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A History of Nature (HPSC20002)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Summer Term
Overview
Availability | Summer Term - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject discusses central topics in human understandings about their environment in the Western world, particularly over the last 500 years. As Europeans began to venture out of their continent in the 15th century, they discovered new environments that challenged their received wisdom about themselves and their relationship to nature. Modern Science with the inherent idea of a mastery over nature is an outcome of this process. We will trace how in this history different interpretations of 'nature' have shaped science and have been shaped by science in return, including topics such as taxonomy, gardening, theories of life, and the rise of environmentalism. This subject should be of interest to students who would like to learn more about the origins of the environmental sciences, the dominance of scientific understandings of nature, and our ongoing attempts to live within a changing environment.
Note: The 2022 summer intensive was delivered online, due to students' concerns about attending campus during the COVID Omicron variant outbreak.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- demonstrate knowledge of changes in the understanding of nature that have occurred in the western world over the last 500 years;
- demonstrate knowledge of the explanations given by historians for these understandings;
- demonstrate understanding for the complex cultural and social developments that have contributed in this process;
- develop an understanding of key scientific and philosophical concepts;
- develop an evidence-based opinion on the sustainability of our relationship with nature;
- conduct independent research including the appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an historical argument;
- develop effective communication and presentation skills (written and oral), and the ability to collaborate constructively within the classroom;
- demonstrate ethical integrity in written work and classroom activities
Last updated: 11 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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Two take home tests, the first due after day 5 of classes the second due after day 10
| From Day 5 to Day 10 | 30% |
A document analysis, due after the completion of classes
| End of the teaching period | 30% |
A research essay
| 2 Weeks after the end of teaching | 40% |
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 in order to pass this subject. Regular participation in tutorials is required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Summer Term
Principal coordinator John Wilkins Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 30 hours -1 x 2 hour lecture each day and 1 x 1 hour tutorial each day over the two week teaching period. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 5 January 2022 to 19 January 2022 Last self-enrol date 7 January 2022 Census date 14 January 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 28 January 2022 Assessment period ends 2 February 2022 Summer Term contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available online and from the bookshop.
Recommended texts and other resources
Donald Worster, Nature's economy: a history of ecological ideas. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 1994
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History and Philosophy of Science Minor Environmental Studies - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- 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 (Production)
- 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
- 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: 11 April 2024