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An Ecological History of Humanity (UNIB10003)
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
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
An Ecological History of Humanity or "How we got to where we are", journeys through 150,000 years of human experience: climate change, the great migrations, health and disease, famine and plenty, war and peace, scientific and technological advance - to conclude in our own times. This story concentrates on the deep history of human societies and their needs for food, shelter and reproduction, and of our quests for love, meaning and power. It explores key transitions: the emergence of farming and complex societies, the rise and fall of empires, calamities such as the Black Death and the micro and macro-biological conquests of the Americas and Australia, El Nino holocausts and the long cycles of global cooling and warming, the fossil fuel revolution and the urbanization of the world. Taught by a geographer, a zoologist, a microbiologist and an historian, it is an interdisciplinary exploration of our complex relationships with the environment past and present, with other organisms, and with each other.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- identify, synthesise and analyse relevant materials across a wide range of disciplines, including history, geography, medicine and biology;
- develop critical and analytical skills, including the ability to form effective arguments;
- demonstrate the ability to confront and solve unfamiliar problems;
- develop important life and academic skills, including the ability to precis and undertake analytic note-taking, communication in both written work and tutorials, organisation (including the timely submission of work) and collaboration in the classroom;
- engage ethically with significant issues in relation to the development human societies and their impact upon the environment.
Last updated: 22 March 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: 22 March 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- An 800 word book review, due in week 5 (20%)
- A poster, equivalent to 500 words, due in the final tutorial (12.5%)
- A 700 word critical reflection on poster, due beginning of the end of semester examination period (17.5%)
- A 2000 word research report, due during the end of semester examination period (50%)
Hurdle requirement:
- Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject.
- All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator James Bradley Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours - 2 x 1 hour lectures each week and 1 x 1 hour tutorial for 11 weeks 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
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Clive Ponting: A New Green History of the World (Penguin Books or Viking)
- Subject notes
This subject together with UNIB20013 (Body Mind and Medicine) and UNIB30005 (Living Longer, a global diagnosis) form a recommended medical humanities stream for Medical students.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Integrated Geography Major Physical Geography Breadth Track Ecology, Evolution and Humanity Breadth Track Forests and Fire - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
breadth.unimelb.edu.au/home
- 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: 22 March 2024