Minor Overview

About this 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.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2022

Note:Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.

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:

Stream 1: Climate Change

Availability Unit code Unit name Unit requirements
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
N/A 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:

Stream 2: Environmental Planning

Availability Unit code Unit name Unit requirements
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:
Enrolment in MJD-CONBI Conservation Biology
or
MJD-NRMGT Natural Resource Management
or
MJD-GGRPY Geographical Sciences
or
MJD-HGYPL Human Geography and Planning
or
MJD-WLCDM Wildlife Conservation
or
MJD-ENVDM Environmental Science and Management
or
MJD-ENVMT Environmental Management
or
MJD-ENGEO Environmental Geography and Planning
or
MNR-SAPEP Science and Policy: Environmental Planning
or
MNR-SPCEU Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
or
MNR-ENVST Understanding the Environment and Successful completion of 72 points in your chosen degree
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Unit(s) PLNG2203 Environmental Policy and Planning
Group C—take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:

Stream 3: Urban Environments

Availability Unit code Unit name Unit requirements
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