EV1004:03
Foundations of Environmental Studies
Townsville
26 lectures, 26 tutorials. First semester.
Staff: Dr A Cottrell.
This subject will provide an introduction to the variety of intellectual foundations of modern environmental studies which especially draw form the arts, humanities and social sciences areas. The subject will provide an inter and multi-disciplinary framework for examining the natural environment from many different perspectives, including nature as inspiration (art, literature and architecture); environmentalism and its many different facets from classical history to deep ecology and ecofeminism (philosophy, women’s studies, history, geography); cultural assumptions, meanings and values with respect to the environment and human/’natural’ environment interconnections (psychology, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies); the role of cultural assumptions and environmental values in decision making (politics, history, planning) and an introduction to the natural history foundations of environmental studies (geography, philosophy, biology).
Learning Objectives:
- to provide an opportunity for students to gain appreciation of the many disciplines with a tradition and interest in environmental studies;
- to provide a balanced and comprehensive introduction to the intellectual foundations of environmental studies;
- to link Australian perspectives on the environment to a diverse range of cultural traditions and roots.
Assessment by examination (40%); essay (40%); portfolio (20%).