ENV 102 : Social and Environmental Change

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The uneven effects of globalisation and social transformations are radically reshaping our worlds. How did we get here and what can we do about it? Using diverse local and global case-studies, this course examines how we navigate social and environmental change. Students will explore social processes to gain a foundational understanding of inequality, sustainability, and environmental and social justice.

Course Overview

The uneven effects of globalisation and social transformations are radically reshaping our worlds.  Over the last 200 years, we have altered where we live, how we live, and how we interact within and across societies and environments. Our world is now highly connected and intensely urbanised. We live in a ‘one-click always on’ society, with greater access to more things now than ever before—for those who can afford it. But these transformations come at a cost, which is borne unequally in increasingly polarised societies.  
In this course, we ask, ‘How did we get here, and what can we do about it?’ This course uses social science approaches to answer these connected questions and to examine current challenges facing societies and environments. At times, these challenges can seem overwhelming, but we show that there are many reasons to be hopeful. Using diverse local and global case studies, we demonstrate possibilities for sustainability and enhanced environmental and social justice. Completing this course will leave you well-placed to navigate through the complexities of social and environmental change.  

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 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the uneven effects of globalisation and social transformations. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
  2. Analyse how sustainability and approaches to justice can be used to address social and environmental change. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  3. Effectively communicate the complexities of addressing social and environmental change in different contexts. (Capability 4 and 6)
  4. Demonstrate ability to work independently and collaboratively to examine these processes. (Capability 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Tutorials 18% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 2% Individual Coursework
Presentation 15% Group Coursework
Final Exam 30% Individual Examination
Assignments 10% Peer Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Essay
Tutorials
Quizzes
Presentation
Final Exam
Assignments

This course does not contain plussage.

Special Requirements

n/a

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html
As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of Environment Tuākana Programme aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for, and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection), and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.
Māori and Pacific students are encouraged to contact Rachael Boswell (r.boswell@auckland.ac.nz) for information about the Tuākana programme.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours over 15 weeks. This works out at roughly 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that students are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1-hour tutorial, 1 hour of reading and thinking about the content and 6 hours of work on assignments. This is indicative only and will depend on organisation, time management and assessment due dates. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including tutorials, to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities, including tutorials, will not be available as recordings.
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.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course 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.

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

Improvements to the course are made based on feedback from students.

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.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

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

In the event of an unexpected disruption 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. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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.

This information is correct as of 30 October 2024. For up-to-date information for enrolled students, please see the Canvas website. For any questions about the course, please contact Rachael Boswell (r.boswell@auckland.ac.nz).

Published on 31/10/2024 08:15 a.m.