Program Overview

Introduction to GEOG111 - Exploring Human Environments

GEOG111 is an introductory unit to the study of geography, environment, and society. It focuses on understanding the world around us, including the rich diversity of environments, places, peoples, and cultures across the planet, and the inequalities within and between places.

Unit Details

• Year: 2023
• Credit points: 10
• Campus offering: No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.
• Prerequisites: Nil
• Incompatible: GEOG101 - Global Human Environments

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

This unit introduces students to the study of geography, environment, and society, focusing on the three core concepts of space, place, and scale. Students will examine patterns of social, economic, and cultural diversity from local, national, and international perspectives. The main subject areas include historical geography, population geographies, urban geographies, cultural geographies, development geographies, and economic and political geographies. Indigenous perspectives of Geography are woven throughout the unit to examine core geographic concepts from an intercultural perspective.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Describe how historical, economic, social, and ecological forces interact to influence the nature and location of human activity.
2. Use a foundation of transferable skills, including observation, evaluation of data sources, geographical skills, and written and/or oral communication.
3. Use reading and research skills to examine and explain the patterns and processes affecting places and their populations.
4. Identify and reflect on the history and key theories of the discipline of Geography.

Graduate Attributes

• GA4: Think critically and reflectively
• GA5: Demonstrate values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession
• GA7: Work both autonomously and collaboratively
• GA8: Locate, organize, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information
• GA9: Demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media

Content

Topics will include:

• An introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander geographies
• Human settlements in space and time
• Australian urban and rural systems
• Historical geography and human connections with nature in history
• Cultural landscapes
• Economic geography
• Global cities and urban forms
• Population geography
• Distinct natural-human environments
• Gendered places
• Economic globalization
• Development and inequality
• Resource development and settlement patterns

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit uses face-to-face instruction and includes a tutorial portion for hands-on experience and skill development. Fieldwork may be conducted instead of scheduled tutorials and lectures. The learning and teaching strategy is designed to support student learning through a range of approaches, including reading, reflection, discussion, webinars, podcasts, and video.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment tasks are designed to contribute to high-quality student learning by helping students learn and measuring explicit evidence of their learning. Assessments include:

• Fieldwork research project: Requires students to use reading and research skills to develop an understanding of patterns and processes affecting places and their populations (30%).
• Skill development tasks: Include observation, evaluation of geographical sources, and written and/or oral communication skills (30%).
• Examination: A formal semester-end examination where students describe how economic, demographic, social, and ecological forces interact and outline the history and key theories of the discipline (40%).

Representative Texts and References

• Boyle, M. 2021. Human Geography: An Essential Introduction, 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Brunn, S.D., 2019. The International Encyclopedia of Geography: People, the Earth, Environment and Technology. Taylor and Francis.
• Couper, P. 2015. A Student's Introduction to Geographical Thought: Theories, Philosophies, Methodologies. Sage, London.
• Fouberg, E.H. and Murphy, A.B., 2020. Human geography: people, place, and culture. John Wiley & Sons.
• Knox, P.L. and Marston, S. 2016. Human Geography: Places and Regions in Global Context, Global Edition (7th edition). Pearson, Boston.
• Mayhew, S. 2015. A Dictionary of Geography (5th edition). Oxford, London.
• Northey, M. et al. 2015. Making Sense in Geography and Environmental Sciences: A Student's Guide to Research and Writing. OUP
• Rubenstein, J.M. 2017. The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography, Global Edition (12th edition). Pearson: Harlow, United Kingdom.
• Tate, S. and Hopkins, P. 2021. Studying Geography at University: How to Succeed in the First Year of Your New Degree. Routledge
• Waitt, G,. et al. 2010. Introducing Human Geography: Globalisation, Difference and Inequality (1st edition). Pearson, Sydney.