UB: Global Environmental Issues

Subject ENVS20002 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Online classes from January to April through the University of Birmingham, UK. This subject is only available online.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites:

Admission into the D-GLOBISS Diploma in Global Issues.

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 Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, 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 the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

U21 International Programs Coordinator
Melbourne Global Mobility
Ground Floor, John Smyth Building
The Unviersity of Melbourne
Swanston Street. VIC.3010
Email: alanajm@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 3849

Subject Overview:

This module examines the conflict between increasing use of natural resources, growing environmental degradation and population increase. It considers the difficulty in distinguishing human impacts from natural environmental changes, and examines a number of specific environmental issues relating to `the Water Crisis’, `Environmental Hazards’, `The Human Impact’, `The Urban Environment’ and `The Atmosphere’. The module provides the background to studying environmental problems by exploring the historical context and the significance of the global population increase. A series of units then examine themes including water, hazards and environmental change. A second set of units examines the human impacts on the environment in more detail, considering the effects on high latitudes, the urban environment and explores global perspectives on environmental degradation in relationship to the atmosphere.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module the students should be able to:

  • Understand the social and economic forces driving global environmental change;
  • Have a basic understanding of selected environmental hazards;
  • Recognise the nature of short-term and long-term human impacts on the environment;
  • Be familiar with the distinctive problems associated with the urban environment;
  • Assess the literature to reach objective judgements on the significance of selected global environmental issues
Assessment:

1 x 2000 word exercise 33%, 1 x 3000 word written research essay (67%)

Prescribed Texts:

A list of texts and readings will be provided at the start of the course.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.mobility.unimelb.edu.au/outbound/u21/gip
Notes:

Transcripts are sent from the international partner university approximately six weeks after the completion date of the course, therefore students are advised not to take this subject in the final semester of their undergraduate program if they wish to graduate in the December ceremonies.

Due to the varied grading schemes used by partners teaching into the U21 Diploma in Global Issues grades will be scaled according to the University of Melbourne standards using the grading scale online at http://www.mobility.unimelb.edu.au/outbound/u21/gip

Please note this subject has non-standard teaching and census dates.

Teaching dates: 13th Janurary 2014 to 25th April 2014
Census date: 14th February 2014

Related Course(s): U21 Diploma in Global Issues

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