Synopsis:

The course provides a general introduction and overview of the emergence of environmental issues at the global scale. An inter-disciplinary approach to the study of the environment is provided at a general level for students across all faculties. Course content covers the biophysical environment, politics, economy and society, and human impact on the natural environment.

The course focuses on ecological principles for thinking about the environment, the links between society and environmental exploitation and the development of ecologically sustainable development. Consideration is given to population growth, the influence of technology, environmental economics and the role of community value systems. Issues examined from a global perspective include land utilisation, mining and fishing, energy production and use, water pollution, atmospheric pollution, urban systems and waste management.

REN1201 Environmental Studies is an inter-disciplinary inter-faculty unit jointly taught by members of the Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Business at USQ. It is a general course for both science and non-science undergraduate majors. The course has been designed to provide an  overview of humankind's interaction with the environment at the global scale. The material is presented in a number of distinct, but closely inter-related modules over the course of the semester (see below).

Further information can be obtained in the official Course Specifications for this course available through USQConnect. The official REN1201 Course Specifications should be checked in all instances.

1. The Biophysical Environment 

^1. Each Module (Chapter) of the External Study Book is equivalent to an internal 2 hour lecture