Environmental Geographies, Politics & Cultures : Bachelor of Environments : The University of Melbourne

Environmental Geographies, Politics & Cultures

The Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures major focuses on the relationship between human activities and the natural and built environment, humanity's changing relationship with the natural environment, and with the natural 'resources' that we both need and use. Contemporary political disputes, for example, have much to do with long-held concerns over energy supplies, water, land and food. The life of the world's major cities depends on efficient handling of water supply, wastes, energy and clean air, technological advances to address these problems are rarely free of environmental costs.

This major combines the study of the natural systems, political economy, and cultural politics, providing students with the skills and conceptual frameworks needed to understand the complex processes shaping the world around us. Students will be able to pursue these interests in social science, politics, and physical science.

Course Planning for an Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures Major

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Environments should take no more than 125 points of 1st year level subjects. Students must complete at least 75 points worth of 3rd year level subjects, including at least one 3rd year level breadth subject. Students will need to be mindful of this when course planning.

In order to complete a major in Environmental Geographies, Politics and Cultures, you will need to undertake the following subjects:

AND 6 subjects chosen from:

1st year level

121-110 Famine in the Modern World (Sem 1)

2nd year level

121-018 Geomorphology (Sem 2)
121-209 Inside the City of Diversity (Sem 2)
654-219 Ecology (Sem 2)

3rd year level

121-317 Africa: Environment, Development, People (Sem 2)
121-320 China Field Class (Sem 2)
316-324 Environmental Economics (Sem 2)
121-316 Environmental Change (Sem 2)
121-026 Mobile Worlds (Sem 1)
106-314 Australian Environmental Philosophy
121-034 Rivers: Hydrology and Ecology (Sem 1)
207-342 Catchments to Coasts (Sem 1)

Students should familiarise themselves with the Bachelor of Environments Course Structure.

Breadth information for Environmental Geographies Politics and Cultures major

The Melbourne Model aims to produce graduates who are trained in a particular discipline (depth) as well as knowledgeable across disciplines (breadth). The breadth component of the new degrees aims to build multiple competencies in students by exposing them to different ways of knowing through cross-disciplinary learning and teaching.

In the first year of the Bachelor of Environments, students can take any two 100-Level subjects from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science as well as the University Breadth Subjects and the non core subjects available as breadth.

In the second and third years of the Bachelor of Environments, students will choose their major field of study and they must choose breadth studies that contrast with their major. The eleven major areas of study are grouped into four clusters based on the types of knowledge they represent: scientific, socio-cultural, design and business.

For example, a student taking a socio-cultural major such as Environmental Geographies Politics and Cultures will take breadth studies that contrast with the socio-cultural way of knowing, such as commerce, languages, maths, science or design. Due to the Environmental Geographies Politics and Cultures major falling under the socio-cultural category, students are not permitted to take social science subjects (including anthropology and social theory, development studies, psychology, international studies, Asian studies, Australian indigenous studies, Australian studies, linguistics, cultural studies, criminology, economics, sociology and political science) as breadth.

A search engine of breadth subjects available to Bachelor of Environments students may be found here. Some students may also choose to take breadth study from within the Bachelor of Environments as long as these subjects come from a different cluster to their major area of study – see breadth elective subjects for a list of approved subjects.

Environments Electives

Bachelor of Environments students will undertake 37.5 (3 subjects) of Environments electives within their degree. A list of possible Environments Electives can be found here.

Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 1
NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order

Semester 1, Year 1	Natural Environments 880-101	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	Breadth
Semester 2, Year 1	Reshaping Environments 880-102	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	Breadth
Semester 1, Year 2	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Breadth
Semester 2, Year 2	Environmental Politics and Management 121-021	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth
Semester 1, Year 3	Society and Environments 121-017	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth
Semester 2, Year 3	Sustainable Development (capstone) 121-028	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth

	first year subjects in blue
	major subjects (2^nd and 3^rd year) in white
	breadth subjects in green
	Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange

Sample course plan for students commencing in semester 2
NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order

Semester 2, Year 1	Natural Environments 880-101	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	Breadth
Semester 1, Year 1	Reshaping Environments 880-102	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	First Year Bachelor of Environments Subject	Breadth
Semester 2, Year 2	Environmental Politics and Management 121-021	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth
Semester 1, Year 2	Society and Environments 121-017	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth
Semester 2, Year 3	Sustainable Development (capstone) 121-028	Major Selective	Major Selective	Breadth
Semester 1, Year 3	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Bachelor of Environments Elective	Breadth

	first year subjects in blue
	major subjects (2^nd and 3^rd year) in white
	breadth subjects in green
	Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange

Possible Course Structure

This sample is provided as a guide only. There are numerous different possibilities available, and subject availability will vary from year to year.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact the Environments Student Centre on:

Ph: 8344 6432 | 8344 6417 | 8344 8150

Web: envs-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au

Visit: Environments Student Centre

Ground Floor, Old Commerce Building

University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Environments

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