Sustainability Policy and Management

Subject 950-601 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Intensive.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 144 hours comprising time in class, preparation and assessment.
Total Time Commitment: 144 hours comprising time in class, preparation and assessment.
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: N/A
Non Allowed Subjects: N/A
Core Participation Requirements: N/A
Subject Overview: Syllabus: The syllabus covers alternative concepts and definitions of sustainable practice; critical appraisal of approaches taken by different disciplines to environmental issues and their identification, scoping of potential solutions, evaluation of costs and benefits, and implementation of solutions; theoretical frameworks for valuation of the environment, including subjective assessments and contingent valuations, ethical perspectives, conflicts between ethics and practice in liberal economies, and ecological imperatives for reform. It also raises the magnitude and kind of challenges facing sustainability objectives: global and local symptoms and solutions; accounting and auditing for economic, social and environmental benefits and costs. There is an introduction to and discussion of economic models and ways of measuring sustainable development; existing legal national and international structures as impediments to sustainable practices, and possible improvements; concepts of inter-generational and international equity and custodial responsibility; psychology and cultural context of environmental perception, psychological frameworks for understanding environmental behaviour, and strategies to achieve improved environmental education; and opportunities and pragmatic strategies for implementation sustainable practices that account for social context, cultural responsibilities, and legal, economic and technical constraints.
Assessment: Assessment will involve an individual report (10%), group reports (30%) due after completion of the intensive teaching delivery in the first half of Semester one, and an individual essay assignment of relevance to the students chosen field (topic selected in consultation with an academic staff member from the course). Word length for the essay is 3-000 - 4,000 words. The essay is due in Week 11 of Semester one.
Prescribed Texts: Subject readings will be available for students.
Recommended Texts: N/A
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Objectives: On completion of this subject, students will gain a fundamental appreciation of concepts of sustainability and recognise appropriate (or best) practice ideas in implementing sustainability. The subject covers areas of relevance to all disciplines and is consciously interdisciplinary and reflexive in its orientation.
Links to further information: http://www.environment.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Master of Environment
Master of Urban Planning
Master of Urban Planning

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