2018 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Environmental Humanities | 2018

This Major is available for students studying the Bachelor of Arts.

A major in Environmental Humanities equips students with the tools to analyse, critique and engage with contemporary debates about the environment. Students will acquire a deep and critical understanding of the social contexts through which we experience environmental issues and problems such as climate change, species loss, adaptation, exploitation and natural disasters. Students will gain a clear understanding of the role of cultural forces (histories, narratives, cultural values and ethics) that influence and shape relationships to the environment.

The major will take students through the works of key humanities thinkers in environmental debates, and how these manifest in policies, solutions and conflicts. It will explore ideas for alternative futures, Indigenous conceptions of country, and also how relationships with nature and other animals have been historically and culturally produced. The Environmental Humanities major brings together subjects from International studies, Philosophy, History, Indigenous Studies, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, English, Contemporary Arts and Geography. All of the strengths of Humanities research and teaching (critical and creative thinking, questions of social justice, ethics and cultural engagement) will be brought into the domain of the environment. The development of Environmental Humanities is in response to 21st Century environmental crises of climate change; depletion of natural resources, species extinctions, mass migration, natural disasters, global inequalities and climate refugee crises.

Learn from advocates, activists, writers, artists, government officials and scientific authorities who know that the problems we now face are cultural as well as environmental. These problems require not only scientific solutions but also an engaged and practical knowledge of how cultures operate according to beliefs, ethics, cultural values and social structures that are marked by gender, race, class, ethnicity, and religion.
  

Major Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Major students will be able to:

  1. Analyse diverse theoretical approaches to humans’ relationship with the environment
  2. Evaluate the influence of key humanities theorists on contemporary environmental debates and policies
  3. Apply a multidisciplinary approach to analysing pressing environmental issues

Subjects Required For Major Study

A major in Environmental Humanities consists of at least 48 credit points comprised of:

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points
Core
STC 100 Society, Culture and Technology 6
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures (Capstone) 6
Plus at least TWO from the following:
INDS205 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment 6
PHIL256 Environmental Philosophy: Animals, Nature and Ethics 6
STS 216 Environmental Sociology and Politics 6
Plus at least FOUR from the following. At least THREE of these MUST be 300-level:
HIST292 Power and Protest in Australia 6
SOC 208 Cities, Communities and Families 6
SOC 226 New Social Movements 6
SOC 235 Living with Animals 6
GEOG222 Society and Environment: Resources, Challenges, Futures 6
GEOG224 The Future of Food: Resilience, Communities and Policy 6
SOC 251 Genetics, Biotechnology and Society 6
STS 286 Risk, Media and Communication 6
PHIL326 Bioethics 6
ENGL381 Animals and Ecology in Literature and Film 6
GEOG337 Environmental and Heritage Management 6
CAVA332 Globalisation and Contemporary Art 6
INTS311 Human Security, Global Capitalism and the Environment 6

Timetables

Click on subject codes in the above table for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Minor Study

A 24 credit point minor in Environmental Humanities is available.

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning (WIL) experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting.

Students are also encouraged to consider CRLP200 (6cp). CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to give you that competitive edge by developing your professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. You will focus on your career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen your resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network.

Honours

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the UOW Course Finder.

Other Information

For further information email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

 

Last reviewed: 7 February, 2018