	2
	121-349 Principles of Environmental Hydrology	1
	121-350 Techniques in Environmental Hydrology	1
	and no more than two of:
	121-358 Australian Quaternary Environments	2
	121-364 Field Class in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development	1
	161-220 Environmental Philosophy	n/a
	212-201 Soil Resources	1
	211-444 Parks and Recreation	1
	211-441 Agroforestry	2
	211-446 Conservation Biology	2
	316-324 Environmental Economics	1
	733-213 Environmental Law	1

Students may take one elective subject other than those listed above. The subject may be offered by Geography and Environmental Studies or another department. It must be relevant to the student's program of study within the Environmental Studies major and approved by the Environmental Studies Course Coordinator.

 4. Course examples

Below are some examples of possible subject combinations within the major.
Students who want a general introduction to Environmental Studies to accompany another major in the Faculty of Arts could include the following subjects in their Environmental Studies major:		Semester
	121-219 Environmental Politics and Management	1
	121-303 Sustainable Development	2
	950-300 Environmental Management Systems	1
	121-340 Principles of Ecological Biogeography	2
	One Environmental Studies elective of your choice
Students who seek vocational training in Environmental Studies are strongly recommended to complete either a double major in Environmental Studies; or a major in Environmental Studies plus a major in Geography specialising in physical geography. As an accompaniment to a major in physical geography, a suitable Environmental Studies major might be:
	121-219 Environmental Politics and Management	1
	121-303 Sustainable Development	2
	733-213 Environmental Law	1
	121-221 Urban Environments	2
	One Environmental Studies elective of your choice
	Alternatively, students planning a career in environmental studies should complete the Environmental Studies: Specialist Program.

 5. Entry to Honours

Students must have completed the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree, and completed a major in Environmental Studies with a minimum average grade of H2B over the subjects that comprise the major in Environmental Studies. The subject 121-342 Research Design in Geography and Environmental Studies or a suitable approved equivalent, should be included in the major.

 6. Honours requirements

 6.1. Pure Honours

Students taking Pure Honours in Environmental Studies complete:

• 121-420 Environmental Impacts and Assessment (16.7 points);
• 121-421 Social Impact Assessment (16.7 points);
• 121-408 Literature Review (16.7 points);
• 121-460 Environmental Studies Honours Thesis (50 points).

Part-time Honours students will complete 121-408 Literature Review, 121-420 Environmental Impacts and Assessment and 121-421 Social Impact Assessment in the first year; and 121-460 Environmental Studies Honours Thesis in the second year of their part-time Honours course.

 6.2. Combined Honours

Students undertaking Combined Honours in Environmental Studies complete either:

• 121-460 Environmental Studies Honours Thesis (50 points) and;
• 121-408 Literature Review (16.7 points), and
• subjects in the combining department according to the requirements of that department (33.3 points):

or:

• 121-420 Environmental Impacts and Assessment (16.7 points) and;
• 121-421 Social Impact Assessment (16.7 points) and;
• a thesis and subjects according to the requirements of the combining department (66.6 points).

 7. Opportunities for further study

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a range of postgraduate programs in Environmental Studies. These include:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Studies
• Master of Environmental Studies - by Coursework and Minor Thesis
• M. A. (Environmental Studies) - by research thesis only

The department also offers PhD supervision to students undertaking research in a wide range of areas in Environmental Studies.

A Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies is also available for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in another discipline.

In addition, a major in Environmental Studies offers a pathway for students who wish to gain privileged entry into the Master of Landscape Architecture: see the entry in this Handbook under Planning and Design.

 8. For more information

Please contact:

Subject descriptions

121-171 Environmental Change
121-172 Global Ecology and Biogeography
121-208 Society and Environments
121-219 Environmental Politics and Management
121-220 Water Resources
121-221 Urban Environments
121-303 Sustainable Development
121-340 Principles of Ecological Biogeography
121-341 Techniques in Ecological Biogeography
121-342 Research Design in Geography and Environmental Studies
121-349 Principles of Environmental Hydrology
121-350 Techniques in Environmental Hydrology
121-358 Australian Quaternary Environments
121-254 GIS and Remote Sensing in Geography
121-364 Field Class in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development
121-270 Biodiversity
121-420 Environmental Impacts and Assessment
121-421 Social Impact Assessment
121-460 Environmental Studies Honours Thesis
733-213 Environmental Law
950-301 Global Environmental Governance

Fourth Year Honours

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