Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments minor
The natural sciences have developed a robust consensus on climate and related environmental changes and the numerous threats that these present to the human and natural environment. However, translating this scientific knowledge into effective policy is one of the great challenges of our time. STEM graduates need to have a detailed understanding of the international and domestic politics, planning and policy processes that are key to implementing solutions to these global, complex and inter-connected problems.
This Minor prepares students for work in government, scientific organisations, the private sector and voluntary organisations by teaching them how domestic and international policy is produced, enabling them to apply their scientific expertise towards effective policy design and implementation.
This Minor consists of three streams based on specific global challenges: Climate Change, Urban Environments and Environmental Planning.
Stream 1: Climate Change
Climate change is the defining challenge facing human society in the twenty first century. This stream enables students to develop a critical understanding of the impacts of climate change and how policies are designed and implemented at the local, national and international scales to address these impacts.
Stream 2: Environmental Planning
This stream allows students to examine how institutions undertake planning and management of the natural and human environment to deliver the objectives of sustainable development. The program of study provides students with an understanding of how our societies can be better planned and designed to be resilient to environmental changes, alongside an advanced knowledge of domestic policy-making processes and politics of dealing with environmental crises.
Stream 3: Urban Environments
Cities worldwide are facing multiple stresses resulting from population growth, transport gridlocks, water shortages, declining air quality and public health crises. This stream examines policies designed to improve the quality of life for urban
residents, with examples of good practice from overseas and the Perth metropolitan region. This stream examines policy issues relating to how urban settlements can be designed to facilitate adaptation to the combined impacts of climate
change and population growth.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate understanding of the relationship between science and the policy-making process; (2) apply scientific knowledge and expertise to policy settings; (3) effectively communicate scientific knowledge in a variety of oral, written, individual and team-based contexts; and (4) develop the collaborative skills and policy-making expertise which are essential to address the major challenges facing our society.
Unit sequence
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
All students are to take POLS2201 Foundations of Public Policy (6 points), plus option units chosen from Groups A, B, and C to a combined total of 18 points.
Students with an interest in Climate Change policy are encouraged to take GEOG1106, GEOG3308, and POLS3342 as their option units.
Students with an interest in Environmental Planning policy are encouraged to take GEOG1104, GEOG2206, and GEOG3303 as their option units.
Students with an interest in Urban Environment policy are encouraged to take GEOG1103, GEOG2206, and GEOG3305 as their option units.
Take the following unit:
| Availability |
Unit code |
Unit name |
Unit requirements |
| S1 |
POLS2201 |
Foundations of Public Policy |
- Prerequisites:
- 12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 1 - Co-requisites:
- Nil.
- Incompatibility:
- POLS3301 Public Policy
|
Group A—take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
| Availability |
Unit code |
Unit name |
Unit requirements |
Stream 1: Climate Change
| S1 |
GEOG1106 |
Climate Change: Environment and Society |
- Prerequisites:
- Nil
- Co-requisites:
- Nil
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S1 |
GEOG3308 |
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation |
- Prerequisites:
- GEOG2201
or
GEOG2202
or
approval of unit co-ordinator - Co-requisites:
- Nil
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S2 |
POLS3342 |
Global Environmental Politics |
- Prerequisites:
- 12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2 - Co-requisites:
- Nil.
- Incompatibility:
- POLS2229 States, Welfare and Environmental Policy
|
Group B—take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
| Availability |
Unit code |
Unit name |
Unit requirements |
Stream 2: Environmental Planning
| S2 |
GEOG1104 |
Disasters! |
- Prerequisites:
- Nil
- Co-requisites:
- Nil
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S2 |
GEOG2206 |
Population Geography and Planning |
- Prerequisites:
- Either GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
OR
GEOG1106 Climate Change Environment and Society
OR
GEOG1104 Disasters!;
or
approval of the Unit Coordinator. - Co-requisites:
- Nil.
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S2 |
GEOG3303 |
Environmental Policy and Planning |
- Prerequisites:
- Completion of 72 Points Course Enrolment MJD-CONBI Conservation Biology (ID 256)
Or
MJD-NRMGT Natural Resource Management (ID 1237)
Or
MJD-GGRPY Geographical Sciences (ID 1240)
Or
MJD-HGYPL Human Geography and Planning (ID 1550)
Or
MJD-WLCDM Wildlife Conservation (ID 4836)
Or
MJD-ENVDM Environmental Science and Management (ID 4842)
Or
MJD-ENVMT Environmental Management (ID 4847)
Or
MJD-ENGEO Environmental Geography and Planning (ID 4869)
Or
MNR-SAPEP Science and Policy: Environmental Planning (ID 59)
Or
MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments (ID 60)
Or
MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment (ID 73) - Co-requisites:
- Nil
- Incompatibility:
- Unit PLNG2203 Environmental Policy and Planning (ID 1313)
|
Group C—take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
| Availability |
Unit code |
Unit name |
Unit requirements |
Stream 3: Urban Environments
| S1 |
GEOG1103 |
Urbanisation and Sustainability |
- Prerequisites:
- Nil
- Co-requisites:
- Nil
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S2 |
GEOG2206 |
Population Geography and Planning |
- Prerequisites:
- Either GEOG1103 Urbanisation and Sustainability
OR
GEOG1106 Climate Change Environment and Society
OR
GEOG1104 Disasters!;
or
approval of the Unit Coordinator. - Co-requisites:
- Nil.
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|
| S1 |
GEOG3305 |
Urban Planning and Design |
- Prerequisites:
- URBD1000 Urban Design
OR
GEOG2205 Geographies of Economic Development
OR
GEOG2206 Social Geography and Planning - Co-requisites:
- Nil.
- Incompatibility:
- Nil
|