Major - Geography and Environmental Studies

The following is the program of study for a 36 unit major sequence in Geography and Environmental Studies and should be read in conjunction with the course rule for the degree in which you are enrolled.

A student may complete a major sequence of 36 units in Geography and Environmental Studies by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), 4 year two topics (18 units) and two year 3 topics (9 units) listed in the program of study below.

A student may complete a minor sequence of 22.5 units in Geography and Environmental Studies by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), two Year 2 topics (9 units) plus and additional topic (4.5 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 option topics listed in the program of study below.

A minor in Geography and Environmental Studies is not available to students who commenced the Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of Arts from 1 January 2019.

A student may complete an extended major sequence in Geography and Environmental Studies by completing the prescribed major topics (36 units), plus an additional two topics (9 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 topics listed below.

An extended major in Geography and Environmental Studies is not available to students enrolled in the double Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts degrees

Course aims
Learning outcomes
Program of study

Course aims

The major in Geography and Environmental Studies aims to develop an understanding of the complexity with which humans impact and view the environment on a local, national and global scale; the effect of environmental change on human health; the extent to which environmental changes have taken place, particularly in Australia; and the roles of social institutions, governance, scientific knowledge and community values in environmental management.

The major also aims to produce graduates with the skills to observe, collect, analyse and interpret information, which is often spatially and socially explicit, and to analyse the state or condition of aspects of the atmosphere, inland waters, land, sea and coasts to improved solution implementation to social and environment problems.

Learning outcomes

Graduates with a major in Geography and Environmental Studies will be able to:

demonstrate a sound understanding of the key concepts and theories that apply to the interconnection between people, environments and places, and to the importance of space and place as dimensions of human activity
collect, analyse and interpret data relating to both human activity and the biosphere
apply interdisciplinary knowledge to social and environmental problems
describe the human impacts being exerted on the environment
identify a number of current environmental issues, collect and analyse the state or condition of these systems as a result of the human pressure
communicate geographical and environmental issues using a variety of media
describe the changing role and value of government, science and community in environmental management
recognise and assess environmental change
appreciate the importance of ethical behaviour in scholarship and professional activity.

Program of study

Year 1 topics

Two of

GEOG1001 Environment and Society (4.5 units)
GEOG1002 Human Geography: Geographies of Oppression (4.5 units)
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

18 units comprising:

GEOG2711 Australian Environmental Change (4.5 units)

Plus 13.5 units from

DVST2701 Sustainable Development (4.5 units)
ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
ENVS2742 Environment, Economy and Culture (4.5 units)
GEOG2712 Asian Regional Development (4.5 units)
GEOG2722 Society and Space (4.5 units)
PPHR2721 Demography (4.5 units)
STEM1003 GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM2001 Remote Sensing for all Disciplines (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)

Year 3 topics

9 units from:

ENVS3781 Population and Environment (4.5 units)
ENVS3711 Introduction to Managing Coastal and Marine Environments (4.5 units)
ENVS3732 Environmental Impact Assessment (4.5 units)
ENVS3742 Emerging Issues in Australian Environmental Management (4.5 units)
GEOG3761 Caring as Country: Indigenous Environmental Management (4.5 units)
STEM2003 Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry (4.5 units)
STEM2004 Advanced Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units) STEM3003 Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS (4.5 units)