Human Behaviour and Environment (ENST20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject explores psychological and social dimensions of environmental sustainability and landscape and ecosystem management. The subject examines the ways humans experience, interact and behave in the physical environment. This is done by exploring psycho-social dimensions of human-environment interactions examining frameworks for understanding environmental concern and environmentally significant behaviour. Topics include: psychological bases for human-environment relationships (considering biological and cognitive needs, social identity and other forms of motivation); frameworks for understanding attitudes to environmental issues and for understanding environmentally significant behaviour; strategies for enhancing, awareness, concern and action for sustainability.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Describe factors that influence the ways people value and interact with environments.
- Analyse factors that contribute to public support and opposition to environmental practice and policy.
- Analyse factors that encourage or discourage environmentally sustainable behaviour.
- Discuss and suggest strategies for encouraging environmental awareness, concern and behaviour.
Generic skills
In addition to learning specific skills that will assist students in their future careers in science, they will have the opportunity to develop generic skills that will assist them in any future career path. These include;
- Moderate capacity to interpret and apply information from a range of sources to better understand human behaviour.
- High level written communication.
- Moderate level ability to synthesise data with other information.
- Basic skills in social research, and particularly qualitative data collection and analysis.
- Moderate level ability to apply theory to practice
Last updated: 20 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer to access readings, class information and data.
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: 20 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Written Report
| Week 5 | 35% |
Written Report
| Week 10 | 35% |
Take home exam
| During the examination period | 30% |
Last updated: 20 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Rose Macaulay Coordinator Kathryn Williams Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 30 hours; 1 x 1 hr lecture per week, 1 x 1.5 hr tutorials per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
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: 20 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Gardner, G. T., & Stern, P. C. (2002). Environmental problems and human behavior (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Koger, S. M., & Winter, D. D. N. (2010). The Psychology of Environmental problems: Psychology for Sustainability (3rd ed.). New York: Psychology Press.
Steg, L., van den Berg, A.E. and de Groot, J.I.M (2013). Environmental Psychology. Chichester UK: BPS Blackwell.
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Major Ecosystem Science Breadth Track People and Environment - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- 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
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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
Last updated: 20 March 2025