Reshaping Environments

Subject ENVS10002 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hours of lectures and 24 hours of tutorials.
Total Time Commitment:

120 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Melbourne School of Land & Environment (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject explores how environments shape us and we humans reshape the environment. It examines human attitudes to, impacts on and interactions with the environments in which we live by considering ‘natural', transformed and built environments as sites of production and consumption, imagining and contest, in different parts of the globe. The subject considers the material relationship between the natural and built environments by exploring issues of resource use. Human demands for water, energy, food, fibres and minerals, will be examined in relation to the technologies and practices used to meet those needs, and the resulting creation of waste and pollution and impacts on climate and a range of ecosystems and species. These issues and processes will be presented and considered using thematic, geographically varied, historic and contemporary examples. The subject will operate at three ‘scales' including: ‘natural' landscapes and their ecosystems; cities and the urban environment; buildings.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of the subject students should be able to:

  • Identify and describe the physical and social needs of humans within their environment(s).
  • Identify and describe the ways that humans re-shape their environment to suit needs and expectations.
  • Identify and describe the ways that economic, social and environmental norms shape environmentally significant action.
  • Identify, describe as a system, and detect the physical and social consequences of human efforts to reshape their environment.
  • Discuss the human-environment relationships and the implications of this for future environmental design, norms and management.
Assessment:
  • reflective journal throughout semester totalling approximately 1500 words (20%);
  • tutorial participation during the semester (10%);
  • a three-part project report of 3000 words equivalent, due before week 6, week 9 (group submission), end of semester (70%).
Prescribed Texts:

Bender, Helena (ed.) (2012) Reshaping environments: an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability in a complex world, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne

Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

At the completion of this subject students should have developed the following skills:

  • Basic analytical skills for observing human-environment interactions
  • Skills for the observation and interpretation of practices which transform natural and urban environments
  • Skills in synthesising, reporting on and discussing issues relevant to this subject
Links to further information: http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Environments
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Architecture major
Civil (Engineering) Systems major
Construction major
Environmental Engineering Systems major
Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures major
Environmental Science major
Geomatics (Geomatic Engineering) major
Landscape Architecture major
Landscape Management major
Property major
Urban Design and Planning major
Related Breadth Track(s): Engineering and Environments
People and Environment
Civil and Environmental Engineering

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