About this course

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This environmental studies course is intended to introduce you to some of the basic principles in environmental studies, and how those are manifested in urban, rural and natural areas throughout the world.

Through observation, discussion, and creation of digital content, you will explore and share environmental challenges facing your local environment and create a global learning and action community.

Rather than simply offering a long list of the problems we face, this course will take a solutions-focused approach.

At a glance

Institution: CurtinX
Subject: Environmental Studies
Level: Introductory
Prerequisites:
None

Language: English
Video Transcript: English
Associated skills:Environmental Studies, Digital Content

What you'll learn

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After completing this course, you will be able to:

List and define fundamental terms and concepts in environmental studies
Describe the ways that human use of resources impacts the environment
Analyse and compare environmental issues in different parts of the world
Apply environmental studies principles to evaluate your community, and identify and recommend solutions to local challenges
Share stories and findings about your local (natural and built) environment

Syllabus

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Module 1: Why study the environment – and what is Environmental Studies?

Introduction and overview
What is environmental studies? It’s not environmental science, nor is it sustainability. It IS a combination of arts, social science, and science (social, political, economic, health and ecological), and how these contribute to environmental issues and solutions.
Why study it? Because it brings together many different disciplines, environmental studies helps us tackle some of the world’s most important and complex problems, such as resource use, energy consumption and food security. Our species depends on it!

Module 2: Systems and Cycles

Planet formation/rock cycle
Climate and weather cycles
Biological cycles – population, dynamics and nutrients
Urban systems and cycles

Module 3: Resources and Energy

Biotic and geologic resources and biodiversity
Soil and water resources
Forms of energy
Use of energy

Module 4: People and Populations

Population basics
Populations over time and space
Populations of the Global South
Environmental Justice

Module 5: Present challenges

Challenges we face as a species - staying alive
Consequences of resource use (pollution, depletion, waste, degradation)

Module 6: Solutions and the future

Types of environmental problems
Solutions and actions
UNESCO and UN Sustainability Goals
Future (humans and the planet beyond 2050)