Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

This unit is a core unit in the BEnvSc degree. Explains Australia's present patterns of landform, soil, biota and climate through an understanding of past events and environments. The focus on change is carried over into future environmental management issues. An example environmental issue, uranium mining, highlights the multidisciplinary nature of environmental science.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should be familiar with major ideas concerning the evolution of the Australian landscape, its biota and climate patterns within the global environment; be aware of competing ideas and theories in the relevant literature; be able to synthesise and interpret relevant material and to communicate ideas to others in a coherent manner, either by written or verbal means; be familiar and proficient with some simple techniques for analysing basic geographic and physical environmental information; appreciate the importance of field work in studying the natural environment, and the problems associated with making field measurements of natural phenomena., and appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of environmental science and the cultural, legal, social and economic impact resulting from human activity.

Assessment

Written (1500 words): 35%
Examinations (2.5 hours): 35%
Practical and fieldwork reports: 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Michele Lobo

Contact hours

4.5 hours per week (3 lectures per week, and the equivalent of up to 3 hours practical/ tutorial per fortnight), plus one 2.5 day field excursion

Prohibitions

GES1020