Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
W6A room 435
Mondays 4-5pm or by appointment
Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
W6A room 435
Mondays 4-5pm or by appointment
Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
W6A room 435
Mondays 4-5pm or by appointment
Unit Convenor
Jonathan Symons
Contact via jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au
W6A room 435
Mondays 4-5pm or by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertIntRel
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
POL 397
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Unit description |
Unit description
Environmental issues are gaining prominence in both national and international politics and it is increasingly apparent that human activities are driving significant changes in the environment of the planet. This unit provides a critical introduction to the theory and practice of global environmental politics and its interaction with other areas of global governance. Cases covered will be drawn from both Australian and international contexts.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Reading Quiz Questions | 15% | Weeks 2-7 |
Research Essay & Presentation | 50% | Thursday Week 8 |
Take home examination | 35% | Week 13 |
Due: Weeks 2-7
Weighting: 15%
Multiple quizzes available on ilearn that assess comprehension of assigned weekly readings in weeks 2-7. Each quiz must be completed before 11pm on the evening before the lecture. You will have 20 minutes from the time you log into the weekly quiz in which to complete it. Each weekly quiz is worth 3% of your total grade for the unit (3% x 5 =15%). Grades will be based on the best of 5 (out of 6) quizzes. This means it is possible to skip one quiz without penalty. Further information and sample quiz questions will be available from ilearn.
Due: Thursday Week 8
Weighting: 50%
This is a research essay of 3000-3500 words. Essay questions and marking criteria will be provided on iLearn. Internal students are required to submit both via the turnitin link on ilearn and a printed copy of the essay. All students must select the essay question they will address by the end of week 4 and post their choice to ilearn (a discussion thread will be provided). Since your class presentation is based on your essay, the timing of your class presentation will be determined by your choice of essay question.
Internal students will be required to give a 5 minute presentation summarising their essay's argument during class, while external students will be required to present a short summary of their essay's argument on ilearn. These presentations should summarise your own view and identify a question for discussion by the class. Presentations will not be graded separately, but they are a hurdle requirement for completion of the course and you will be asked to discuss your presentation with your tutor after class.
All students are encouraged to submit an introductory paragraph that outlines the central argument and essay structure to the unit convenor by the end of week 6 (via email: jonathan.symons@mq.edu.au), so they can receive feedback prior to completing the essay.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%
An end-of-semester take home exam will cover content drawn from the entire unit. The exam will consist of 5 questions and the maximum word length will be 2400 words. Late submission of the exam will not be accepted.
Delivery
For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.
Internal students are expected to attend the following classes each week:
Lecture: Monday 9 -10.55am.
Tutorial: Mondays - multiple options.
NOTE: Tutorials will begin in Week 2.
External students: The lecture is digitally recorded and can be downloaded from the ILearn website shortly after it is delivered. You will also find lecture slides on the ilearn site.
External students are required to participate actively in discussion on the iLearn website (further details are given in the section on Assessment.) Meaningful participation in class discussion on at least 7 topics is hurdle requirement. Failure to complete this task will either result in extra written work being set, or a 5% grade penalty will be imposed.
External students are welcome to attend weekly lectures whenever they can.
Required resources:
There is one required text for this unit which is available for purchase from the Macquarie University Coop Bookstore:
O’Neill, Kate (2009) The Environment and International Relations. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press
Access to this text will be necessary in order to complete the reading quizzes in weeks 2-7. Although the library will have a copy of this text, access through the library cannot be guaranteed. All other unit readings will all be available on ilearn or e-reserve. Students who wish to purchase an additional reference text might consider:
Axelrod Regina et al. (2014, 4th ed) The Global Environment: Institutions, Law and Policy, Washington. D.C.: CQ Press
Week 1 - 23 Feb
Introduction: Green Political Theory, Globalisation and the Anthropocene
Week 2 - 2 March
International Relations Theory and Global Environmental Problems
First week of weekly ilearn reading quizzes - available on ilearn and must be completed by Thursday 11pm each week.
Week 3 - 9 March
Actors: States, Epistemic Communities, NGOs, Multinational Corporations.
Week 4 - 16 March
International Environmental Regimes
NB: You must nominate which research question you will address this week via the iLearn discussion forum.
Week 5 - 23 March
Intersecting Regimes: Environment, Trade and Security
Week 6 - 30 March
Common Pool Resources: Forests, Airsheds and Fisheries
_______________________________
MID SEMESTER BREAK: 3 April to 19 April 2015
Week 7 - 20 April
Energy Security
Essay due Friday 24 April 5pm
Week 8 - 27 April
Global Public Goods: Climate change
Week 9 - 4 May
Food Security & Agriculture
Week 10 - 11 May
Biodiversity and Human–Animal Relationships
Week 11 - 18 May
Capitalism, Innovation & Growth
Week 12 - 25 May
Conclusion: Further down in the imbroglios.
Week 13 - 1 June
Test opens Monday 1 June 9am, closes Tuesday 2 June 9pm.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
This is the second time this Unit has been offered. Minor changes have been made to the ordering of topics and the assessment tasks (an additional week of weekly quizzes has been added).