Description:
Geography is a dynamic discipline that is increasingly recognised as an integral part of developing holistic approaches to contemporary problems in society and environment. The advent of products such as Google Earth and the rapid uptake of spatial technology in many facets of day-to-day life has also put geography on the public agenda. In essence, geographers study Earth's diversity, its resources, and humankind's survival on the planet. This involves analysing the associations of things and events that give special character to particular places; the interconnections between different areas; and the working of complex systems through time. Geography is the only academic discipline in which an integrative perspective focusing on spatial relationships and processes is a fundamental concern. Geography takes an integrative approach to environmental problems and their solutions, including the study of economic, cultural and social goals and processes that determine strategies for resource use and ecosystem management.
Students undertaking the major in geography are provided with a rich learning environment characterised by an exciting mix of theoretical and practical training in an applied setting. The course options in the major expose students to a diverse range of skills that are much in demand, including experiential and field-based learning, GIS and spatial technology, the principles of modeling, integrated research training, and small-group learning that draws upon the diversity of student and staff professional and cultural backgrounds. The major in geography will equip students with a thorough yet broad-based grounding in the discipline, the background to pursuing a professional career related to geography.
Learning Goals:
On completing the major in Geography, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Evaluate current geographic approaches to investigating a range of environment and sustainability issues and management strategies in international and Australian contexts
- Integrate knowledge relevant to geographical science and policy across disciplines
- Apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to effectively convey and discuss information about geographical science and policy in multidisciplinary contexts, and
- Engage with current environment and sustainability policy debates, recognising the socio-political and cultural contexts in which they occur.
Other Information
Advice to Students
What 1st year courses should you enrol in? ENVS1001 plus a maximum of 6 units chosen from ENVS1004, ENVS1008, EMSC1006
A minor in Geography, when taken in conjunction with the Geography major, allows greater specialization in a particular area of interest. A minor or minors in Human Ecology, Environmental Policy, Development Studies and/or Sustainable Development would make a valuable complement to the major in Geography.
Science students undertaking this major in a combined degree will be restricted to courses offered or approved by Science.
Students should seek further course advice from the academic convener of this Geography major.
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Requirements
Major Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS1001 | Environment and Society: Geography of Sustainability | 6 |
A maximum of 6 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS1004 | Australia's Environment | 6 |
| ENVS1008 | Sustainable Development | 6 |
| EMSC1006 | The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science | 6 |
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS2004 | Weather, Climate and Fire | 6 |
| ENVS2007 | Economics for the Environment | 6 |
| ENVS2010 | Australia's Forests | 6 |
| ENVS2011 | Human Ecology | 6 |
| ENVS2012 | Sustainable Systems: Urban | 6 |
| ENVS2013 | Society and Environmental Change | 6 |
| ENVS2017 | Vietnam Field School | 6-12 |
| ENVS 2020: Hydrology & Landforms for NRM | ||
| ENVS2021 | Vegetation and Soils: Landscape Co-evolution and Ecology | 6 |
| ENVS2022 | Sustainable Systems: Rural | 6 |
| PASI2001 | Pacific Studies in a Globalizing World | 6 |
| PASI2003 | Environment, Conflict and Development in the Western Pacific | 6 |
| POPS2001 | Population Studies | 6 |
| POPS2002 | Population Analysis | 6 |
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS3001 | Climate Change Science & Policy in Practice | 6 |
| ENVS3002 | Sustainable Agricultural Practices | 6 |
| ENVS3004 | Land and Catchment Management | 6 |
| ENVS3005 | Water Resource Management | 6 |
| ENVS3007 | Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders | 6 |
| ENVS3008 | Fire in the Environment | 6 |
| ENVS3010 | Independent Research Project | 6-12 |
| ENVS3013 | Climatology | 6 |
| ENVS3016 | Special Topic | 6 |
| ENVS3020 | Climate Change Science & Policy | 6 |
| ENVS3021 | Human Futures | 6 |
| ENVS3026 | Geomorphology: Landscape Evolution under Changing Climate | 6 |
| ENVS3028 | Environmental Policy | 6 |
| ENVS3029 | Palaeo-Environmental Reconstruction | 6 |
| ENVS3033 | International Environmental Policy | 6 |
A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENVS1003 | Introduction to Environmental and Social Research | 6 |
| ENVS2014 | Qualitative Research Methods for Sustainability | 6 |
| ENVS2015 | GIS and Spatial Analysis | 6 |
| ENVS3014 | Ecological Assessment and Management | 6 |
| ENVS3040 | Complex Environmental Problems in Action | 6 |
