The main Monash program has been adapted to suit local educational and vocational demands, but is otherwise fully representative of geography's international profile. Its goal is to develop a mature understanding of the following:
* the key characteristics of places;
* the complex interdependence of human activities;
* the roles of human agency in the transformation of the earth's surface;
* the availability of a rich diversity of approaches to the accumulation of knowledge concerning the inter-relationships of place, people and environment.
The contexts addressed encompass an array of cultures and environments in both hemispheres, and make frequent reference to Australian examples. Students are thereby encouraged to see that individual and collective responsibility for the environment can be expressed in an informed engagement in local, regional and global issues. The department contributes to interdisciplinary programs in American studies, Asian studies, Australian studies, Development studies, environmental engineering, environmental science, European studies and women's studies.
At Monash and throughout the developed world, the term `environment' is employed at every level of the geography curriculum. It subsumes the following:
* the notion of `natural' environments unaltered by human activity;
* human-modified environments representing profound alterations over vast areas of the globe and including, most notably, agricultural systems and rural settlement;
* even more `artificial' environments such as industrialised regions and urban areas.
Students are therefore expected to come to an appreciation of internal variations of landscape and activity within each of these categories. The material and concepts studied require critical evaluation across various spatial scales.
Like many other university subjects, geography requires students to develop the following useful capabilities:
* identification, description, measurement and classification of phenomena;
* application of acquired knowledge to new situations;
* formulation and testing of hypotheses, using qualitative and quantitative techniques as appropriate;
* employment of effective modes of communication through participation in oral discussion sessions, the preparation of written reports, and data presentation;
* critical explorations of attitudes, values and prejudices.
An appreciation of the importance of field and laboratory-based observations is required at all levels, especially in physical geography options. Computer techniques are considered highly relevant, from a minimum expectation of basic keyboarding to the integration of sophisticated analytical methods in later segments of the program.
Students may major in either the physical or human branches of geography, in a combination of the two, or in those areas listed below under the `Environmental science' heading. Physical geography shares with other branches of the natural sciences an interest in the earth's atmosphere, vegetation cover and terrain. Human geography shares with other branches of the humanities and social sciences an interest in the ways in which human communities occupy, use and modify the earth's surface. It is recommended that students pursue studies in both branches, to take advantage of geography's invaluable role as a link between the arts and sciences. This is particularly applicable to prospective geography teachers. The current semesterised organisation provides the flexibility to combine courses in this way.
Allowance is made throughout for the selection of individual courses which service broader campus programs, and for the formation of recognised sequences in geography and environmental science. The primary objective of the first-year syllabus is to explore human impacts on the environment and to introduce key concepts in physical and human geography.
No prior experience of geographical education is required to begin first-year study. Variations may be made for commencing students whose records demonstrate an advanced level of ability.
The second-year syllabus permits students to select from a variety of systematic subdisciplines. The satisfactory completion of a full minor sequence in geography equips students with an appreciation of the nature of the subject as a whole and with a knowledge of the fundamental contents and approaches contained within one or both of its human and physical branches.
At third-year level majoring students elect to enrol in one or more of the main systematic fields, which are intended to challenge them with appropriate advanced material and to intensify their familiarity with the purpose and practice of original research work.
Those proceeding into the fourth or honours year have the further opportunity of consolidating their understanding of an area (or areas) of specialisation, while pursuing a research topic under expert supervision.
Course structure
Specific prerequisites for each of the second and third-year options are noted in the individual subject descriptions. A first-year level sequence followed by sixteen points at second-year level forms a minor sequence. To convert a minor to a major sequence, a student must complete two third-year level subjects to the value of twenty-four points.
Students specialising in human geography are advised to consider including in their degrees subjects in anthropology, economics, history, mathematics, philosophy, politics, sociology, and physical geography. Students proposing to specialise in physical geography should consider including subjects in botany, earth sciences, computer science, mathematics, zoology and human geography.
Environmental science
Students wishing to major in environmental science in their BA degree are required to take: (i) a major sequence comprising two first-year semester-length subjects (GES1000 and either GES1020 or GES1040, Clayton campus; GES1082 and GES1062, Peninsula campus; two second-year semester-length subjects GES2250 and either GES2170 or GES2130, and GES3510 or GES3530; and (ii) a two-year course sequence in biology and life sciences, specifically BIO1010 and BIO1020 and LSC2030 and LSC2040.
