Faculty of Arts

 Environmental studies

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Fourth year subjects

Convener: Peter Christoff (Geography and Environmental Studies)

Environmental studies at the University of Melbourne is amongst the top-ranking programs of its kind in Australia and New Zealand. Talented academic staff enjoy international recognition for their scholarship and original research, often conducted in collaboration with international colleagues and directed to project-based outcomes. This versatile program enables students to gain practical and relevant experience in laboratory classes, group project work and field trips, including fieldwork research in China.

These activities and the excellent facilities and resources provided by the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies ensure that students will obtain maximal benefits from their study. Students have the option of undertaking the Specialist Program and tailoring their course to specific environmental interests or vocational pursuits. The major in environmental studies can be used as a pathway to postgraduate study in landscape architecture or the articulated structure of higher degree study options in Arts at the University of Melbourne. Graduates of environmental studies at the University of Melbourne gain the experience and qualifications required for professional careers with government agencies, regulatory bodies and in private industry with environmental consulting firms.

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. It addresses the biogeography and sustainability of environments, particularly as these are impacted upon by forces of development. Ecological and hydrological issues are addressed in the context of risk assessment and management approaches within regulatory frameworks.

For information on the major in geography, see Geography.

 1. Faculty of Arts requirements

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.

 2. Prerequisites

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 environmental studies coordinator for second year entry.

 3. Requirements for a major

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:

    121-021 Environmental Politics and Management

    121-028 Sustainable Development and;

  • at least two, and up to four, core subjects listed below and;

  • no more than two optional subjects listed below.

 4. Environmental studies subjects

 4.1. First year

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

 4.2. Second/third year

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 the Department of 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

Core subjects
Geography		Points
	121-025 Biodiversity	12.5
	121-029 Environmental Hydrology B	12.5
	121-033 Environmental Hydrology A	25
	121-017 Society and Environments	12.5
	121-022 Urban Environments	12.5
	121-024 GIS and Remote Sensing in Geography	12.5
	121-030 Ecological Biogeography	25
	121-031 Ecological Biogeography (Theory)	12.5
	121-039 Environmental Management Systems	12.5
	121-071 Coastal Geomorphology	12.5

Optional subjects
Geography		Points
	121-034 Environmental Field Class	25
	121-032 Australian Quaternary Environments	25
	121-036 China Field Class	25
	121-037 Fieldwork Research Project	12.5
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
Economics
	316-324 Environmental Economics	12.5

 5. Recommended subjects

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 Specialist Program in Environmental studies.

 6. Honours entry

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.

 7. Honours requirements

 7.1. Pure honours only

Environmental studies offers pure honours study only. Students must complete:

• 121-519 Environmental Studies Thesis or 121-520 Environmental Studies Thesis (MYE) (50 points) and;

• 121-008 Environmental Studies Coursework or 121-009 Environmental Honours Coursework (MYE) (50 points);

Part-time honours is only permitted in exceptional circumstances, subject to approval by the head of department.

 8. Further study

Geography and Environmental Studies offers a range of postgraduate programs in environmental studies. These include:

• Graduate Certificate in Arts (Environmental Studies)

• Graduate Diploma in Arts (Environmental Studies)

• 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.

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.

 9. 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.

 10. For more information

Mr Peter Christoff
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Old Commerce Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 8344 6339
Fax. +61 3 8344 4972
Email: p.christoff@geography.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.geography.unimelb.edu.au

Fourth year subjects

121-519 Environmental Studies Thesis
121-520 Environmental Studies Thesis (MYE)
121-003 Environmental Impact Assessment (Theory)
121-004 Social Impact Assessment (Theory)
121-008 Environmental Studies Coursework
121-009 Environmental Honours Coursework (MYE)

Status:                   Official 2001
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