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Convener: Ian Thomas (Geography and Environmental Studies)
Environmental issues are attracting a wide audience of people concerned with the ways in which societies are managing interactions with their environments. We need to understand how environments function, to be able to identify ecological change, and to develop ways of repairing environmental systems, particularly those damaged by human impact. We also need to examine the ways in which societies interact with their environments and the legal, economic, political and ethical ramifications of these interactions. Societies depend on environments for their resources; individuals depend on environments for many sources of satisfaction. As societies develop increasing technical power, as the sheer amount of economic activity increases and as our interactions attain global significance, so it is crucial that governments, corporations, community groups and individuals think deeply about ways of looking after our environment for the benefit of all. The Specialist Program in Environmental Studies is designed to provide students with the opportunity to understand all these issues, and to develop skills which will prepare them for careers in the environmental field.
The Specialist Program in Environmental Studies is more focused than the ordinary BA Major in Environmental Studies in that students concentrate more of their studies within the environmental field. Students are also provided with a wider range of options from other faculties.
In this program students gain a broad understanding of the way in which environments work, the way in which societies work, and the nature of society-environment interactions. Students also have the opportunity to study one of these areas in greater depth, and to choose elective subjects which suit their own particular environmental interests and career goals.
On completion of this degree, students should:
have a knowledge of environmental systems and processes;
possess skills in using techniques that (a) measure components of environmental systems and (b) assess the impacts of different environmental users; understand how environmental problems arise from the workings of modern urban-industrial societies;
have a knowledge of environmental valuation and the relationships between development and the environment.
Students who complete the BA (Hons) 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.
Within the Environmental Studies: Specialist Program, only those subjects offered by departments within the Faculty of Arts are Arts-approved subjects. See Arts-approved subject requirement for more information.
The Specialist Program in Environmental Studies incorporates areas of study from a range of faculties within the University. Students are encouraged to consult the following area entries in this handbook for full descriptions of core and elective subjects which may be included in the Specialist Program in Environmental Studies.
Some more ideas about the range of environmental subjects and courses within the university can also be obtained from the brochure The Environmental Program at the University of Melbourne available from the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies or from the Faculty of Arts office.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Arts. Individual subjects within the program may have prerequisites for entry. Please check the relevant area of study entries in this handbook for details.
In each year of the program students must complete a core of 'environmental studies' subjects, a minimum number of subjects about environmental processes, and a minimum number of subjects about social processes.
In the course of their BA degree (totalling 300 points), students majoring in the Environmental Studies Specialist Program must complete:
At least 75 points of environmental studies, and;
At least 62.5 points of environmental processes, and;
At least 62.5 points of social processes, and;
At least another 50 points in one or more of these areas of study, and;
Up to 50 points of elective study.
Students should note that they must have their study plan approved by the convener of the program at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, or by the Head of Department.
Students are advised to plan their study in consultation with a departmental course adviser. Students are welcome to seek advice about the Environmental Studies Program and about their options for study at any time. To make a course advice appointment, contact the Department Office during business hours.
The Environmental Studies specialist program usually takes the following form:
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| An introduction to environmental studies | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| An introduction to environmental processes | ||
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| A minimum of 25 points chosen from: | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
| 600-111 Biology Of Australian Flora & Fauna | 2 | |
| or other approved subjects in Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology, experimental design and statistics, or Forestry. | ||
| An introduction to the study of society | ||
| A minimum of 25 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics, and/or Sociology | ||
| Elective study of up to 25 points | ||
| It is recommended that 12.5 points of elective study be devoted to subjects dealing with environmental studies, environmental processes and/or the study of society. | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| And at least one of: | ||
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes | ||
| 121-025 Biodiversity | 1 | |
| 121-018 Geomorphology | 2 | |
| Study of Society | ||
| And a minimum of 12.5 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics, and/or Sociology | ||
| Elective study of up to 37.5 points to complete 100 points for the year | ||
| It is recommended that at least 12.5 points of the elective study be in environmental studies, environmental processes or study of society subjects. | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies | Semester | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| And at least 25 points from | ||
| 733-213 Environmental Law | 1 | |
| 166-026 The Politics of Ecology | 1 | |
| 121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development | 1 | |
| 950-300 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| 950-301 Global Environmental Governance | 2 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes | ||
| If the student has not completed 62.5 points of such subjects, the outstanding points should be taken from: | ||
| 121-025 Biodiversity | 1 | |
| 121-018 Geomorphology | 2 | |
| 121-030 Ecological Biogeography | 2 | |
| 121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory) | 2 | |
| and/or subjects in agriculture, ecology, environmental chemistry, experimental design and statistics, physical geography or forestry. | ||
| Study of society | ||
| If the student has not completed 62.5 points of such subjects, then outstanding points should be taken from Economics, Geography, Politics, and/or Sociology. | ||
The following programs of study are suggestions for ways in which you can structure your studies within the specialist program in Environmental Studies. They are not compulsory. As long as you fulfil the requirements for the specialist program set out above, you do not have to structure your course to fit in with one of the programs shown below. These suggestions are simply designed to illustrate some of the options available to you.
