Geography and environmental science

The Department of Geography and Environmental Science offers geography sequences in the faculties of Arts and Science. The department also offers a sequence permitting undergraduate specialisation in environmental science for the BA and BSc degrees. At postgraduate level, MA, MSc, MEnvSc and PhD degrees are offered, and there is an active involvement in other postgraduate programs.

The main Monash program has been adapted to suit local educational and vocational demands, but is otherwise fully representative of geography's international profile. Its goal is to develop a mature understanding of the following:

the key characteristics of places;
the complex interdependence of human activities;
the roles of human agency in the transformation of the earth's surface;
the availability of a rich diversity of approaches to the accumulation of knowledge concerning the interrelationships of place, people and environment.

The contexts addressed encompass an array of cultures and environments in both hemispheres, and make frequent reference to Australian examples. Students are thereby encouraged to see that individual and collective responsibility for the environment can be expressed through an informed engagement with local, regional and global issues. The department contributes to interdisciplinary programs in American studies, Asian studies, Australian studies, development studies, environmental engineering, environmental science, atmospheric science, European studies and women's studies.

At Monash, and throughout the developed world, the term `environment' is employed at every level in the geography curriculum. It subsumes the following:

the notion of `natural' environments unaltered by human activity;
human-modified environments representing profound alterations over vast areas of the globe and including, most notably, agricultural systems and rural settlement;
even more `artificial' environments such as industrialised regions and urban areas.

Students are therefore expected to come to an appreciation of internal variations of landscape and activity within each of these categories. The material and concepts studied require critical evaluation across various spatial scales.

Like many other university subjects, geography requires students to develop the following useful capabilities:

identification, description, measurement and classification of phenomena;
application of acquired knowledge to new situations;
formulation and testing of hypotheses, using qualitative and quantitative techniques as appropriate;
employment of effective modes of communication through participation in oral discussion sessions, the preparation of written reports, and data presentation;
critical explorations of attitudes, values and prejudices.

An appreciation of the importance of field and laboratory-based observations is required at all levels, especially in physical geography options. 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.

Students may major in either the physical or human branches of geography, in a combination of the two, or in those areas listed below under the `Environmental science' heading. Physical geography shares with other branches of the natural sciences an interest in the earth's atmosphere, vegetation cover and terrain. Human geography shares with other branches of the humanities and social sciences an interest in the ways in which human communities occupy, use and modify the earth's surface. It is recommended that students pursue studies in both branches, to take advantage of geography's invaluable role as a link between the arts and sciences. This is particularly applicable to prospective geography teachers. The current semesterised organisation provides the flexibility to combine courses in this way.

Allowance is made throughout for the selection of individual courses which service broader campus programs, and for the formation of recognised sequences in geography and environmental science.

The primary objective of the first-year syllabus is to explore human impacts on the environment and to introduce key concepts in physical and human geography. No prior experience of geographical education is required to begin first-year study. Variations may be made for commencing students whose records demonstrate an advanced level of ability.

The second-year syllabus permits students to select from a variety of systematic subdisciplines. The satisfactory completion of a full minor sequence in geography equips students with an appreciation of the nature of the subject as a whole and with a knowledge of the fundamental contents and approaches contained within one or both of its human and physical branches.

At third-year level, majoring students elect to enrol in one or more of the main systematic fields which are intended to challenge them with appropriate advanced material and to intensify their familiarity with the purpose and practice of original research work.

Those proceeding into the fourth or honours year have the further opportunity to consolidate their understanding of an area (or areas) of specialisation, whilst pursuing a research topic under expert supervision. Combined honours may be taken in the Department of Geography and Environmental Science and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments.

For postgraduate courses offered by the Department of Geography and Environmental Science please refer to the Arts graduate handbook 1997.

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