62114 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
00	62114 	S1  	X 	ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES     	1.00

Contents

STAFFING:

Examiner: A. LE BROCQUE
Moderator: K. WITHERS
Instructional design: J. KIRKWOOD

RATIONALE:


As  the  effects of population growth, resource limits  and  pollution
increasingly influence global social stability and quality of life, an
understanding of environmental issues by graduates becomes  essential.
This  unit  aims  to  develop informed and positive  attitudes  toward
environmental  conflict, plus an appreciation not only of  the  causes
and  symptoms  of  environmental degradation, but also  of  corrective
actions and the policies which support them.

SYNOPSIS:


The  unit is in three parts: Perspectives on Environmental Issues, The
State of the Planet, and Ways Forward. The unit content focuses on the
role  of  each  of  the professions in alleviating  problems  such  as
pollution, recycling, consumerism, loss of bio diversity and run  down
of  renewable and non-renewable resources. Consideration is  given  to
population  growth,  the  influence of  technology  and  the  role  of
community value systems as the basic causes of environmental problems.
Issues  include land degradation, water pollution, forest destruction,
overfishing, power production, air pollution, climate change and  city
planning.  Special  attention is given to  ways  in  which  engineers,
scientists,   economists,  teachers  and  planners  can   develop   an
environmental  awareness of their profession's potential  contribution
to environmental problem-solving.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the factors contributing to
    global and national environmental problems;
  2. demonstrate an appreciation of the inter-relationships between
    ecological, social and economic aspects which make up modern
    environmental issues;
  3. demonstrate a thorough understanding of at least one specific
    case of conflict of interest in the Australian environmental
    context;
  4. understand how their world view can contribute to
    environmental problem-solving.

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
    

  1. Global Crises - An Introduction                                       5.00

    

  2. You and the Environment                                               5.00

    

  3. Origins of Environmental Problems 1 - The Growth Syndrome             5.00

    

  4. Origins  of  Environmental Problems 2  -  Cultural  Value             5.00
Systems

    

  5. Progress in Relation to Environmental Issues                          10.00

    

  6. Land and Freshwater                                                   10.00

    

  7. Oceans                                                                10.00

    

  8. Forests                                                               10.00

    

  9. Atmosphere, Energy and Climate Changes                                10.00

    

  10. Urban Environments                                                    10.00

    

  11. International Cooperation                                             5.00

    

  12. Community Actions                                                     5.00

    

  13. Professional Action                                                   5.00

    

  14. Individual Action                                                     5.00

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Aplin, G., Beggs, P., Brierley, G., Cleugh, H., Curson, P., Mitchell,
P., Pitman, A. & Rich, D., 1999, Global Environmental Crises: An
Australian Perspective, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Brown, L. 1990, State of the World, World Watch Institute, Allen and
Unwin.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Report Writing                                	20
Directed Study                                	80
Private Study                                 	67
Examinations                                  	3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              17/03/00  LOCAL ISSUE REPORT                        20.00     Y   N
2   S              12/05/00  MAJOR ASSIGNMENT                          40.00     Y   N
3   S              END S1    3 HOUR OPEN EXAMINATION                   40.00     N   N

*F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    To  obtain  a  passing grade in this unit, students must  perform
     satisfactorily in all aspects of assessment.
2    In  accordance  with  University's  Assignment  Extension  Policy
     (Regulation  5.9), the examiner of a unit may grant an  extension
     of  the  due  date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
     This  policy  may  be  found in the USQ  Handbook,  the  Distance
     Education  Study  Guide and the Faculty of Sciences'  Orientation
     Handbook for new on-campus students. All students are advised  to
     study and follow the guidelines associated with this policy.
3    Open   Examination:  an  open  examination  indicates  that   the
     candidate  may have access to any material during the examination
     except  the  following: electronic communication  devices,  bulky
     material,  devices requiring mains power and materials likely  to
     disturb other students.
This information is accurate as at 31/10/00