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), three Year 2 topics (13.5 units) and three Year 3 topics (13.5 units) selected from the topics listed in the program of study below.

A student may complete a minor sequence of 18 units in Geography and Environmental Studies by completing two Year 1 topics (9 units), one Year 2 topic (4.5 units) plus an additional topic (4.5 units) from the Year 2 or Year 3 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), Bachelor of Arts from 1 January 2019.

The minor sequence is not available to students who commenced the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Teaching (Primary) from 1 January 2020.

Course aims
Learning outcomes
Program of study
Honours

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

9 units comprising:

GEOG1001 Environment and Society (4.5 units)
GEOG1002 Human Geography: Geographies of Oppression (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

Select 13.5 units from the following:

ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
ENVS2731 Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
GEOG2030 Sustainable Development in a Global World: Challenges and Prospects (4.5 units)
GEOG2050 Population Dynamics (4.5 units)
GEOG2142 Environment, Economy and Culture (4.5 units)
GEOG2712 Asian Regional Development (4.5 units)
PHIL2165 The Ethical Challenge of Climate Change (4.5 units)

Year 3 topics

Select 13.5 units from the following:

BIOL3791 Ecology and Geomorphology of Coastal Environments (4.5 units)
ENVS3742 Emerging Issues in Australian Environmental Management (4.5 units)
ENVS3750 Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines (4.5 units)
GEOG3040 Environmental Impact Assessment (4.5 units)
GEOG3111 Introduction to Managing Coastal and Marine Environments (4.5 units)
GEOG3112 Geographies of Migration (4.5 units)
GEOG3133 Adapting to Climate Change (4.5 units)
GEOG3761 Caring as Country: Indigenous Environmental Management (4.5 units)

Honours

Refer to Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.