human-geography/ug-arts-human-geography

aos

18 September 2017 23 December 2024

print version

Students who commenced study in 2016 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

Monash University

Undergraduate
Minor/Major

Commencement year

This area of study entry applies to students commencing this course in 2016 and should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook.

Any units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.

Managing faculty

Faculty of Arts

Offered by

Centre for Geography and Environmental Science

Coordinator

Dr Bruce Missingham

Websites

Faculty of Arts

Centre for Geography and Environmental Science

Location

Clayton

Human geography investigates the changing and complex relationship between people and their environments. In this major area of study, we grapple with contemporary challenges the world faces rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, climate change, deepening poverty, uneven global development, and rising socioeconomic inequality. Combining geography, social science and sustainability science, this interdisciplinary study provides students with a unique blend of analytical skills and knowledge required to find sustainable solutions to these global challenges.

You will integrate skills gained from critical thinking, grounded experience and field-based learning to develop applied research capabilities necessary for professional careers in urban and regional development, community and international development, and environmental management.

You will be prepared for work in sustainable policy development and practice across a wide range of industry sectors, including state and federal government departments, international aid agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs), private and public research organisations, infrastructure agencies, and environmental and community-based organisations. This study will also prepare you for careers in teaching geography, society and environment studies.

Availability

Human geography is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts and 0202 Bachelor of Letters at Clayton as a major or minor, and A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts at Clayton as a major.

Outcomes

In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:

  • analyse and compare key spatial, social and environmental phenomena across a range of contexts and scales, informed by advanced theoretical concepts
  • demonstrate spatial competency in interpreting and justifying data to answer complex problems at the interface of human-environment relations
  • recognise and critically assess intellectual traditions in geography, sustainability, international development and urban geography
  • critically evaluate policy interventions in sustainable development, environmental management, international development, and urban and regional policy
  • critically reflect on their own geographical practice and that of the discipline in relation to questions of social and ecological justice.

Units

Major requirements (48 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.

Students complete:

(a.) Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1309 The global challenge
  • ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability

(b.) Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS2547 Cities and sustainability
  • ATS2628 Power and poverty: International development in a globalised world

(c.) One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:

  • ATS3554 Resource evaluation and management
  • ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research

(d.) Three units (18 points) from the remaining capstone or the elective list below, with at least two units at level 3.

Minor requirements (24 points)

No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minorminor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).

Students complete:

(a.) Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):

  • ATS1309 The global challenge
  • ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability

(b.) Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major. It is a highly recommended that students complete a level 2 unit before enrolling in a level 3 unit.

Elective list

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

  • ATS2249 Sustainable development in South East Asia
  • ATS2427 Earthworks: Literature and environment
  • ATS2545/ATS3545 Environmental hydrology
  • ATS2548 Environmental policy and management*
  • ATS2774 Australian soil and vegetation dynamics
  • ATS2779 Climate change and variability
  • ATS2780 Geographical analysis
  • ATS3248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
  • ATS3259 Geographical information systems (GIS) for environmental management
  • ATS3546 Environmental assessment and decision making
  • ATS3552 Remote sensing of the environment
  • ATS3553 Field studies in regional sustainability
  • ATS3791 Environmental change: Past to future
  • ATS3887 Designing urban futures: Urban climate, water and adaptation

* This unit can also be undertaken towards a major in the Bachelor of Science.

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • A0502 Diploma of Liberal Arts

Bachelors

Single degrees

Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*

  • A2000 Bachelor of Arts
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters

Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.

Double degrees

Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*

  • A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
  • A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2012 Bachelor of Business Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
  • B2024 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
  • D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
  • L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
  • S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts

* Students cannot complete both the minor and major in the same area of study.