Offered By	ANU Joint Colleges of Science
Academic Contact	Dr Richard Greene and Dr John Field
Areas of Interest	Environmental Studies

Description:

The long term survival of humanity relies on sustainable management of our natural environment, including its landscapes; and sustainable management is dependent upon our having a strong scientific understanding of the fundamental processes that interact to shape the complex environmental system.

The major in Environmental and Landscape Sciences develops that understanding by providing an integration of scientific knowledge and practice in environmental and landscape sciences. It focuses on how key areas of environmental science relate to and are underpinned by landscape processes. Only by understanding these key landscape processes can successful environmental outcomes be achieved. The major includes a focus on current understandings of the science of the environment and landscape processes, and a range of response strategies for their sustainable management. Students develop their ability to evaluate recent and current advances in environmental and landscape sciences, and in policy and management approaches; and to integrate a range of discipline-based knowledge relevant to specific regions or issues in sustainable environmental and landscape management.

Learning Goals:

On completing the major in Environmental and Landscape Sciences, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Think critically about environmental and landscape sciences issues, integrate information, and construct logical, consistent and synthesised arguments.
2. Explain the scientific underpinning and environmental implications of critical issues in ecological and landscape processes, across a range of likely scenarios.
3. Engage with a range of stakeholders, including environmental and landscape scientists, land managers, government extension officers and private consultants, on a range of environmental and landscape issues.
4. Analyse and interpret complex processes and apply solutions across a range of environments and landscapes.

Requirements

This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:

A total of 6 units from the following compulsory course:

ENVS1004 Australia's Environment

A total of 42 units to be chosen from the following courses including:

• A maximum of 6 units chosen from the following 1000 level courses:

EMSC1006  The Blue Planet: an Introduction to Earth System Science

* ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research

6 to 18 units chosen from the following 2000 level courses:

EMSC2021  Fundamentals of Climate System Science

                       ENVS2003 Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology

ENVS2004  Weather, Climate and Fire

* ENVS2015  GIS and Spatial Analysis

ENVS2020  Hydrology and Landforms for Natural Resource Management

ENVS2021  Vegetation and Soils: Landscape Co-evolution and Ecology

• A minimum of 18 units chosen from the following 3000 level courses:

ENVS3002  Sustainable Agricultural Practices

ENVS3008  Fire in the Environment

* ENVS3010  Independent Research Project

ENVS3013  Climatology

* ENVS3014 Ecological Assessment and Management

ENVS3020  Climate Change Science and Policy

ENVS3026  Geomorphology: Landscape Evolution and Changing Climate

ENVS3029  Palaeo-Environmental Reconstruction

ENVS3039  Biodiversity Conservation

Advice to Students:

What 1st year courses should you enrol in?  ENVS1004 plus either * ENVS1003 or EMSC1006

* Students pursuing this major must take at least 6 units from one of the starred research methods courses.

Students should seek further course advice from the academic convener of this Environmental and Landscape Sciences major.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2013 website applies to the 2013 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2012 website.