GEOG 205 : Environment and Society

Science

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical exploration of the interconnectedness of environment and society. The course highlights the importance of understanding how different views and attitudes influence people's interactions with the environment. Key themes include governance, management and development, which are addressed through issues such as conservation, climate change adaptation, disasters and resource use. Classes draw on a variety of case studies from New Zealand and overseas.

Course Overview

By the end of this course students will have gained an understanding of:
  • the diversity and depth of human geography scholarship on environment and society interactions
  • how to critically evaluate key theoretical ideas about human-environment relations using place-based case studies from Aotearoa/New Zealand and beyond
  • how to investigate and critique complex environmental problems in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Oceania, and beyond
  • how to organise and synthesise environmental geographical knowledge about how different views, attitudes, and values influence people’s interactions with the environment
  • how to engage with a diverse social groups’ positions by distinguishing multiple ways of seeing and valuing different knowledges.
This course is suitable for students who are interested in the intersections/inextricability of humans and environment. It is a core course for an undergraduate programme majoring in Geography, but also complements other social and natural science study. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of disciplinary theory and how it applies to real world socio-environmental examples. (Capability 1, 4 and 6)
  2. Be able to think and write critically and analytically about socio-environmental issues. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Understand and describe how diverse worldviews and knowledge can contribute to sustainable solutions for socio-environmental issues. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Exam 60% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Assignments
Exam
Final grades for Geog 205 are directly determined by the sum of marks earned in coursework (40%) and the exam (60%). Assignments are submitted electronically only, from the relevant assignment page on Canvas. 

Tuākana

Read more about the Science Faculty's Tuākana Programme here:  https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/tuakana-programme.html

Details for the School of Environment Tuākana programme can be found on the course Canvas page.

Special Requirements

To pass this course there is a a requirement to achieve 50% or more via coursework/exam assessment. 

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 1 tutorial associated with each assessment and 1 key reading per lecture. This course is designed with a budget of 150 hours of a student's time. This conforms with the University's and Ministry of Education's guidelines for a 15 pt course. Please note that these are reasonable estimates but your actual time commitment will depend upon many factors. 

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.
The course will not include live online events such as online group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. Lecturers will recommend key readings to complement what they present in class, and additional readings may be suggested to guide students interested in exploring particular topics in more depth. 
• Course readings will be listed in Talis, accessible through Canvas. You are expected to use the University Library to access these readings, as well as other relevant references. 
• Most readings will be available through the University Library as PDFs or ebooks. Some may only be available as hard copies through Short Loan in the Kate Edger Information Commons. 
• It is vital to go beyond recommended readings for your assignments.

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.

Other Information

Course assistance 
Please communicate with all GEOG 205 staff through email rather than through Canvas messaging functions. The course uses Piazza as a key discussion platform and expects that students will be using this.  
Questions regarding lecture material and assignments should be directed to relevant lecturers or the tutor. 
All questions regarding requests for assignment extensions and the exam should be directed to the Course Coordinator.

Grading and Extensions 
GEOG 205 uses The University of Auckland's standard grade scale. 
Only the course coordinators are responsible for granting extensions. The following penalties will apply for late submission: 
• 15% mark reduction for the first 24 hrs after stated deadline. 
• 5% per 24 hours thereafter. 
• No marks will be given for work without an extension received beyond 5 working days after the deadline.  
Timing is rounded to the closest 24 hour period. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are not counted as working days. Penalty increments represent % of the maximum mark associated with the assignment.

Digital 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.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Turnitin 
Coursework will be submitted to Canvas via Turnitin, a plagiarism-prevention service which compares your assignment with existing literature and previously submitted assignments. 
• Assignments must be submitted to Turnitin before the due time and date. 
• Turnitin will place your work in a database to ensure that others do not copy your work in the future.  
• Make sure that you leave enough time to submit your essay to Turnitin, allowing for any problems that may arise. 
 
If you have any queries about avoiding plagiarism, or if you are uncertain about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please contact us for guidance. 
 
The University of Auckland has comprehensive policies on academic honesty, cheating and plagiarism. 
If you have any queries about avoiding plagiarism, or if you are uncertain about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please contact the course coordinator for guidance. 
• It is the student's responsibility to read and adhere to the University's policies. 
• Staff encourage students to work together but do not share electronic copies of your coursework. Enabling another to cheat is also a form of academic misconduct. 
• Referen©ite – this web resource provides guidance on correctly acknowledging sources of information: http://www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/

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.

Level 1: Delivered normally as specified in delivery mode
Level 2: You will not be required to attend in person. All teaching and assessment will have a remote option.
Level 3 / 4: All teaching activities and assessments are delivered remotely

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 28/06/2021 05:09 p.m.