Integrative Methods in Environment and Society Minor
Integrative Methods in Environment and Society Minor - Overview
Offered By: |
ANU Joint Colleges of Science |
Academic Contact: |
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Areas of Interest: |
Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies - Sustainability, and Resource Management and Environmental Science |
Description:
High quality, integrative research plays a critical role in identifying pathways towards sustainability. The Integrative Methods in Environment and Society minor focuses on fundamental research understandings and skills necessary to develop research projects that effectively address complex problems of environment and sustainable development. It focuses on a core set of research skills- and design-based courses, with key choices in areas of quantitative, qualitative and spatial approaches. This is a `hands-on' minor, with opportunities to conduct small-scale research built into its components. It is intended to complement more topic- or discipline-related majors and minors (e.g. Human Ecology, Climate Science & Policy) by strengthening broad-based research skills and embedding them in a broad understanding of the role of research in addressing complex sustainability issues.
Students considering Honours should take the Integrative Methods in Environment and Society minor if they have not chosen the Sustainability Science Major (see the Honours section of the ENVS entry in the Undergraduate Handbook). The Integrative Methods in Environment and Society minor is recommended for students considering a future career in sustainability-related research, who have not met the first year requirements for the Sustainability Science Major.
Learning Goals:
On completion of the Integrative Methods in Environment and Society minor students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Build an understanding of the role of research in sustainability, both within and beyond academic domains.
- Learn and apply the fundamental skills and processes of research design, as they apply to sustainability-related challenges.
- Learn and apply a range of research methods from different disciplines.
- Integrate different forms of disciplinary research into more complex, problem-oriented approaches.
- Apply a range of written, oral and visual communication skills to communicate research outcomes effectively.
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
A total of 6 units from the following compulsory course:
ENVS3040 Solving Complex Environmental Problems
A total of 18 units to be chosen from the following courses including:
- A maximum of 12 units chosen from the following 2000 level courses:
ENVS2009 Quantitative Environmental Research Methods
ENVS2014 Qualitative Research Methods
ENVS2015 GIS and Spatial Analysis
ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6 units only)
- 6 to 18 units chosen from the following 3000 level courses:
ENVS3010 Independent Research Project (recommended)
ENVS3016 Special Topic
ENVS3021 Human Futures
SCOM3001 Science, Risk and Ethics
Advice to Students:
What 1st year courses should you enrol in? Students interested in taking this Minor are advised to take the first year course ENVS1003 Environment and Society Research Methods.
Students enrolling in ENVS3010 must undertake the research project in a relevant field of study.
Students should seek further course advice from the academic convener of this Integrative Methods minor.
The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.
