121-421 Social Impact Assessment

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in environmental studies.

This subject focuses on the nature and range of the social impacts of development, including externalities, risk, benefit; procedures for assessing social impacts of development; the role of various political formations (the state, non-government organisations and grass roots action) in regulating the social impacts of development. The subject also deals with community consultation and dispute resolution, particularly in relation to the capacities of different sectors to deal with impacts and the relationship between economic restructuring and social impacts of development. The subject should provide students with the conceptual and technical skills to understand the relationship between society and development; assess the social impact of development; and identify the techniques needed to undertake social impact assessments.

Individual and group reports equivalent to 5000 words.