The principal aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the interactions between population health and the status and management of the environment. This will be examined in the context of environmental sustainability, with a focus on the changes that economic development and demographic change can bring both to the environment and to population health.
The course will also touch upon the environmental sustainability and health sustainability of human society.
The course starts with a consideration of different types of sustainability, examined in the light of human behaviour. It will then introduce basic demography and its significance to population health and national development and examine how demographic factors, environmental degradation and poor environmental management together affect population health. It will touch upon the main health issues in developing countries (specifically AIDS, nutritional deficiencies, malaria, TB, certain parasitic conditions and waterborne infections) and compare the situation to developed nations. Pollution and toxicology will be taught via a focus on air quality, which is a major issue in most cities of the developing world. The increasingly observed health effects of climate change will also be examined.
The course covers a wide field of different science-based disciplines, presented by an experienced communicator, for students who are not scientific specialists, but who have basic numeracy and an understanding of and interest in development issues.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
After finishing the course, and completing the necessary study requirements associated with it, students will be able to
- Understand the key terms and concepts in sustainability
- Understand the key terms and concepts in demography
- Understand the key terms and concepts in population health.
- Understand the significance of energy to human society, and be familiar with the major issues in the debate over energy sustainability
- Appreciate the linkage between environmental management and public health
- Analyse societal nutritional requirements and the environmental factors affecting food supply, including the sustainable use of biological resources
- Identify the causes and consequences of poor air quality in cities, and possible solutions.
- Demonstrate the skills necessary to analyse complex multi-disciplinary problems pertaining to the environmental and health aspects of national development
- Contribute informed, accurate and scientifically correct input to discussions about policy options relating to population growth, public health, energy sustainability and environmental management.
Other Information
A brief field trip is sometimes included. The course is particularly innovative in its multi-disciplinary approach and its coverage of technical issues for those without a specialist background. Students are encouraged to give a presentation, although this is not compulsory. The range of countries represented in the student body usually ensures that these presentations are a valuable learning tool for all students, enlarging their knowledge about issues in developing countries. |
Indicative Assessment
Two in-class tests (20% and 25%); final exam (30%); choice of presentation or essay (25%).
A pass is awarded if the total aggregate mark for the whole course is 50% or above.
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Workload
Three contact hours per teaching week. About 2-3 hours additional work per week, on average, would be necessary for reading, revising and doing required assignments.
Prescribed Texts
No prescribed texts, but a reading list is provided, along with detailed hand-outs written by the lecturer.
Preliminary Reading
Several lists will be provided during the course.
Assumed Knowledge
Students considering this course should be confident in basic numeracy and ideally should have studied a science subject to Year 12 level.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $3660 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4878 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
