Governing Environments

Subject ENVS10005 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 25-Jul-2016 to 23-Oct-2016
Assessment Period End 18-Nov-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 05-Aug-2016
Census Date 31-Aug-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 23-Sep-2016


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 48 hours: 3 x 1 hour of lectures per week; 1 x 1 hour of tutorials per week.
Total Time Commitment:

170 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

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Brian Davidson

Contact

Email:b.davidson@unimelb.edu.au

The Eastern Precinct (building 138)
(between Doug McDonell building and Eastern Resource Centre)

Enquiries:
Current Student : http://ask.unimelb.edu.au/
Web: http://msd.unimelb.edu.au/

Subject Overview:

Natural and built environments and their resources have been the source of conflicting claims over rights of access, ownership and use. These contests have in turn led to the creation of a wide range of approaches to regulate such claims. In this subject students will be introduced to the ecological and economic theories and practices that relate to the use and management of natural resources and built environments and to the approaches governments use to resolve the conflicts that arise.
Topics will include:

  • An introduction to the similarities and differences between the ecological and economic paradigms that affect the environment
  • Understanding the need for government intervention
  • An explanation of Public Choice theory
  • The development of policies and instruments (laws, regulations, agreements, spending on education programs and market-based instruments) and institutions for effective policy implementation
  • Case studies on the built environment, land and water, forests, marine environments and global warming will be used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different governance models and their application
Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • Come to terms with the conflicts that exist in managing natural and built environments, from both an ecological and an economic stand point.
  • Understand the theory that explains government intervention and regulation in the environment and the role that information systems play in governing the environment.
  • Recognise the different governance models that have been applied to the built environment, land use and natural resources and identify the strengths and weakness of different policy and institutional arrangements.
  • Understand how different polices, institutions and markets effect the environment.
  • Identify the key institutions used to manage the built environment and natural resources across different geographical and political scales (eg - trading in water titles, carbon credits, building titles, etc)

Assessment:
  • Class test due in week 4 equivalent to 600 words (15%);
  • Class test due in week 7 equivalent to 600 words (10%);
  • Class test due in week 10 equivalent to 600 words (15%);
  • Final exam equivalent to 2000 words due examination period (60%).
Prescribed Texts:

A set of readings will be provided electronically.

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 the following skills:

  • Be able to assess policy-orientated research on the environment
  • Be able to research and evaluate governance issues
  • Be able to understand the economic and ecological factors affecting environments
Links to further information: http://www.benvs.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Environments
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Civil (Engineering) Systems major
Environmental Engineering Systems major
Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures major
Environments Discipline subjects
Geomatics (Geomatic Engineering) major
Landscape Ecosystem Management major
Related Breadth Track(s): The Property Industry
People and Environment
Property in the Urban Economy

Download PDF version.