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Environmental Change & the Human Journey (GEOG20015)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2 (Early-Start)
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 (Early-Start) |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The modern world is facing unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change. Understanding the dynamic interplay between humans and our environment is of paramount importance if we are to successfully navigate this period of major environmental upheaval. Climate and environmental change have played a key role in shaping the biological, cultural, and geographic evolution of our species. What can an understanding of the past teach us about dealing with environmental change in the future?
This subject investigates the interrelationship between humans and their natural environments through time using evidence from physical and human geography, archaeology, palaeoanthropology, palaeoclimatology and palaeoecology. We will take a deep-time perspective, journeying from the emergence of humankind 6 million years ago to the present day. We will draw on case studies from around the word and across many different time periods, exploring how changing environments have influenced important transitions including the first migration of humans out of Africa, the emergence of symbolic behaviour, the beginning of agriculture and animal domestication, and resilience and collapse of complex societies. We will explore questions such as: Did environmental complexity shape brain development? Why did all other Homo species go extinct while Homo sapiens became dominant? Did humans play a role in the extinction of megafauna? Was the emergence of agriculture and domestication linked to changing environments? Is there a correlation between environmental change and the collapse of complex societies? How have human subsistence strategies and resource use impacted vegetation, animal species, soils and climate? How will anthropogenic climate change affect the future of our species?
The subject will include a 4-day fieldtrip to the World Heritage-nominated Budj Bim National Park in Victoria to learn about the long-term and continuing relationship that the Gunditjmara people have with their natural environment, and the ways in which they have both driven and adapted to environmental change. The field trip will take place in the mid-semester break.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will have achieved the following objectives:
- Explain climate and environmental change over long and short-term timescales during the last 6 million years
- Analyse how key transitions in human biological and cultural evolution were shaped by environmental change, and explain how humans have shaped their environment
- Identify and interpret manifestations of long term environmental change and human-environment interaction in the contemporary landscape.
- Analyse the key literature and current debates on human evolution, environmental change and human-environment interaction.
- Outline the key techniques for reconstructing past environmental changes and human behavioural changes, and know how to apply them in different circumstances.
Generic skills
- Reading, writing and speaking in theoretically-aware and comparative ways
- Digital literacy: conducting online and library searches for relevant, critical literatures
- Ability to comprehend and critique some of the current debates in the field
- Using a case study approach to explore processes and problems situated in particular contexts
- Report-writing
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
It is recommended but not essential that students take one or more of:
- UNIB10003 An Ecological History of Humanity
- EVSC10001 The Global Environment
- GEOG20002 Landscapes and Environmental Change
This subject should be paired with GEOG20002 for students wishing to specialise in physical geography.
This subject is a level 2 subject designed for students who have experience in writing essays of up to 2,000 words at University level. It is recommended that students have successfully completed at least 25 points of level 1 or level 2 subjects that include essay based assessment.
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: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Tutorial presentation
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Online reading exercise
| Week 4 | 10% |
Field report
| Week 10 | 30% |
Essay
| During the examination period | 50% |
Students must attend the 4-day field trip and 80% of the practical and tutorials classes to be eligible to pass the subject. Hurdle requirement | N/A |
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2 (Early-Start)
Coordinator Anthony Romano Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Two 1-hour lectures per week, three 3-hour practicals, five 1-hour tutorials , and four days of field work (8 hours per day in the mid-semester break) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 14 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 26 July 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 (Early-Start) 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: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Course notes and reading material will be supplied during the pre-teaching period.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- 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
- 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: 15 February 2024