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An Ecological History of Humanity (UNIB10003)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 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 1
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
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 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
An Ecological History of Humanity is essential for students interested in the ecological crises facing our planet in the Age of the Anthropocene. Taught by a geographer, a zoologist, a microbiologist and an historian, it is an interdisciplinary exploration of our complex relationship with the environment past and present. This is deep history with a purpose, aiming to help you understand how ecology has been transformed through human behaviour, and to figure out a response to the problems this has created.
Our journey starts with the Big Bang, before exploring how life on earth developed, which, after a few billion years, lead to the dominion of the human species. Particular attention will be paid to the past 150,000 years and the impact human societies have had upon ecology. The major areas covered include: the transition from hunter-gathering to settled agricultural societies; the way diseases and society have interacted (including the major plagues in human history); the impact of industrialisation and globalisation upon the biosphere; the emergence of an ecological way of thinking; the political responses to the environmental crisis; and, thinking about how to achieve a sustainable future.
We also offer students, if they wish, the exciting opportunity of engaging with sustainability-based learning experiences outside of the university.
Intended learning outcomes
Students will:
- explore the deep history of the current ecological crisis, including the complex relationship between the human species and the biosphere
- analyse, synthesise and interpret a range of inter-and multi-disciplinary texts and sources that relate to ecological history
- create effective arguments, backed up by convincing evidence, about the historical dynamics of ecology, and be able to express these to experts and interested non-experts alike
- develop research skills, including the ability to extend your knowledge-base beyond subject materials, combining traditional library- and archive-based research with digital research
- ethically engage with ecological issues, inside and outside the classroom
- communicate and collaborate effectively in the classroom and on the page
Last updated: 19 April 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: 19 April 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
Semester 1
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Book review
| Week 5 | 20% |
Research report
| Week 10 | 30% |
Critical Reflection
| During the examination period | 50% |
Tutorial Attendance & Assessment Hurdle 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. 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. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 19 April 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 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Email: jbradley@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 19 April 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:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- 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
- Bachelor of Science
- 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.
- 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: 19 April 2024