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Human Behaviour and Environment (ENST20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject explores psychological and social dimensions of environmental sustainability and landscape and ecosystem management. The subject examines the ways humans experience, interact and behave in the physical environment. This is done by exploring psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions examining frameworks for understanding landscape perception and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for environmental values, aesthetics and preference management and design implications of how humans experience a range of environments; understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant action and strategies for encouraging environmentally sustainable behaviours.
Intended learning outcomes
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 for urban, rural and natural ecosystems and landscapes.
- Analyse factors that contribute to public support and opposition to environmental practice and policy.
- Analyse factors that encourage or discourage environmentally sustainable behaviour.
- Design appropriate strategies for encouraging pro-environment behaviour.
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.
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer to access readings, class information and data.
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Assessment
Additional details
1000 word take home examination (30%) during the exam period. Two assignments, each 1500 words (70%) submitted in weeks 5 and 10.
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Kathryn Williams Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours including lectures, tutorials and online tutorials Total time commitment 80 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment (including non-contact time): 80 hours.
Last updated: 14 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject reader.
Recommended texts and other resources
Gardner, G. T., & Stern, P. C. (2002). Environmental problems and human behavior (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Koger, S. M., & Winter, D. D. N. (2010). The psychology of environmental problems: psychology for sustainability (3rd ed.). New York: Psychology Press.
Winter, D. and Koger, W (2004). The Psychology of Environmental Problems. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Steg, L., van den Berg, A.E. and de Groot, J.I.M (2013). Environmental Psychology. Chichester UK: BPS Blackwell.
- Subject notes
This subject replaces 207205 Human Dimensions of Resource Management.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Major Ecosystem Science Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Breadth Track People and Environment - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 14 March 2025