Environmental Humanities - ENVPE13420
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Humanities and Languages
Contact: hal@unsw.edu.au
Program: 3420 - Social Research and Policy
Award(s):
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
THIS STREAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING FROM 2016.
Species extinction, genetically modified organisms, climate change and nuclear power are just a few of the challenges facing us today. While these are all clearly ‘environmental’ issues, they are also all profoundly social, cultural and political challenges. Education in the Environmental Humanities focuses on developing critical insight into the ‘human dimensions’ of these environmental issues; issues that now permeate almost every aspect of our lives, from everyday lifestyle decisions to collective and public choices concerning urban development, energy security and food production.
Environmental Humanities is an interdisciplinary major stream that is designed to provide you with a deep understanding with which to critically engage with contemporary environmental issues. Drawing on resources from across the humanities and social sciences, teaching in Environmental Humanities provides you with a valuable and distinctive approach to the environment, grounded in the fields of history, philosophy, geography, cultural studies, literature, science and technology studies (STS) and social theory.
Your final course in the Environmental Humanities major will introduce you to a substantial research project focusing on a contemporary environmental issue.
Species extinction, genetically modified organisms, climate change and nuclear power are just a few of the challenges facing us today. While these are all clearly ‘environmental’ issues, they are also all profoundly social, cultural and political challenges. Education in the Environmental Humanities focuses on developing critical insight into the ‘human dimensions’ of these environmental issues; issues that now permeate almost every aspect of our lives, from everyday lifestyle decisions to collective and public choices concerning urban development, energy security and food production.
Environmental Humanities is an interdisciplinary major stream that is designed to provide you with a deep understanding with which to critically engage with contemporary environmental issues. Drawing on resources from across the humanities and social sciences, teaching in Environmental Humanities provides you with a valuable and distinctive approach to the environment, grounded in the fields of history, philosophy, geography, cultural studies, literature, science and technology studies (STS) and social theory.
Your final course in the Environmental Humanities major will introduce you to a substantial research project focusing on a contemporary environmental issue.
Stream Learning Outcomes
You should achieve the following learning outcomes upon the successful completion of the stream:
- Describe the historical evolution of knowledge claims regarding the environment and society
- Explain the ways in which environmental issues are implicated with knowledge claims, social and cultural practices, and fundamental questions of politics, meaning, value and ethics
- Identify the value of cross-disciplinary perspectives to contemporary environmental challenges
Stream Structure
If you wish to gain a major stream in Environmental Humanities you must complete 60 units of credit including 12 UOC at Level 1, 24 UOC at Level 2 including the core course, and 24 UOC at Level 3 including the core course.
Level 1
You must complete the following Level 1 core courses:
- ARTS1240 Environment and Society (6 UOC)
- ARTS1241 Environmental Activism (6 UOC)
Level 2
You must complete the following Level 2 core course:
And 18 UOC from the following:
- ARTS2240 Environment and Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2243 Waste and Society (6 UOC)
- ARTS2244 Rethinking Wildlife (6 UOC)
- ARTS2248 Disasters and Society (6 UOC)
Level 3
You must complete the following Level 3 core course:
And 18 UOC from the following:
- ARTS3241 Environmental Justice (6 UOC)
- ARTS3242 Environmental History (6 UOC)
- ARTS3243 Remaking Nature (6 UOC)
- ARTS3245 PR and the environment (6 UOC)
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Environmental Humanities major stream:
