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Unit of study_
GEOS1001: Earth, Environment and Society
2027 unit information
This is the gateway unit of study for Geography, Environmental Studies, Marine Science, and Geology and Geophysics. It explores the fundamental questions relating to the origins, evolution, and current state of Earth, as well as climatic and environmental change, landscape evolution, and how people interact with the planet. Students engage with concepts, theories, and debates across the geosciences, examining how geoscientific knowledge can help address some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, including food, water, and energy security, as well as hazards, climate and biodiversity crises, and inequality. Through practical classes, students develop foundational skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), an essential technology for analysing, managing, and visualising environmental and spatial data. The first module examines Earth's systems and processes in the context of geological time, including plate tectonics, mantle convection, and the interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and human societies. The second module presents Earth as an evolving and dynamic planet, investigating global environmental change, addressing climate variability and human impacts on the natural environment and the rate at which these changes occur and how they have the potential to dramatically affect the way we live. Finally, the third module focuses on human-induced challenges to Earth's future. This part of the unit critically analyses the relationships between people and their environments, with central consideration to debates on population change, resource use, and the policy contexts of climate change mitigation and adaptation. This unit provides an interdisciplinary foundation for further study in the geosciences while developing the critical thinking, spatial analysis, and environmental problem-solving skills needed to understand and address complex global challenges.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Geosciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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GEOS1901 or GEOG1001 or GEOG1002 or GEOL1001 or GEOL1002 or GEOL1902 or ENSY1001 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Describe and explain the physical and social processes that have shaped terrestrial, ocean, atmospheric and human population characteristics of planet Earth.
- LO2. Describe and analyse spatial data and create maps using Geographic Information Systems.
- LO3. Undertake academic literature searches, and be aware of the conventions relating to academic literature.
- LO4. Construct a logical argument with coherency within written work to communicate Earth systems at expected University level.
- LO5. Investigate environmental issues, then present and discuss this research with others.
- LO6. Demonstrate informed citizenship about issues relating to contemporary environmental debates.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2027
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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