Module GEOG1061: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Department: Geography

GEOG1061: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To introduce to a wide variety of students, including potential Geographers, a comprehensive survey and analysis of the diverse ways in which humanity and their environments (both physical and human) have interacted with each other

Content

• An introduction to general concepts about human-environment interactions
• Early humans and their environmental impact: genetic geographies, population growth, agricultural origins
• Culture, technology and early landscapes
• Examples of society - environment & social science - physical geography linkages
• From landscape to environment: deforestation and history of vegetation change
• Change in climate and eco-systems in relation to human history
• Issues and agents; looking after the environment
• Case studies from social science and physical geography

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students are expected to be able to:
• understand at an elementary level the reciprocal relationships between humans and their environment
• be familiar with a range of examples of the environmental impact of humans at different spatial and temporal scales
• have an appreciation of the changing interactions between culture and nature

• On successful completion of the module students are expected to be able to:
• demonstrate a knowledge of the relevant literature
• demonstrate, in the form of the summative assignment and the examination, their analytical skills in the topic area
• demonstrate a sound knowledge of topical issues related to the environment
• demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of the environment and how it came to be in its present condition

• On successful completion of the module students are expected to be able to demonstrate an ability to digest, synthesize and critically evaluate, at an introductory level, issues related to the environment in its widest sense.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The lectures aim to provide students with an outline of key debates in the topic area, to discuss the literature that they should explore, and to give examples and case studies at a range of different spatial and temporal scales
• The student preparation and reading time is partly devoted to writing the two course work essays and partly to the general and specific reading suggested by staff in lectures
• During the tutorials, students have the opportunity to raise and discuss human / environmental issues
• The two formative coursework essays allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the literature and exercise their analytical skills in written form
• They also give students an opportunity to receive formative feedback on their progress
• The end of year examination is a summative test of students' knowledge, understanding and analytical skills

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One Essay, max. 4 pages A4 in accordance with Departmental Policy on Coursework Length and Format. Written feedback provided

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University