Resource and Environmental Studies

Many environmental problems are not technical issues but involve political struggles, ethical choices, human behaviour, economic trade-offs and value conflicts over scientific knowledge. To tackle these wider social dimensions intrinsic to most environmental issues of concern today, a wide-ranging social analysis is valuable and often essential.

The major study in Resource and Environmental Studies combines study from areas such as economics, geography, law, philosophy, and science, technology and society. It looks at environmental issues from a social science perspective.

For further information please contact the Science, Technology and Society Program.

A major study in Resource and Environmental Studies for the Bachelor of Arts degree is available by undertaking the following program. It must include at least 24 credit points at 300-level.

A major in Resource and Environmental Studies involves an interdisciplinary combination of core and optional subjects totalling from 70 to 98 credit points, depending on the options chosen. The core is made up of five subjects from Australian Studies, Geosciences, Science, Technology and Society and Philosophy. Students must also choose optional subject sequences from two of four areas: Science, Technology and Society, Geosciences, Law or Economics.

Number Subject Credit Points

CORE

AUST101	Australian Studies: Environment and Identity	6
GEOS142	The Human Environment: Problems and Change	6
STS116	Environment in Crisis: Technology and Society6
PHIL256	Ethics and the Environment A	6
STS300	The Environmental Context	8

OPTIONS

Two of sequences A, B, C and D must be completed.

Sequence A

Both of the following:
ECON309	Environmental Economics	8
ECON311	Natural Resource Economics	8

(Note: students undertaking sequence A are strongly recommended to take ECON111, Introductory Microeconomics. Furthermore, to be able to handle ECON311 well, it is recommended that students also take ECON215, Microeconomic Theory and Policy.)

Sequence B 

At least 14 credit points from the following:
GEOS242	Living in Cities	6
GEOS246	A Hungry World: Food Resources and the World Economy	6
GEOS231	Environmental Impact of Societies	6
GEOS347	Northern Neighbours: Economic and Social
	Change in the Asia Pacific Rim	8
GEOS349	Population, Health and Environment	8

(Note: students undertaking sequence B are also encouraged to consider taking GEOS112, Physical Environments. Students must have successfully completed at least one 200-level subject as a prerequisite for 300-level subjects.)

Sequence C

STS200	Social Aspects of Science and Technology	8
STS238	Changing Images of Nature and the Environment	8
STS335	The Politics of Risk	8

(Note: in year 2000 STS238 is not on offer so students should see the co-ordinator about substituting another STS subject. STS229 Science and Technological Controversy is strongly recommended for this.)

Sequence D

All of the following:
LAW100	Law in Society	6
LAW308	Administrative Law	6
LAW334	Environmental Law	6