Credit may be given for relevant subjects completed at other tertiary institutions. Students who wish to take both the major core sequence in environmental science and a major sequence in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science (BA or BSc) will be required to seek the approval of the head of the department. Students wishing to take such a major sequence in geography are advised to take GES1000, GES1020 and GES1040, and a related semester-length subject in another academic department.
Students' enrolments in the honours year will be approved by the head of department in conjunction with advice from coordinators of related disciplines. Students must fulfil the fourth-year requirements for an honours degree in the Faculty of Arts, which would normally include twenty-four points of coursework and a thesis.
Year coordinators
Students experiencing difficulty with their work schedules (or other related matters) should first discuss the problem with their tutor or lecturer in individual subjects. If the problem cannot be resolved through this consultation, students should approach the appropriate year coordinator. Year coordinators for 1995 will be:
First year: Mr S M Legg
Second year: Associate Professor J A Peterson
Third year: Dr N J Tapper
Fourth year: Associate Professor J S Whitelaw
Assessment
Unless otherwise specified, modes of assessment will be announced at the commencement of the teaching period.
Graduate work
Facilities are available for supervision of students in the following broad areas: landscape evolution, biogeography, palaeoecology, climate and climate change, process geomorphology, land degradation, urban and regional studies, current social and environmental issues, historical geography, and third world development. For further details see the graduate studies handbook.
A student with a BA honours degree majoring in environmental science with a final grade of IIA or better wishing to undertake the MEnvSc offered by the Graduate School of Environmental Science will be able to enter that degree program on an accelerated basis. Students with a BA honours degree may be credited with half a year towards the MEnvSc, while students with a broader combination of arts and science subjects may be credited with an equivalent to the first year of the MEnvSc, subject to satisfying subject requirements in group decision making and the philosophy of environmental issues. Similarly, students wishing to undertake an MA or MSc in an environmental science topic offered in a related discipline may be deemed to have satisfied the MA/MSc Part I requirement.
First-year level
Lecturers: G Goldrick, J Grindrod, S Legg, P Marden and N Tapper
Lectures: Two per week per course
Tutorial-practical sessions: One per week per course
Fieldwork: There may be up to two full-day field classes
A first-year sequence in geography consists of two one-semester subjects. In the first semester, students on the Clayton campus will enrol in GES1000 (Natural environment and human impact). In second semester, they may choose either GES1020 (Physical systems and the environment), or GES1040 (Development and the environment: geographical perspectives on a world in crisis). Students planning a comprehensive introduction to geography may take all three subjects.
Students not wishing to complete a first-year sequence may take the first-semester subject, or one or both of the second semester subjects.
* GES1000 Natural environment and human impact
* GES1020 Physical systems and the environment
* GES1040 Development: a global perspective
* GES1062 Geographical perspectives on development in the third world (Peninsula)
* GES1081 Geographical perspectives on environmental issues (Peninsula)
Second and third-year levels
Note that some subjects are offered both at second and at third-year levels. In each case the syllabus is the same but additional special study is required in the third-year level subject. Students may enrol at either second or third-year level, but not both. Students enrolling at third-year level who have not completed sixteen points of second-year level geography require the permission of the head of department.
Second-year level
* GES2120 The new Europe: cities and regions
* GES2130 Soils, land use and the environment
* GES2150 Origin, stability and management of coastal and volcanic landscapes
* GES2170 Biogeography - the status of Australian vegetation
* GES2190 Climates of the earth boundary layer (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES2250 Mankind-environment relationships: perspectives in cultural geography
* GES2290 Society, nature and settlement in the New World
* GES2390 Techniques of survey and analysis in geography
* GES2420 Environmental policy and management (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES2630 Property and real estate markets (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES2650 Development theory and practice
* GES2710 Southeast Asia
* GES2730 Philosophy of the social sciences (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES2740 Gender and urban restructuring
Third-year level
* GES3290 Society, nature and settlement in the New World
* GES3350 Resource evaluation and management
* GES3360 Soils, landscapes and their management
* GES3390 Techniques of survey and analysis in geography
* GES3410 Environmental regulation (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* GES3470 Development in Asia, Australia and the Pacific Basin
* GES3480 Dilemmas of policy and planning
* GES3510 Selected studies in meteorology and climatology
* GES3530 Fluvial geomorphology
* GES3550 Quaternary environments
* GES3710 Southeast Asia
* GES3730 Philosophy of the social sciences
* GES3740 Gender and urban restructuring
* GES3810 Spatial data handling for thematic mapping
Fourth-year level
There are three different parts of the final honours year course:
* GES4820 Seminar in geography
* GES4840 Directed studies in geography
* GES4860 Honours thesis