SLE201 - Society and Environment

Unit details

Year

2025 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
Previously coded as:SQA201
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Christie Lam
Prerequisite:

SLE103 or SLE121

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: Nil
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

1 x 1 hour lecture per week.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:Online independent and collaborative learning including 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week.
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Content

Complex environmental problems require creative, multidisciplinary approaches, and many environmental professionals argue that the management of those problems is primarily about understanding and working with people. Whatever your interest is, be it coastal planning, wildlife conservation, pollution or waste management, climate change adaptation, or simply linking sustainability with other disciplines, skills in environmental social science will be invaluable for your future career. In this unit we will explore how social science can help us understand diverse socio-economic perspectives on environmental issues; tools for stakeholder and community engagement, conflict and dispute resolution; and how to develop powerful and effective strategies for fostering sustainable behaviours.

Learning Outcomes

ULO These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can:

Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)

ULO1

Describe diverse environmental paradigms and world views.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO2

Describe social research methods and develop a social research project to investigate the social dimensions of an environmental issue.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO3

Explain the various tools available for promoting sustainable behaviours and prepare a behaviour change program.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO4

Examine the various skills needed to effectively and ethically work with communities and stakeholders in environmental decision-making.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO5

Communicate clearly, succinctly and professionally with staff and students in an online learning environment.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO7: Teamwork

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1
Social research design
Written report, approximately 1,000 words 35% Week 4
Assessment 2
Behaviour change program
Written report, approximately 1,500 words 35% Week 8
Assessment 3
Online discussion and reflection
Two online discussions 10% Weeks 6 and 9
Assessment 4
Online test
80-minute online test 20% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning resource

The texts and reading list for SLE201 can be found via the University Library.

Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place.

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