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Subject Lists
Fourth Year subjects
Convener: Ian Thomas (Geography and Environmental Studies)
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 measure components of environmental systems under stress and 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 BA 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.
Within the Environmental Studies program, only those subjects offered by the departments within the Faculty of Arts are Arts-approved subjects. See Arts-approved subject requirement for more information.
The Environmental Studies program commences in First Year. There are no prerequisites for First Year Environmental Studies subjects.
However, students who have completed 50 points of First Year Arts subjects may apply to the Head of Department of Geography and Environmental Studies for Second Year entry.
A Major in Environmental Studies usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:
two First Year subjects from the list below (25 points) and;
seven Second/Third Year subjects in Environmental Studies (totalling 87.5 points). These must include:
the program's two compulsory units:
at least two, and up to four, core subjects listed below and;
no more than two optional subjects listed below.
Students must complete two of the following First Year subjects toward their Environmental Studies Major:
| First Year subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Semester | |
| 121-012 Environmental Change | 1 | |
| 121-013 Global Ecology and Biogeography | 2 | |
| Biology | ||
| 600-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms | 1 | |
| 600-142 Genetics & the Evolution of Life | 2 | |
| Earth Sciences | ||
| 625-101 Earth Sciences - The Global Environment | 1 | |
Students must complete the following two compulsory subjects, and between two and four core subjects, towards their Environmental Studies Major.
Students complete no more than two optional subjects towards their Environmental Studies Major, and may choose one optional subject other than those listed below. 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 convener.
| Compulsory subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| Optional subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Points | |
| 121-034 Environmental Field Class | 25 | |
| 121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments | 25 | |
| 121-036 China Field Class | 25 | |
| Agricultural Science | ||
| 212-201 Soil Resources | 12 | |
| Philosophy | ||
| 161-014 Environmental Philosophy | 12.5 | |
| Forest Science | ||
| 211-441 Advanced Agroforestry | 12.5 | |
| 211-444 Parks and Recreation | 12.5 | |
| 211-446 Conservation Biology | 12.5 | |
| Economics | ||
| 316-324 Environmental Economics | 12.5 | |
The following subjects are recommended for students intending their Major in Environmental Studies to encompass a general introduction to the field as an accompaniment to another Major within the Faculty of Arts.
| Recommended introductory subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 121-034 Environmental Field Class | 1 | |
| 121-039 Environmental Management Systems | 1 | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| 121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory) | 2 | |
| and two Environmental Studies optional subjects | ||
The following subjects are recommended for students who seek vocational training in Environmental Studies. The subjects could be taken as part of a Major in Environmental Studies taken alongside a Major in Geography specialising in physical geography.
| Recommended subjects for a double Major with Geography | ||
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Semester | |
| 121-021 Environmental Politics and Management | 1 | |
| 121-034 Environmental Field Class | 1 | |
| 121-028 Sustainable Development | 2 | |
| 121-022 Urban Environments | 2 | |
| and two additional subjects. | ||
Alternatively, students planning a career in environmental studies should consider enrolling in the Environmental Studies: Specialist Program.
The prerequisites for entry to Fourth Year Honours in Environmental Studies are:
completion of all the requirements for the BA and;
completion of a Major in Environmental Studies and;
an average grade of H2B or higher over the Second/Third Year subjects within the Major.
Entry to Honours must be approved by the Environmental Studies convener and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.
Environmental Studies offers pure Honours study only. Students must complete:
121-005 Environmental Honours Thesis (50 points) and;
121-008 Environmental Honours Coursework (50 points);
or for mid-year entry
121-900 Environmental Honours Thesis (MYE) (50 points) and;
121-009 Environmental Honours Coursework (MYE) (50 points).
Part-time Honours students will complete 121-008 Environmental Honours Coursework in the First Year; and 121-005 Environmental Honours Thesis in the Second Year of their part-time Honours course.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers a range of postgraduate programs in Environmental Studies. These include:
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Environmental Studies)
Master of Environmental Studies by Coursework
MA (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 Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
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.
Dr Ian Thomas
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Old Commerce Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 9344-6339
Fax. +61 3 9344 4972
Email: GeogEnquiry.geography@muwaye.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.geography.unimelb.edu.au
121-003 Environmental Impact Assessment (Theory)
121-004 Social Impact Assessment (Theory)
121-005 Environmental Honours Thesis
121-900 Environmental Honours Thesis (MYE)
121-008 Environmental Honours Coursework
121-009 Environmental Honours Coursework (MYE)
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