Postgraduate - UnitAPR6012 - Graduate research colloquium part 1: Human-environment relations and geographical sciences

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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0 points, SCA Band 2, 0.000 EFTSL

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Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	School of Geography and Environmental Science
Offered	Clayton First semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Haripriya Rangan

Synopsis

This Graduate research colloquium traces the history and philosophy of ideas regarding human-environment relationships in the fields of physical and human geography, environmental management, and sustainability science. It examines the origins, logical underpinnings, modes of enquiry, content and future of these sub-fields. It offers the opportunity for reflecting on the prevailing paradigms of spatial enquiry and tensions that arises when these sub-fields attempt to create bridges between the physical, natural and social sciences and the humanities.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the unit, students should be able to:

Gain an overview of the history and philosophy of ideas regarding human-environment relationships in the fields of physical and human geography, environmental management, and sustainability science;
Understand the origins, logical underpinnings, modes of enquiry, content and futures of the relevant sub-fields;
Reflect on the prevailing paradigms of spatial enquiry;
Critically analyse the tensions arising from the inter and transdisciplinary perspectives presented by these subfields to estabilished disciplinary boundaries in the sciences and humanities;
Position their doctoral research project in the historical traditions of their sub-field of specialisation
Develop advanced skills in critical analysis (reading and writing) and theoretical argumentation of the history and philosophy of their chosen sub-field of specialisation

Assessment

Attendance and participation in the colloquium discussions: 20%
Seminar presentation and leading discussion: 20%
Historical review essay: 20% (1500 words)
Theoretical review essay: 40% (3000 words)

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Haripriya Rangan

Workload requirements

One 3-hour seminar and 9-hours of private study per week

Off-campus attendance requirements

Seminar and enquiry based learning, with use Moodle or similar program for sharing readings, and continuing discussions outside the weekly seminar period.

Prerequisites

Admission to Doctoral or Masters research program