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| An introduction to environmental studies | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| An introduction to environmental processes | ||
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| and 37.5 points chosen from: | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
| 600-111 Biology Of Australian Flora & Fauna | 2 | |
| and other approved subjects in agriculture, chemistry, biology, forestry. | ||
| An introduction to the study of society | ||
| 316-101 Introductory Macroeconomics | 1 and 2 | |
| 316-102 Introductory Microeconomics | 1 and 2 | |
| and an approved statistics subject | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 25 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| and one of: | ||
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 2 | |
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| 121-025 Biodiversity | 1 | |
| 121-018 Geomorphology | 2 | |
| Study of Society: | ||
| 316-202 Intermediate Microeconomics | Semester 1, repeated Summer | |
| 316-201 Intermediate Macroeconomics | 2 | |
| 316-205 Introductory Econometrics | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 316-206 Quantitative Methods 2 | Semester 1, repeated Summer | |
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 37.5 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| and at least one of: | ||
| 733-213 Environmental Law | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 166-026 The Politics of Ecology | 1 | |
| 950-300 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| 121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development | 1 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| No units required | ||
| Study of Society: | ||
| 316-324 Environmental Economics | 1 | |
| 316-313 Microeconomics | 1 | |
| 316-325 Ecological Economics | 2 | |
| and | ||
| 316-316 Basic Econometrics | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 316-317 Econometrics | 1 | |
| Elective study | ||
| To fulfil the degree's 300 point requirement | ||
On completion of this program with the appropriate grades, students are eligible to enter the Honours program in Economics, in addition to being eligible (subject to appropriate grades) to enter the Honours Program in Environmental Studies.
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| An Introduction to Environmental Studies | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| An Introduction to Environmental Processes: | ||
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| plus 37.5 points chosen from: | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
| 600-111 Biology Of Australian Flora & Fauna | 2 | |
| and other approved subjects in Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology, Experimental Design and Statistics and Forestry. | ||
| An Introduction to the Study of Society: | ||
| 37.5 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics and Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 25 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 2 | |
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes | ||
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 121-018 Geomorphology | 2 | |
| Study of Society: | ||
| 12.5 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics, Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 37.5 points | ||
| Recommended Course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 37.5 points from: | ||
| 733-213 Environmental Law | 1 | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| or | ||
| 166-026 The Politics of Ecology | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 950-301 Global Environmental Governance | 2 | |
| or | ||
| 950-300 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| 121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development | 1 | |
| Environmental Processes | ||
| 37.5 points from: | ||
| 121-033 Environmental Hydrology A | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 121-029 Environmental Hydrology B | 1 | |
| 121-030 Ecological Biogeography | 2 | |
| or | ||
| 121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory) | 2 | |
| 121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments | 2 | |
| Study of Society: | ||
| 12.5 points of subjects chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics or Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| To fulfil the degree's 300 point requirement | ||
On completion of this program with the appropriate grades, students are eligible to enter the Honours Program in Geography, in addition to being eligible (subject to appropriate grades) to enter the Honours Program in Environmental Studies.
