This course has been adjusted for remote participation in Sem 1 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. On-campus activities will also be available.
This course critically analyses the relationships between people and their environments. It focuses on the big issue facing the globe - the equitable and sustainable use of this planet's resources. This is a core course for understanding key environment and society concepts.
The course examines different ways of conceptualising the nature of resources, the environment and society. The contrasts and connections between scientific and social science theory and methods will be examined. Key factors mediating the inter-relationships between society and environment will be explored including resource use, population and technological change. Other key concepts critically explored will include social justice, equity and sustainability. These issues will be explored through case studies that will include: the role of Indigenous people in resource management, the international dimension of global climatic change, water and land degradation and biodiversity conservation.
The course has a strong skills-based focus with the aim of giving students the research and communication skills required to successfully complete later courses. It is a good course for enhancing skills for students returning to academic study. Particular attention will be given to critical thinking and writing skills. Staff from the ANU Libraries and the Academic Skills and Learning Centre will be involved in this element of the course. Guest speakers will be drawn from the many ANU Colleges and the government, community and business sectors.
Peer learning strategies and an additional, one day field trip are used to extend postgraduate students.
Note: Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but are assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- ask good questions of guest speakers and of their peers in classroom settings, and to know what needs to be learned in order to answer these questions
- identify learning resources, and use those resources effectively
- continue inquisitive lifelong learning
- reflect on their own learning, demonstrate high levels of information literacy, and interact with others through communication skills that include speaking, writing and facilitating small groups
- analyse the global dimensions of environment-society issues.
Other Information
There are additional field trip fees (<$200) applicable to participation in this course (payment to ANU Science Shop).
- Field-based teaching and learning activity forms an integral and important part of many courses delivered by the Fenner School of Environment & Society. Fieldwork activities are designed to allow you put the skills you’ve learned in the classroom into practice in new environments and provide powerful enrichment to student learning.
If you do not meet the requisites for this course, it may be possible to receive a permission code. If you are prompted for a permission code on ISIS, please request one online via the following form.
Indicative Assessment
- Learning portfolio based on weekly preparation for tutorials (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Essay (35) [LO 2,3,4,5]
- Kioloa field trip report (25) [LO 2,3,4]
- Canberra field trip report (10) [LO 2,3,4]
- Tutorial participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- End of course PowerPoint presentation on what students have learnt both about the course content and about learning (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
- Face-to face component which may consist of 1 x 1 hour lecture, 1 x 2 hour seminar plus 1 x 2 hour tutorial per week plus. X hours of tutorials/workshops/labs throughout the semester.
- A compulsory 3 day field trip during the mid-semester teaching break at the Kioloa Coastal Campus plus a one day field trip in the Canberra region. Please refer to Other Information for additional details.
- Approximately 43 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures, presentations and other assessment tasks.
Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions.
Inherent Requirements
To be determined.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed text books, rather, a variety of recommended reading will be made available via Wattle.
Areas of Interest
- Forestry
- Geography
- Human Ecology
- Interdisciplinary Studies - Sustainability
- Development Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Human Sciences
- Policy Studies
- Population Studies
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $4110 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $5880 |
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.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3426 | 22 Feb 2021 | 01 Mar 2021 | 31 Mar 2021 | 28 May 2021 | In Person | View |
