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Wed Jul 28 10:53:42 EST 1999
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Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
The
School of Geography and Environmental Science offers geography sequences in the
faculties of Arts and Science. The school also offers a sequence permitting
undergraduate specialisation in environmental science for the BA and BSc
degrees and in Atmospheric Science for the BSc degree. At postgraduate level,
MA, MSc, MEnvSc and PhD degrees are offered, and there is an active involvement
in other postgraduate programs.
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 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 through an informed
engagement with local, regional and global issues. The department contributes
to interdisciplinary programs in American studies, Asian studies, Australian
studies, development studies, environmental engineering, environmental science,
atmospheric science, European studies and women's studies.
At Monash, and throughout the developed world, the term 'environment' is
employed at every level in the geography curriculum. It subsumes the
following:
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:
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.
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
to consolidate their understanding of an area (or areas) of specialisation,
whilst pursuing a research topic under expert supervision. Combined honours may
be taken in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science and another
discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both
disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments.
For postgraduate courses offered by the Department of Geography and
Environmental Science please refer to the Arts graduate handbook 1999.
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 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.
Students
wishing to major in environmental science in their BA degree are required to
take (i) and (ii) below.
(i) A major sequence comprising:
(ii) A two-year sequence in biology - specifically
BIO1010 and BIO1042; and four second-year four-point biology subjects.
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 department. Students wishing to take such a major
sequence in geography are advised to take GES1000, GES1020 and GES1050, and a
related 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.
Students
seeking advice on their course programmes or other academic matters are invited
to approach the appropriate year coordinator. Year coordinators for 1999 will
be:
First year: Dr Stephen Legg
Second year: Dr Peter Marden
Third year: Associate Professor Nigel Tapper
Fourth year: Associate Professor David Mercer
Mid-year
entry is offered by this department. Combined honours may be taken in the
Department of Geography and Environmental Science and another discipline,
provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and
subject to the approval of the heads of both departments.
The due date for the submission of final coursework and the thesis is the last
day of the final semester of the honours program (Friday 5 June in first
semester 1999 and Friday 30 October in second semester 1999).
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis
or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the
semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date
must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
Unless otherwise specified, modes of assessment will be announced at the commencement of the teaching period.
For
students who wish to enrol for further study, MA, MSc and PhD degrees in
geography are offered. 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, resources and environmental management, historical geography;
and third world development. For further details see the Arts graduate studies
handbook and the Science handbook graduate studies section.
Students with a BA honours degree in any discipline may apply for enrolment in
masters programs in environmental science. Students with H2B may enrol in the
MEnvSc by coursework and students with H2A may enrol in either the MEnvSc by
coursework or the MEnvSc by research combined with coursework.
Lecturers:
Dr David Dunkerley, Associate Professor Katherine Gibson, Dr John Grindrod, Dr
Stephen Legg, Dr Peter Marden, Associate Professor Kevin O'Connor, Associate
Professor Nigel Tapper
Lectures: Two or three per week per subject.
Tutorial-practical sessions: One per week per subject.
Fieldwork: There may be up to two full-day field classes.
A first-year sequence in geography consists of two one-semester subjects. In
first semester, students on the Clayton campus will enrol in GES1000 (Natural
environment and human impact). In second semester, they may choose
either GES1020 (Australian physical environments: evolution, status and
management) or GES1050 (The global challenge). At the Caulfield campus
only GES1000 and GES1050 are offered. 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.
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.
GES3570 Quaternary ecology and ecosystem management Proposed to be next offered in 2000
Coordinator:
Associate Professor David Mercer
There are three different parts of the honours-year course:
A prize of $500 is awarded for the best honours thesis in geography and environmental science to a student who achieves an overall grade of Honours 1 in his or her honours year and whose thesis is judged by the staff of the department to be of outstanding merit.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Jul 28 10:53:42 EST 1999