Handbook home
Human Sciences: Human/Nonhuman Encounter (SCIE20002)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Not available in 2022
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.
Overview
| Fees | Look up fees |
|---|
This subject is the second subject in a Human Sciences subject sequence that can stand alone, or contribute to the Human Sciences program in the BSc. The sequence and program seek to compare and contrast the ways that a variety of scientific disciplines understand ‘the human’, from standpoints at the scale of the cell, the body, or the society. In order to provide this varied perspective on ‘the human’, the subject will be co-taught by staff from several discipline areas: biological and biomedical sciences, Psychology and Geography. Note that scientific perspectives here are being presented from the perspectives of social sciences as well as the physical and biological sciences.
An issues-based mode of inquiry will be used in the subject, in which we will pose particular questions that involve humans centrally, and ask how the discipline areas participating in the subject understand and shed light on these questions.
In this subject, groups of students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds will work together in an investigation that will respond to an assigned question from the perspectives raised in the study of Human Sciences. They will be allocated to investigation groups by the subject coordinator. Students will meet together in the first and last two weeks of the semester, to set up and later report on their projects. The questions posed for the investigations will fall under the general theme of ‘human/nonhuman encounter’. So, for example, questions posed for groups might be: how has exposure to mosquitoes affected humans and human societies; how can the presence or absence of certain fauna alert us to levels of human-caused and dangerous environmental change; what are the potential benefits and pitfalls of the evolution of human cyborgs?
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will have:
- Knowledge of how to conceptualise and document the manner in which humans and non-humans interact in a range of settings
- Growing knowledge of how to use a Human Sciences perspective to respond to a scientific question
- Experience of the benefits and pitfalls of collaborative problem-solving across disciplines
Generic skills
Upon completion of this subject, students will have skills in:
- Collaborative problem-solving in a cross-disciplinary context
- Communication and advocacy of their perspective to the group with which they are working
- Seeking out evidence from a variety of sources to contribute to a group investigation
Last updated: 3 June 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCIE10004 | Human Sciences: From Cells to Societies | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
OR
a minimum of 25 credit points of Level 1 subjects across at least two different discipline areas of Biology, Psychology and Geography
Prerequisites may not be taken concurrently
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: 3 June 2023
Assessment
Additional details
- Proposal of group investigation strategy, with each student describing the group project and their individual contribution to it (individually marked) 1,000 words, due week 4 (25%)
- Group presentation of findings (individually-marked) (500-word equivalent), due week 9 (15%)
- 4 quizzes of a total of 1000 words held through the semester (25%)
- Final report (1500 words) due in final assessment period (35%)
Last updated: 3 June 2023
Dates & times
Not available in 2022
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- 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)
- 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: 3 June 2023