Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

Unit Overview

Description

This unit introduces students to the central components of population change (births, deaths, and migration) and their often-controversial role in shaping Australian society over time. It addresses key intersecting policy debates about: population growth and resource depletion; Australia's peculiar population distribution (and related challenges of urban primacy and regional decline); approaches to immigration (and the implications of these approaches for a ‘multicultural' Australia); the causes and consequences of declining fertility; the economic challenges of population ageing; and growing inequality between population sub-groups and the implications for individual ‘life chances'.

The unit provides students with the conceptual and analytical tools to explain, critically engage with, and advance, these complex debates. It also equips students with technical skills to apply their conceptual knowledge of population dynamics to the analysis of socio-economic and demographic data, for the purposes of social policy development, and emphasises skill development in collaborative learning and professional communication.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Semester 1UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 2 core unit in the Applied Human Geography; Geographical and Spatial Science; Social and Environmental Sustainability major sequences
  • Level 2 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) recall the fundamental processes that shape population change across space and time; (2) relate conceptual knowledge of population geography to real-world circumstances through creative collaboration and presentation; (3) evaluate the causes and implications of major social policy issues associated with population change and diversity; (4) develop evidence-based assessments of localised population geographies through analysis of socio-spatial population data; and (5) demonstrate professionalism in communication skills for a policy audience.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) case study; (2) report; and (3) mid-semester exam. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Associate Professor Sarah Prout Quicke
Unit rules
Prerequisites
24 points
Advisable prior study
GEOG1107 Human Inequality in the Anthropocene (ID 8266)
Contact hours
1-2 hours online lectures
2-3 hours labs/workshops per week
Texts

 

 

  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Unit readings, including any essential textbooks, are listed in the unit outline for each unit, one week prior the commencement of study. The unit outline will be available via the LMS and the UWA Handbook one week prior the commencement of study. Reading lists and essential textbooks are subject to change each semester. Information on essential textbooks will also be made available on the Essential Textbooks. This website is updated regularly in the lead up to semester so content may change. It is recommended that students purchase essential textbooks for convenience due to the frequency with which they will be required during the unit. A limited number of textbooks will be made available from the Library in print and will also be made available online wherever possible. Essential textbooks can be purchased from the commercial vendors to secure the best deal. The Student Guild can provide assistance on where to purchase books if required. Books can be purchased second hand at the Guild Secondhand bookshop (second floor, Guild Village), which is located on campus.
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.