| Semester 1, 2020 Online | |
| Short Description: | Global Issues in Sustainablty |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Commerce |
| Student contribution band : | Band 3 |
| ASCED code : | 089999 - Mgt & Commerce not class |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other requisites
Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .
Rationale
Humans, through population growth and anthropogenic changes to natural ecosystems, are endangering the sustainability of their own habitat. Current human activities have the earth on a pathway of unsustainable biological and economic outcomes. The deleterious outcomes which arise from these activities include climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and depletion of natural resources. This course provides an opportunity to learn about these harmful global issues impacting on present generations and the reasons for the continuation and exacerbation of these problems in market based economies.
Synopsis
This course investigates major phenomena threatening planet earth's environment and consequently the progress of industrialisation and the standard of living in both rich and poor countries alike which have arisen through natural resource exploitation. Topics include phenomena such as: climate change, pollution, loss of biological diversity, and depletion of natural resources.
In the first third of the course, human population growth and the demand for and utilisation of resources will be explored as fundamental underlying causes of current issues in sustainability. The basic science behind issues will be introduced and explained.
In the last two thirds of the course, the discussion will turn an investigation of the reasons for the outcomes observed. A public policy approach will be used to investigate how we got to this position and how these challenges can be overcome to correct/change the unsustainable pathways the global environment and economy is heading. This will particularly include examining the market-based economic concepts which explain, in part, why this situation has come about and why it continues on an unsustainable path.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
- demonstrate how human activity threatens the sustainability of the earth鈥檚 environment;
- understand how market based economics has contributed to the current situation;
- understand how market based economies contribute toward the continuation of this environmental damage.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Introduction: overview of the course | 2.00 |
| 2. | Sustainability and the biophysical environment | 32.00 |
| 3. | Economics, the biophysical environment and sustainability | 64.00 |
| 4. | Conclusion: summary and explanation of how the course complements the other courses in the specialisation | 2.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=ECO8011)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 30.00 |
| Directed 精东传媒app | 39.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 96.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSIGNMENT 1 | 25 | 25 | 19 Mar 2020 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 2 | 25 | 25 | 23 Apr 2020 | |
| ASSIGNMENT 3 | 50 | 50 | 12 Jun 2020 | (see note 1) |
Notes
- Students will be provided further instruction regarding the assignment by their examiner via 精东传媒appDesk.
Important assessment information
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Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
Requirements after S1, 2020:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.) -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S1, 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are:
There is no examination in this course.
Requirements after S1, 2020:
This is a restricted examination. Candidates are allowed access to specific materials during the examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the examination for this course are:- writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination).
- an unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary). A student whose first language is not English may take a translation dictionary into the examination room. A translation dictionary with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
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Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are:
There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
Requirements after S1, 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
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Referencing in assignments: Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide at .