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| An Introduction to Environmental Studies | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| An Introduction to Environmental Processes | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
| 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis | Semester 1, repeated 2, Summer | |
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| and 25 points chosen from Agriculture, Biology or Chemistry. | ||
| An Introduction to the Study of Society | ||
| 25 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics and Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 25 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| and at least one of: | ||
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| 121-025 Biodiversity | 1 | |
| 121-018 Geomorphology | 2 | |
| 600-203 Environmental Measurement | 2 | |
| Study of Society: | ||
| 12.5 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics and Sociology | ||
| Elective study: | ||
| Up to 37.5 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| and at least 25 points from: | ||
| 733-213 Environmental Law | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 166-026 The Politics of Ecology | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 950-300 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 950-301 Global Environmental Governance | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| 600-303 Environmental Risk Assessment | 1 | |
| 600-301 Problem Solving in Environmental Science | 2 | |
| Students who have not completed at least 80 points of the above subjects, must chose units from: | ||
| 121-033 Environmental Hydrology A | 1 | |
| or | ||
| 121-029 Environmental Hydrology B | 1 | |
| 121-030 Ecological Biogeography | 2 | |
| or | ||
| 121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory) | 2 | |
| 121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments | 2 | |
| or other approved units. | ||
| Study of Society | ||
| If the student has not completed at least 50 points of such subjects, then units from Economics, Geography, Politics and Sociology may be chosen. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| To fulfil the degree's 300 point requirement | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| An Introduction to Environmental Studies | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| An Introduction to Environmental Processes: | ||
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| and 25 points of Biology subjects | ||
| and either: | ||
| 25 of Chemistry subjects | ||
| or both: | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
| 620-160 Experimental Design & Data Analysis | Semester 1, repeated 2, Summer | |
| and | ||
| An Introduction to the Study of Society: | ||
| 25 points chosen from Economics, Geography, Politics, Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Up to 25 points | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies: | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| and 25 points from: | ||
| 121-017 Society and Environments | 2 | |
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 2 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes | ||
| 121-025 Biodiversity | 1 | |
| 606-204 Plant Ecology | 1 | |
| 654-204 Animal Ecology (Lectures & Practical) | 2 | |
| or | ||
| Study of Society | ||
| 12.5 points chosen from Economics, geography, Politics, Sociology. | ||
| Elective study | ||
| Students may be permitted to exceed the 50 points elective study requirement in order to take additional subjects to satisfy prerequisites for third year Ecology subjects. | ||
| Recommended course structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental studies: | Semester | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| 25 points from: | ||
| 733-213 Environmental Law | 1 | |
| 166-026 The Politics of Ecology | 1 | |
| 121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development | 1 | |
| 950-300 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| 950-301 Global Environmental Governance | 2 | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| Between 25 to 37.5 points from: | ||
| 121-030 Ecological Biogeography | 2 | |
| 121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory) | 2 | |
| 121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments | 2 | |
| 654-308 Conservation Biology | 2 | |
| Study of Society: | ||
| Students may be credited with approved subjects from Economics, Geography, Politics and Sociology. | ||
| Electives: | ||
| The following subjects are recommended: | ||
| 606-301 Community & Ecosystem Ecology | 1 | |
| 654-312 Marine Ecology | 2 | |
Students who have completed the Specialist Program in Environmental Studies with an average grade of H2B over the second/third-year subjects of the program (excluding elective study) are eligible to enter the pure Honours program in Environmental Studies.
See Environmental Studies for details regarding Honours entry prerequisites and Honours requirements.
A wide range of postgraduate programs in Environmental Studies and Environmental Science are offered by the University of Melbourne. The Faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering and Agriculture and Forestry offer Masters and PhD supervision to students undertaking research in a wide range of areas in the environmental field. There are also a number of postgraduate coursework programs available, many of which focus strongly on the development of specialist professional skills.
The following postgraduate coursework programs are offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies within the Faculty of Arts:
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies, also available for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in another discipline
Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Studies
Master of Environmental Studies- by coursework and minor thesis
Graduates can expect to find creative and interesting employment in a wide variety of situations. Qualifications gained will enable graduates to work as environmental professionals in government departments and regulatory bodies, in private industry and with environmental consulting firms. There is a growing awareness of the need for professional environmental expertise in our region of Asia and the Pacific. Australia is recognised as a leader in this field and many career opportunities are opening up overseas as well as in Australia.
Some of the most common opportunities available to graduates of the program are:
as scientific, planning or education officers in government departments and authorities (for example, dealing with conservation, natural resources, planning, housing, transport, utility supply);
as officers in private environmental consultancies, planning or exploration firms, collecting evidence about, assessing or warning of the potential of environmental impacts;
as journalists, teachers or lecturers;
as planning or 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, mining and oil companies, or any number of smaller organisations that have environmental impacts;
as environmental consultants to overseas nations, through direct employment, aid programs or international organisations.
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Room 214, Old Commerce Building
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel: +61 3 9344 6339/6340
Fax: +61 3 9344 4972
Web: http://www.geography.unimelb.edu.au.
Search : Index : Faculty of Arts
Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:47 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au