Faculty of Science

 Geography and Environmental Studies

Table of Contents

The subjects offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies introduce students to modern concepts and methods in this major area of environmental science. The subjects emphasise the principles of physical geography, provide examples of their operation in Australia and elsewhere, and give field experience in the use of those principles in practice. They also emphasise the interactions between the human population and the natural and built environments and the impacts of human activities on processes operating in the natural environment.

Geography is for those who are interested in exploring the following kinds of issues. How do physical and biological processes give form to the recognisable landscapes which we see around us? Have we mismanaged the Australian landscape? Why is stream flow more variable in Australia than elsewhere? Why is biodiversity higher in some places than in others, and why is conservation of biodiversity important to us? Are famines made by drought or by people? Can developmental and environmental concerns co-exist?

 1. Course structure

Students should note that this year (1999), it is proposed that the Bachelor of Science degree includes a formal program of majors. The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a major in Geography and most subjects offered by the department are available to students wishing to complete a major in Environmental Science. In order to be able to successfully complete a major it is essential to plan so as to have the appropriate prerequisite subjects at each year level.

Bachelor of Science students wishing to obtain a major in Geography should take 25 points or more of first year Geography (Science) subjects; and second and third year Geography subjects totalling 87.5 points, of which at least 50 points must be at the third year level.

There is great scope for flexibility when planning your Geography (Science) course. It is nevertheless essential to ensure that you fulfil the requirements of the Bachelor of Science degree as set out in the Bachelor of Science section of this Handbook.

Students majoring in Geography are encouraged to consider applying for entry into the BSc (Honours) program.

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies also offers a range of subjects which are not available as Science subjects but can be included within the non-science allowance of 62.5 points.

Course advice is available from academic staff of the department during the course planning period and throughout the year. You are welcome to make an appointment for course advice by contacting the Department Office (Ph: (03) 9344 6339). You are also welcome to contact individual subject lecturers for course advice during consultation hours.

Below is a list of recommended subjects for students undertaking a Geography major within the Bachelor of Science.

 1.1. First year subjects

Two or more of the following three Geography (Science) subjects offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at first year level.

 Table 25: Geography subjects offered for Science credit at first year level

This table lists the first year Geography subjects available for Science credit.1   Subject Code and Title   Science Credit Points   Level at which science credit awarded   121-010 Famine in the Modern World   12.5   first year   121-012 Environmental Change   12.5   first year   121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography   12.5   first year

One or more of the following subjects is also recommended:

• 600-111 Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna; 600-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms; 600-142 Genetics and the Evolution of Life; 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment; 625-102 Geology. Students taking 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography are strongly recommended to take Biology 600-141 and 600-142.

• Additional 100-level subjects from Mathematics and Statistics. Note that 620-160 Experimental Design and Data Analysis forms part of the BSc (Environmental Science) course.

 1.2. Second year subjects

Two or more of the following Geography (Science) subjects offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the second year:

 Table 26: Geography subjects offered for Science credit at second year level

This table lists the second year Geography subjects available for Science credit.2   Subject code and title   Science credit points   Level at which Science credit awarded   121-018 Geomorphology   12.5   second year   121-021 Environmental Politics and Management #   12.5   second year   121-022 Urban Environments #   12.5   second year   121-024 GIS and Remote Sensing in Geography   12.5   second year   121-025 Biodiversity #   12.5   second year

One or more of the following subjects is also recommended: 606-202 Plant Biodiversity; 606-204 Plant Ecology; 606-207 Flora of Victoria; 610-280 Environmental Chemistry; 600-201 Physical Environment; 600-203 Environmental Measurement; 654-214 Animal Ecology.

 1.3. Third year subjects

50 points or more of Geography (Science) subjects offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at third year level:

 Table 27: Geography subjects offered for Science credit at third year level

This table lists the 300-level Geography subjects available for Science credit at third year level.3   Subject code and title   Science credit points   Level at which Science credit awarded   121-028 Sustainable Development #   12.5   third year   121-029 Environmental Hydrology B   12.5   third year   121-030 Ecological Biogeography #   25.0   third year   121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory)   12.5   third year   121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments   25.0   third year   121-033 Environmental Hydrology A #   25.0   third year   121-034 Field Class: Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development #   25.0   third year   121-035 Research Project in Geography and Environmental Studies (Advanced)   12.5   third year   950-300 Environmental Management Systems #   12.5   third year

One or more of the following subjects is also recommended: 606-301 Community and Ecosystem Ecology; 600-301 Problem Solving in Environmental Science; 451-312 GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Science; 620-160 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis; 654-308 Conservation Biology; 421-373 Physical Hydrology; 421-321 Engineering Hydrology and 421-374 Techniques in Field Investigation.

 1.4. Non-Science subjects offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

In addition to the subjects listed here, the Department offers the following subjects which may be taken as non-science subjects within the single Bachelor of Science course ('Non-science' subjects allowance):

First year

• 121-011 Australia in Asia

Second Year

• 121-015 Development and the Third World

• 121-016 Landscapes of Power: New Cultural Geographies

• 121-017 Society and Environments

• 121-019 Urban Geography: The Postmodern City

• 121-020 Australia and the Pacific Rim in a Global Economy

• 121-027 Development of the Global Economy

• 121-023 China in Transition

• 121-026 The Mobile World: Geographies of Migration and Tourism

Third Year

• 950-301 Global Environmental Governance

Details are provided in the Faculty of Arts section of The University of Melbourne Handbook 1999.

 1.5. Bachelor of Science (Honours)

For information about the Faculty and departmental entry requirements for Honours, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours). These requirements should be considered when planning your course.

 1.6. Further Information

For further information please contact:

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies

The University of Melbourne

ph. (03) 9344-6339 Fax: (03) 9344-4972

http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/Dept/Geography/GeogHome.html

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