Geography and environmental science - Faculty of Arts

Offered in the School of Geography and Environmental Science

The school's research and teaching program can be divided into five main thematic groups:

Physical geography focuses on the science of the environment and shares with other branches of the natural sciences an interest in the earth's atmosphere, vegetation cover and terrain. It encompasses biogeography, climatology, geomorphology, hydrology, Quaternary environments, earth systems interactions and soil analysis.
Human geography investigates the ways in which human communities occupy, use and modify spaces and places on the Earth. As well as their contribution to environmental management, human geographers focus on cultural, economic and political processes especially in urban and third world settings, and the study of globalisation is an important theme.
Environment and society is a third thematic group within the school focused on environmental policy and practice, the resolution of natural resource conflicts, and the application of sustainability strategies.
Geographic information science centres around the geo-spatial techniques used to analyse and manage the environment. Here, students learn to collect and handle digital spatial data, implement data integration procedures and develop spatial modelling. These techniques are applied to social and environmental issues such as sustainability and efficiency.
Australian Indigenous archaeology specialises in archaeological studies of Aboriginal Australia and Torres Strait.

Many geography units offer opportunities for field studies in different landscapes. These include day or weekend trips to study cities, coasts, alpine areas, soils, hydrology, climatology and meteorology, Australian Indigenous archaeology, tourism and environmental management, but more extensive and lengthy excursions are also available. Specialist intensive study units examine Australian desert and prehistoric environments (landscape processes and prehistory), regional sustainability (in South Africa) and sustainable development (in the Italian Riviera). Basic laboratory techniques are also taught in selected physical geography and archaeology units.

Those proceeding into the fourth or honours year have the further opportunity to consolidate their understanding of an area (or areas) of specialisation, while pursuing a research topic under expert supervision.

For information on the units required for major or minor sequences in geography and environmental science or Australian Indigenous archaeology, refer to the `Areas of study' section on the Arts faculty website at http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/current/coursework/study-areas/.

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. The school also supports specialist thematic mapping utilising Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Year coordinators

Students seeking advice on their course programs or other academic matters are invited to approach the appropriate year coordinator. Year coordinators for 2008 will be:

First year: Dr Lauren Costello
Second year: Dr Sophie Bickford
Third year: Dr Xuan Zhu
Fourth year: Dr Christian Kull

Relevant courses

Bachelor of Arts (and associated double degrees)
Bachelor of Arts (Global)
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Environmental Science
Diploma in Arts (Geography and Environmental Science)

Contact details

Inquiries (Clayton): Room S217, South Wing, Menzies building; Telephone +61 3 9905 2910; Email geography@arts.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/schools/ges/.