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 at Clayton as a major and a minor, and in 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.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- ATS1309 The global challenge
- ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- ATS2547 Cities and sustainability
- ATS2628 Power and poverty: International development in a globalised world
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3554 Resource evaluation and management
- ATS3852 Contemporary issues in social science research
- 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/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html).
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2019handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- ATS1309 The global challenge
- ATS1310 Extreme earth! Natural hazards and human vulnerability
- Two level 2 or 3 units (12 points) as listed within the major including cornerstones, capstones and electives. It is 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.
- ATS2548 Environmental policy and management*
- ATS2871 Environmental ethics
- ATS3376 Anthropology of human rights
- ATS3546 Environmental assessment and decision making
- ATS3634 Indigenous peoples globally
- ATS3935 Professional practice
- EAE2011 Environmental problem solving and visualisation
- EAE2111 Introduction to climate science
- EAE2322 Environmental earth science
- EAE3012 Geographical information systems and remote sensing
- EAE3051 Palaeoclimatology
- EAE3132 Future climates: Projections, impacts and adaptation
- EAE3311 Physical environments
- EAE3321 The earth's critical zone
- EAE3331 Catchment hydrology
- EAE3552 Remote sensing of the environment
International study tours
- ATS3248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
- EAE3900 Landscape, environment and sustainability in Italy
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
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 degree:*
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:*
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2038 Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2039 Bachelor of Marketing and Bachelor of Arts
- B2046 Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
