Discipline/School details [KEA]
Geography and Environmental Studies – School of
Geography and Environmental Studies
Geography and Environmental Studies are synthesising disciplines defined not so much
by their subject matter as by the perspectives they adopt. Units are diverse, with some
concentrating on the study of phenomena in the physical environment such as landforms,
climate and vegetation and others focusing on the spatial behaviour of individuals and
organisations. Most units consider the interaction of human beings with the physical
environment and include specific consideration of the planning implications of research,
in contexts that range from estimating the desirable characteristics of nature reserves to
policies for housing and land-use in the inner city.
Geography and Environmental Studies gain their integrity as disciplines from their
concern for the interactions between people and environment and associated problem
solving and planning implications. Geography is further unified in its concern for spatial
patterns and processes.
The management of wilderness and natural areas is a newly-evolving core theme which is
being developed within many disciplines at the University. The School of Geography and
Environmental Studies manages the special BSc 4-year degree in Natural Environment
and Wilderness Management (see page B-xx) and coordinates the interdisciplinary major
within the BA degree (see page B-xx) which provides a humanities/social science
approach to natural environments and wilderness issues. Since 1999, it has also
coordinated the Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies (see page
B-xx) which offers an interdisciplinary approach to the area with compulsory units in both
scientific and human focused areas. Students may enter these programs either directly in
first year or transfer into them if suitable subjects have been taken. Exit from these
courses into the broader Geography and Environmental Studies major may also be feasible
at the end of first or second year.
The wide scope of Geography & Environmental Studies means that it can be combined
usefully with units from a range of schools. Combinations will vary with the interests and
intentions of the student. However, common combinations at first year level, for students
primarily interested in the life and earth sciences, include units in zoology, plant science
and geology. For students interested in urban and regional planning, units in
administration, political science and sociology are appropriate. Other possible
combinations are numerous. For example, students aiming to specialise in climatology or
remote sensing are encouraged to develop a background in computer science,
mathematics and physics.
First year units, which have no prerequisites, provide training in the basic elements of
Geography & Environmental Studies. Science students in Hobart must enrol in KGA100,
while other students have the choice of KGA100 or KGA101. At Launceston, students
intending to major should enrol in both semester units KGA121 and KGA122.
Students enrolling in second and third year Geography and Environmental Studies must
follow the rules laid down by their respective faculties. The general principle adopted by
the School is to try to maximise the options available to the student. However, the number
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of units taken and constraints on the units selected are determined by the faculty. Year and
unit details should be noted carefully before enrolling.
Six units have alternative prerequisites and are routinely available to students who have
not previously studied the subject. Students with first year Economics may take
KGA208/308, students with KPA205 may take KGA331, students with KZA205 may take
KGA332, students with KEA205 may take KGA327, and students with approved second
year units may take KGA365 and KGA381. Other units which support a major in another
discipline may also be made available on a special case basis subject to approval by
faculty.
The Honours program is divided into three theme areas: geography; environmental
studies; and spatial information science. Students follow an individually arranged
program of advanced coursework and prepare a major research thesis. The Honours year
is seen as the conventional entry point into professional employment within the various
subdisciplines as well as leading logically to postgraduate studies.
Career outcomes
Employment opportunities for graduates with a Geography and Environmental Studies
major exist in a variety of areas. These include governmental and environmental
agencies (local, state and commonwealth), Parks and Wildlife, various other government
departments (meteorology, fisheries, forestry), education (schools, colleges, TAFE
institutes and universities), environmental and planning consulting firms, waste
management, tourism companies, and environmental management. Honours graduates
will be highly competitive for professional careers in their area of specialisation. Recent
Honours graduates have gained employment in the following areas: economic
consultancy, air/noise pollution monitoring and urban planning, coastal management,
Landcare, bushland management, heritage research and environmental consultancy.
Theme areas
The School of Geography and Environmental studies teaches many units in the
Population and Community Studies and Natural Environment and Wilderness theme
areas. Some units taught by the School also fall within the Antarctic and Southern Ocean
Studies theme area.
