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The Political Ecology of Development (DEVT90003)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The subject will help students understand human-environment relationships and key development issues using a political ecology perspective, with cases from developing and developed countries. Political ecologists use a variety of approaches to understand complex human-environment problems, and these are applied to concrete situations. We critically analyze a number of development initiatives that are reconstituting human-environment relationships and, in some cases, promoting new forms of ‘environmental governance’. The range of topics covered does change, and some indicative ones are; supporting rural livelihoods; water management; conservation policy; urban environmental governance; the environmental outcomes of corporate misdeeds; global land grabbing; and environmental movements. Through a seminar presentation, reading, and participation, students will learn how different institutions, and the politics surrounding them, impose constraints upon, and present opportunities for, the promotion of sustainable and equitable development.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject you should be able to:
- comprehend the political ecology approach and be familiar with the rich literature of political ecology;
- understand the driving forces of human and environmental resource pressures, at different scales;
- demonstrate acquired knowledge in seminar contributions and through an essay;
Generic skills
N/A
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission to a postgraduate coursework program or fourth year honours in development studies, environment, urban planning, gender and development, resource management, public policy, international politics, geography or anthropology, or permission 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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
An essay
| End of the teaching period | 80% |
An oral presentation
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Seminar participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Wolfram Dressler Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available on the LMS system
Recommended texts and other resources
Robbins, P. 2012. Political Ecology: a critical introduction. Blackwell. See also the 'Journal of Political Ecology' online, http://jpe.library.arizona.edu
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Geography Major Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions Major Tailored Specialisation Major Governance, Policy and Communication Major Governance, Policy and Markets Major Tailored Specialisation Informal specialisation 100 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 150 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Informal specialisation 200 Point Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development) Major Development Major Development Major Tailored Specialisation - 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: 31 January 2024