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The Disaster Resilient City (GEOG30021)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 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 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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This subject examines the impacts of disasters in cities. It will explore why some groups are more vulnerable to particular hazards than others, while considering the role of social capital and adaptation for increasing the resilience of urban communities to disasters.This is important because the trend towards increasing urbanisation and larger cities is a major contributor to the rising toll of disaster losses globally. In addition, climate change predictions indicate that natural hazards such as bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones are likely to increase in intensity and possibly also frequency in many places, including cities. Contemporary cases will be used to highlight key issues and policy debates. Implications for urban planning and disaster planning and management in cities and at the rural-urban interface will be considered.
Cases and examples will be drawn from around the world, primarily from developed countries. Students will have the opportunity to examine case/s of their own choosing (with approval from the subject coordinator), and will undertake locally based research in preparation of the field report. There will be a local field trip associated with this subject.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who complete this subject will:
- Comprehend a range of social theories and concepts used to study disasters in an urban environment
- Recognise the complexities and dynamic relationships between cities and hazards
- Investigate how some groups become more vulnerable to disasters than others
- Critically evaluate disaster management policies and practices in an urban context
Generic skills
Students who complete this subject will have:
- Developed their ability to critically evaluate different theories and concepts
- Demonstrated their capacity to transfer this knowledge to applied analysis
- Improved their written and oral communication skills, particularly in relation to the development of their own critical arguments and communication of research findiings
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
It is HIGHLY recommended that students have completed 25 points of 200 level subjects with a social or natural science focus from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biomedicine or Bachelor of Environments; Students without this background knowledge should obtain permission from the subject coordinator.
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
5 minute tutorial presentation (5%). Each student undertakes one presentation in a pair. The week for the presentation is arranged in Week 2 tutorials; Tutorial presentations will be held in weeks 3-12
Weekly tutorial participation for 10 weeks (10%) Students will be assessed by their tutor on their active contribution to tutorial discussions and activities, individually and as part of a group
1000 word tutorial paper due Week 6 (25%) Students will prepare an essay comparing the 'resilience' and 'vulnerability' approaches to disasters in cities
2000 word report due in the examination period (60%)
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Ilan Wiesel Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1 x 2-hour lecture and 1 x 1-hour tutorial per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 9 August 2019 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours in total
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Information Not Available
- Subject notes
Students enrolled in the BSc (both pre-2008 degree and new degrees), or a combined BSc course (except for the BA/BSc) may receive science credit on the completion of this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course U21 Diploma in Global Issues Course Master of Science (Geography) Course Master of Geography Major Geography Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Human Geography Major Geography Informal specialisation Human Geography Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Integrated Geography Informal specialisation Integrated Geography Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Environmental Geography Major Human Geography Major Integrated Geography Major Urban Design and Planning Breadth Track Living in Australia's Hazardous Ecosystems Breadth Track Understanding Disasters, Their Management and Planning - 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.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 15 February 2024