Specific units in the Natural Environment and Wilderness include KGA100 Geography and
Environmental Studies 1, KGA101 Geography and Environmental Studies 1A, KGA121
Population and Urbanisation, KGA122 The Physical Environment, KGA202/302 Geography of
Asia, KGA209 Biogeography and Climatology, KGA213 Natural Environment Field
Techniques, KGA226/326 Environmental Geomorphology, KGA227/327 Conservation
Geomorphology, KGA233/333 Forest Ecosystems, KGA234/334 Agroforestry, KGG245
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, KGA240/340 Historical Geography,
KGA223/323 Environmental Management, KGA272/372 Literature and Environment,
KGA278/378 Wilderness and Natural Area Management, KGA321 Climatology, KGA332
Fauna Conservation Management, KGA331 Vegetation Management, KGA365 Environmental
Remote Sensing and KGA381 Environment Impact Assessment.
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Discipline/School details [KEA]
Specific units in the Population and Community Studies theme include KGA100
Geography and Environmental Studies I, KGA101 Geography and Environmental Studies 1A,
KGA121 Population and Urbanisation, KGA202/302 Geography of Asia, KGA208/308 Global
Space Economy, KGA253/353 Urban Planning: Space, Place and Society, and KGA254/354
Sustainable Communities.
Specific majors and courses taught in the theme areas include a Geography and
Environmental Studies major in both the BSc and BA degrees, a Natural Environment and
Wilderness Studies major in the BA, a four year specimen course in Natural Environment
and Wilderness Management in the BSc, and the course Bachelor of Natural Environment
and Wilderness Studies.
NOTE: The following KGA- Geography and Environmental Studies units are arranged
according to their level (100, 200, 200/300, 300, 400, etc.) in alphanumeric order of the
unit enrolment code.
200
Geography and Environmental Studies (Level 200)
Second year BA students intending to major in Geography and Environmental Studies
enrol for three, four or five units selected from the full range of level 200 and level 200/300
units. KGA209, KGA213 and KGG245 are available only as second year units.
Second year BSc students intending to major in Geography and Environmental Studies
must enrol in TWO of the following units for form a 25% science core:
KGA209 Biogeography and Climatology
KGA213 Natural Environment Field Techniques
KGA226 Environmental Geomorphology
KGA227 Conservaton Geomorphology
KGA233 Forest Ecosystems
KGA234 Agroforestry
KGG245 Introduction to GIS
BSc students may take one or two additional units in Geography and Environmental
Studies. These may be selected from the above science units or from the various Arts units
listed under Level 200/300 units .
BSc students must monitor the group 2A unit weighting with care as the specifications of
the degree specify that no more than 25% of all second-year units can come from group
2A.
Geography and Environmental Studies (Level
200/300)
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The following units are available at either second- or third-year level depending on the
year of enrolment.
Bachelor of Arts students intending to major in Geography and Environmental Studies
must complete six units (75%) during second and third year. Additional units may be
studied up to a maximum of 10 (125%). Our advice to students considering honours is to
study at least seven units over the two years.
Bachelor of Science students enrolling in these units should be aware of the faculty
restrictions described above for second year and below for third year.
Geography and Environmental Studies (Level 300)
Bachelor of Arts students may include any of these units within their degree.
Bachelor of Science students intending to major in Geography and Environmental Studies
(G&ES) require third year units worth 50%. The rules affecting the choice of units are
complex. In most cases, students have two major subjects (eg Geology and G&ES or
Botany and G&ES). These students are free to select any four of the 12.5% units available
regardless of whether it is a Science (BSc group 3) or Arts (BSc group 3A) unit. However, if
G&ES is to be their only major subject, students must take at least three of their four units
from group 3 and if the balance of their third year points are already drawn from group
3A, as in the case of Science/Law students, all four units must be from group 3.
All units listed below are BSc group 3.
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