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Famine: The Geography of Scarcity (GEOG10001)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
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This subject explains the physical and social drivers of famines and related crises in social-ecological systems, including the collapse of civilizations and violent conflicts seemingly triggered by scarcity of food, water, and arable land. It proposes theories that explain famines and crises of scarcity, and tests these with evidence and case studies. In this way the subject introduces key issues, concepts, and theories central to geography, development, environmental studies and environmental science. The subject is interdisciplinary, providing students with a broad range of knowledge and analytical tools. Specifically, the subject draws together science and social science, introducing students to multiple disciplinary knowledge and practices.
Intended learning outcomes
- Understand the causes of hunger and famine;
- Understand the patterns and processes that shape global environments:
- Understand the science of climate and food production that contributes to variations in food supply
- Understand how scarcity has contributed to the collapse of civilizations throughout history, and still influences contemporary societies
- Understand relations between population, environmental change and food supply;
- Understand the interactions between environmental and social dimensions of scarcity
- Understand how solutions to hunger are designed on the basis of particular theories about scarcity;
- Have developed skills in empirical and theoretical evaluation of theories of scarcity;
- Have gained a basic understanding of the discipline of geography and the interdisciplinary field of development studies.
Generic skills
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will:
• be capable of thinking critically and analytically
• be capable of testing theories with evidence;
• be capable of writing essays that weigh-up evidence concerning complex physical and social phenomena; and
• be capable of working in groups.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
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: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- Referencing, citation, and plagiarism quiz (pass/fail): Students must complete a tutorial exercise that explains academic practices relating to citation and plagiarism.
- An essay (1,500 words) (40% of final grade) due Week 9
- Tutorial-based Assessment (600 words) (15% of final grade): This will be based on the assigned reading for each week
- Short Answer Assessment (800 words equivalent) (20% of final grade) due prior to Easter non-teaching period
- Take-home final exam (1,000 words) (25% of final grade) due during the exam period.
Each of the assessment components must be attempted (i.e. a submission must be made for marking) for a student to be able to pass this subject.
A late penalty of 10%/day will be assessed on all late submissions.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Jon Barnett Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours - two 1 hour lectures and one 1 hour tutorial per week. Total Time Commitment: 3 contact hours per week. Total time commitment 170 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 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours It is a hurdle requirement that students attend 9 out of 12 weeks of tutorials. Attendance will be taken.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None.
- Subject notes
Students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 degree and new degree), or a combined BSc course (except for the BA/BSc) will receive science credit for the completion of this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Environments Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Geography Major Environmental Geography Minor Development Studies Minor Environmental Studies Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Major Integrated Geography Major Human Geography Major Physical Geography Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Breadth Track Understanding Disasters, Their Management and Planning Breadth Track Feeding the World's Population - 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.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 15 February 2024