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Africa: Environment, Development, People (GEOG30024)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to the physical environment, history and development challenges facing contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa. Students will examine in detail intellectual and ethical debates surrounding the strategies undertaken by postcolonial African states and the overseas development “industry” to tackle poverty, inequality, environmental change and the colonial legacy. Students will consider how Africa’s problems are portrayed and understood by the rest of the world. Topics may include: the physical environment and competing understandings of environmental change; the history and governance of the continent; regional case studies (West Africa and the D.R. Congo); agrarian transformations and rural livelihoods; development projects and rise of the NGO; military conflict and mineral wealth; hunger, famine, and the controversies of the relief industry; forestry; wildlife conservation; and urban geographies.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Differentiate environmental, social and development perspectives and issues in Africa;
- Appraise competing approaches in order to move beyond media stereotypes of Africa;
- Formulate and defend reasoned and well-supported arguments concerning issues of contemporary importance in Africa;
- Critically analyse representations of Africa from a range of sources in written assignments.
Generic skills
- Understand contemporary challenges facing Africans in their historical, political, and environmental context.
- Be able to conduct independent research on African topics, using a variety of media.
- Be able to exercise critical judgement in written assignments and tutorial discussion.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
a minimum of 50 credit points of Level 1, 2 or 3 Geography/Anthropology/Development studies/Politics/Planning/Environments subjects
OR
Approval of the subject coordinator.
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.
This course requires all students to actively and safely participate in field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
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
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Book reviews or reading assignments
| Mid semester | 25% |
An open essay
| End of semester | 50% |
A class test | End of semester | 20% |
Tutorial attendance and participation | 5% |
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Simon Batterbury Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours one 2-hour lecture & one 1-hour tutorial per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Stock R. 2012. Africa south of the Sahara: a geographical interpretation. Guilford Press.
Moseley, W.G. (ed.) 2011. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on African Issues. McGraw-Hill.
Binns A, A.Dixon and E.Nel. 2012. Africa:Diversity and Development. Routledge.
- Subject notes
Students who have completed 121-494 Africa: Environment, Development, People may not enrol in this subject.
Students enrolled in the BSc (pre-2008 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 Master of Geography Course Master of Science (Geography) Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Minor Environmental Studies Informal specialisation Human Geography Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Human Geography Minor Development Studies Major Geography Major Geography Major Human Geography Major Environmental Geography Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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