Landscapes and Environmental Change (GEOG20002)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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The subject focuses on the dynamic surface of our planet and the environments it sustains. The Earth’s surface is shaped by a complex interaction of physical and biological processes operating over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Understanding these processes in the present day, as well as reconstructing landscape and ecological change in the past, enables us to predict their future response to climate change and human activity. In this subject, students will study the processes and spatial patterns that shape natural landscapes and learn about approaches of reconstructing their evolution. Students will gain an appreciation of the ways that the dynamics of natural landscapes need to be incorporated into environmental management and the conservation of biodiversity.

This includes an in-depth understanding of the wide spectrum of landforms (including mountains and hillslopes, glaciers, rivers, dunes, and coasts) and the processes contributing to their formation and decay.  In addition, the subject addresses the geographic patterns and dynamics of life on the Earth’s surface and investigates the way in which certain landscapes support particular types of ecosystems (such as rainforest, grassland, desert, estuarine and marine communities). Finally, the factors that may cause change in natural landscapes are explored to assess the roles played by climate, tectonics and humans over various timescales.

Through lectures, practicals and multiple days of field work, students will develop skills in a range of field and lab-based analytical techniques, as well as the use of GIS, for investigating our environment. This subject includes a four-day field trip in Victoria set to take place during the mid-semester break.

Students must submit 80% of the lab practical assignments and attend the field trip to be eligible to pass the subject.

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students will have achieved the following objectives:

  • Describe the development of key theories in geomorphology and their application to different landforms and settings
  • Recognise how physical, biological, and human processes interact to shape natural landscapes and ecosystem diversity over a range of scales
  • Identify natural processes of change in landscapes and ecosystems and how human activity may modify these processes
  • Analyse geomorphic data to interpret change and recognise how this can be applied and integrated into future planning and policy
  • Obtain a skill set of real world analytical techniques that are used to analyse and classify natural landscapes, measure the dynamics of processes and change, and reconstruct longer-term landscape evolution

Generic skills

  • Recognise the development of key theories and apply these to a range of settings
  • Recognise how a variety of processes interact over multiple spatial-temporal scales
  • Obtain a skill set of real world analytical techniques
  • Conduct independent library, lab, and field based research
  • Apply knowledge in a planning and policy context

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

One of

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ENVS10001 Natural Environments
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ENVS10006 Mapping Environments No longer available
ERTH10002 Geoscience: Evolution of The Earth
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
EVSC10001 The Global Environment
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

OR

ENVS10002 Reshaping Environments

OR

a minimum of 25 credit points of Level 1 Geography, Environmental Studies or Earth sciences subjects

OR

An equivalent approved by the subject coordinator.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

GEOG20009 Landscapes and Diversity

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: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Practicals and submission of all tasks completed within these sessions

  • 500 words
Hurdle requirement: Students must submit 80% of the lab practical assignments and attend the virtual field trip to be eligible to pass the subject.		Throughout the semester25%

Individual field report

  • 1600 words
Week 1040%

Final exam

  • 90 minutes
During the examination period35%

Additional details

Hurdle requirement:

Students must submit 80% of the lab practical assignments and attend the field trip to be eligible to pass the subject.

 

 

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorJan-Hendrik May
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursTwo x 1-hour lectures per week; 5 x 3-hour practical classes (in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10); and a four-day field trip during the mid-semester break.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    janhendrikmay@unimelb.edu.au

What do these dates mean

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Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 March 2025