GEOG 2156 - Environmental Ethics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

This course will familiarise students with the content and the processes within ethical decision-making concerning the natural and social environment. This course will introduce students to the main ethical theories pertaining to the environment and include introduction to anthropocentric, biocentric and ecocentric viewpoints. The course considers the impacts of ethical considerations on a range of real world environmental situations including ethics in stakeholder consultation, working with Indigenous peoples and ethics within environmental management. The course will provide case studies to assist build student understanding of how world views and ethical considerations influence and shape decision making and develop environmental management.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOG 2156
    Course Environmental Ethics
    Coordinating Unit Geography, Environment and Population
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of Level I undergraduate study
    Assumed Knowledge Understanding of environmental issues and management will be an advantage
    Assessment 1000 word article review (20%), 1500 word tutorial portfolio (40%), 500 word verbal presentation (15%), 1500 word report/ essay/ written assignment (25%)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On completion of this unit students will be able to:
    1. Read and reflect on efforts to formulate an environmental ethic
    2. To demonstrate understanding of the social movements which correlate with and carry various perspectives on human responsibility toward the environment.
    3.To apply environmental ethical theory to real-world environmental conflicts and issues.
    4.To demonstrate understanding of a range of ethical theories and their applications in debates about the environment
    5. Demonstrate understanding in key areas in debates about environmental matters

    University Graduate Attributes

    No information currently available.

  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Students are not required to read any particular core text. However, it is expected that readings provided will be read prior to class, and that students will undertake their own research and reading as relevant to course themes.



    Some good texts to start with are: -

    Eugene C. Hargrove, Foundations of Environmental Ethics (Prentice-Hall, 1989)

    Mark Sagoff, The Economy of the Earth: Philosophy, Law, and the Environment (Cambridge University Press, 1988)

    Joeseph Des Jardins, Environmental Ethics: An Introduction to Environmental Philosophy

    Jan E. Dizzard, Going Wild (Massachusetts University Press, 1994)
    Recommended Resources

    Students will have many resources available to them on Canvas. These will be sufficient to pass the course and do the assessments. However, students are encouraged to do further research via journals and other documents/resources to value add to their information.
    Online Learning

    The Canvas website for the course will provide you with access to the following features to help manage your study:

    Announcements


    Powerpoint slides


    Course readings


    Course outlines; and,


    Any additional materials



    You are advised to regularly visit the Canvas website for the course to receive course announcements and reminders.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    No information currently available.

    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.