Introduction to Climate Change (UNIB10007)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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This subject is an introduction to the major topics in climate change, including the scientific basis of the greenhouse effect, the history of Earth’s climate, energy options, economics and public policy, the effect of climate change on food, water and health, and the national and international legal frameworks for the management of climate change.

The issues around climate change are evolving rapidly, both politically and within the wider community. This subject is the first of a sequence of three subjects, aimed to provide a broad, cross-disciplinary approach to climate change. In particular, students will explore and debate the issues on a range of topics, with an emphasis on the international and global implications.

Intended learning outcomes

At the completion of this subject, students will:

  • Be able to contrast disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on climate change in order to evaluate local and international public discourse on the topic.
  • Investigate contemporary issues of national and global importance related to climate change and be able to apply relevant disciplinary perspectives to answer different aspects of questions raised.
  • Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse information on climate change through written and oral communication activities.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to integrate disciplinary knowledge and approaches when discussing interdisciplinary problems.
  • Define and identify the disciplinary foundation of key terms, concepts and theories of different aspects of climate change knowledge
  • Understand how their disciplinary expertise contributes to and responds to climate change research and application in an interdisciplinary context.

Generic skills

On the completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

  • Quantitative skills, including the ability to compute estimates of relevant data required to understand the scientific issues;
  • The ability to write a logically argued and properly researched essay;
  • The ability to critically assess information from a range of sources, and assess its quality and relevance to the questions under consideration.

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites


Corequisites


Non-allowed subjects


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: 12 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

An abstract and outline for the essay, including bibliography (equivalent to 400 words), worth 10% of the final grade, due Week 5

  • 400 words
Week 510%

Essay worth 50% (2,000 words) Due Week 10

  • 2000 words
Week 1050%

Tutorial Discussions Paper (equivalent to 600 words), worth 15% of the final grade, due throughout semester.

  • 600 words
Throughout the semester15%

1-hour exam will be 25% (equivalent to 1,000 words) Due in the examination Period

  • 1 hours
During the examination period25%

Last updated: 12 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    CoordinatorColette Mortreux
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours24 Lectures (two per week); 12 hours tutorials (one per week); additional enrichment activities including expert panel discussions, videos etc, up to a total of 8 hours.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 November 2025

    Semester 2 contact information

    mortreux.c@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

Estimated total time commitment: 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: 12 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 12 April 2025