BLTENV 102 : Environmental and Social Justice

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Focuses on developing an ethical understanding of the built environment through the lens of social and environmental justice in order to plan and design fairer habitats, and a critical assessment of social and environmental crises through urban and architectural case studies to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to transition to more sustainable and equitable built environments.

Course Overview

This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interrelations among sustainability, social justice, and civic responsibilities within the context of architecture and urban planning. Students will engage in lectures, case studies and project-based learning to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to critically assess and creatively address urban challenges through the lenses of sustainability, justice, and active citizenship to design and build more sustainable and equitable cities. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically analyze urban planning and architectural projects to evaluate their environmental impacts, social equity implications, and the extent of civic engagement. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  2. Apply Interdisciplinary approaches that balance environmental sustainability, social equity, and civic participation in urban planning and architectural designs to showcase innovative and holistic solutions. (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 8.1)
  3. Examine and assess ethical dilemmas to promote equity, social justice and environmental stewardship in architecture and urban planning. (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 4.2, 5.2, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  4. Integrating environmental and social justice perspectives into design and planning practices. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.2, 5.3, 7.1 and 8.3)
  5. Comunicate complex ideas about environmental sustainability and social justice effectively. (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 50% Individual Test
Assignments 30% Group Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Final Exam
Assignments
Quizzes

Next Offered

Semester 1, 2025

Teaching & Learning Methods

Students will be confronted with an integrative approach to multiple disciplines from social and environmental science and the built environment. The analysis of problem-based case studies will challenge students to develop critical thinking through interdisciplinary fields and learnings. The course will help students to develop a new way of understanding social and environmental crises and to reflect on the possibility of applying this knowledge to design and planning courses. The course structure is structured around lectures and tutorials. The individual learning of the students will benefit from the collective advice and feedback provided in lectures and tutorials. 
PASS REQUIREMENTS: sitting the final examination is compulsory. Not sitting the exam will lead to a DNS in your academic record and to the automatic failure of this course. 

Exam Mode


  • Exam mode D - In-person invigilated exam on computer through Inspera Integrity Browser (IIB)

Further information about exams can be found at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/about-exams.html

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, a 18 hour tutorial, 18 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 90 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including tutorials, will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

A reading list with mandatory and recommended readings is available in the Talis reading list on Canvas.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

N/A. New course starting in S1, 2025; no feedback yet.

Other Information

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved using the Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas. Students should notify the Course Director/Course Coordinator of their situation as soon as practicable, and preferably before any due date. Notifications by students should include information about the unexpected circumstances and should attach evidence to support this if available. Notifications received after an assessment due date will be accepted, where this is reasonable, within the context of the course. If possible, students are encouraged to seek medical, counselling or other support from the most appropriate sources.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 26/11/2024 11:10 a.m.