Students
GEOP8050 – Attitudes to the Environment
2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Andrew McGregor
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnv or MEnvEd or MEngMgt or MEnvMgt or MEnvPlan or MPlan or GCertEnvPlan or MEnvStud or MIntRel or MMarScMgt or MSusDev or GradDipEnv or GradDipSIA or GradCertSIA or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or GradDipIntRel or MDevStud or MSc in (Biodiversity Conservation or Remote Sensing and GIS or Environmental Health) or PGDipSc in Biodiversity Conservation
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores the ways in which humans think about nature and environment and how these ideas are formed. Given the diversity of environmental challenges that have emerged from contemporary human-nature relations there is an urgent need to explore the role that human attitudes to nature have had in contributing to these crises, and how changes in attitudes may provide some solutions. To explore these issues this unit draws from social constructionism, environmental ethics and political ecology to explore how ideas about nature and environment are created and contested. The first section of the unit looks at contemporary approaches to nature, their history and complexity. The second section explores environmental ethics and the challenges they pose to these dominant understandings of humans and nature. The final section analyses environmental ethics in society-exploring their relevance to environmental politics and our everyday ways of life.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Identify the core ethical principles of different eco-philosophical approaches
- ULO2: Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the importance of engaging with environmental attitudes in addressing environmental issues
- ULO3: Analyse contemporary environmental issues from a variety of ethical standpoints in order to identify conflicts and solutions.
- ULO4: Reflect on and develop personal environmental attitudes and specify their relevance to practice
- ULO5: Demonstrate and communicate ethical solutions to contemporary environmental challenges
Assessment Tasks
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
General Assessment Information
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. The criteria and standards for each assignment will be made available via iLearn.
Delivery and Resources
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
The unit will be taught through 13 weekly themes. Each week students are expected to complete the assigned readings for that theme prior to class, attend the lectorials on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm, and engage in in class and online discussions and reflections to deepen their learning. The lectorials will involve a lecture accompanied by tutorial type activities. The sessions require active and informed student input either in class or via online discussion forums.
The total workload for the unit is estimated to be 150 hours.
GEOP8050 will make use of web-based teaching support through iLearn. Students will require access to the internet and regular contact with the unit’s iLearn site where lecture recordings, presentations, links to readings (via Leganto), and assessment submission links will be available. To complete assignments students will need access to basic word processing programmes, access to library resources, and internet access to submit assignments via iLearn. Some students may wish to make use of powerpoint or prezi for class presentations.
Unit Schedule
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
| Week | Topic | Assessments |
| Rethinking nature: Introducing eco-philosophies | ||
| 1 | Introduction: social natures | |
| 2 | Indigenous nature | |
| 3 | Western nature | |
| 4 | Anthropocentric environmentalism | |
| 5 | Biocentrism and animal rights | Short case study due |
| 6 | Ecocentrism and deep ecology | |
| 7 | Ecofeminism | |
| Mid-semester break | ||
| 8 | More-than-human | Eco-philosophy demonstrations begin |
| Environmental attitudes in society | ||
| 9 | Assessing environmental attitudes | |
| 10 | Environmental politics and activism: North and South | |
| 11 | Environmental justice and decision making | |
| 12 | Market environmentalism | Critical reflective writing task due |
| 13 | Future nature | |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19/02/2020 | The submission date for the Short Case Study assignment was changed to 27 March. |