Human Behaviour and Environment

Subject ENST20001 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - 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


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 39 hours
Total Time Commitment: Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 80 hours.
Prerequisites: Nil
Corequisites: Nil
Recommended Background Knowledge: Nil
Non Allowed Subjects: Nil
Core Participation Requirements:

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer to access readings, class information and data. They will also be expected to have basic skills in use of Excel software.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Kathryn Williams

Contact

Email: kjhw@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: 9250 6824

Subject Overview: This subject examines the ways humans experience and behave in regard to the physical environment. It explores psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions and examines frameworks for understanding landscape perception and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for environmental values and aesthetics; management and design implications of human experience of natural and semi-natural settings; understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant action; strategies for enabling conservation behaviours.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • describe factors that influence the ways people value the environment
  • discuss design and management implications of human experience of natural and semi-natural environments
  • describe factors that influence environmentally significant actions
  • analyse factors that encourage or discourage conservation behaviour in a setting
  • select appropriate strategies for encouraging pro-environment behaviour.
Assessment: One 2-hour examination (40%). Exercises and practical reports equivalent to total of 4000 words (60%) and submitted in week 4, 8 and 12.
Prescribed Texts: Subject reader.
Recommended Texts:

Gardner, G.T. and Stern, P (2002). Environmental Problems and Human Behaviour. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Winter, D. and Koger, W (2004). The Psychology of Environmental Problems. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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:

This course encompasses particular generic skills. On completion of the course students should have:

  • moderate capacity to interpret and apply information from a range of sources to better understand human behaviour
  • high level written communication
  • basic skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
  • moderate level ability to synthesise data with other information
  • moderate level ability to apply theory to practice.
Notes: This subject replaces 207205 Human Dimensions of Resource Management.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Landscape Management

Download PDF version.