Course Title: Environmental Psychology
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Environmental Psychology
Credit Points: 12.00
Important Information:
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
BESC1509 |
Bundoora Campus |
Undergraduate |
173H School of Health and Biomed |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021 |
BESC1510 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
173H School of Health and Biomed |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022 |
BESC1540 |
RMIT University Vietnam |
Undergraduate |
173H School of Health and Biomed |
Face-to-Face |
Viet3 2021, Viet3 2022 |
BESC1549 |
RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus |
Undergraduate |
173H School of Health and Biomed |
Face-to-Face |
Viet3 2022 |
Course Coordinator: Dr Wendell Cockshaw
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7067
Course Coordinator Email: wendell.cockshaw@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 202.04.063
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None.
Course Description
This course focuses on the application of science and theory to the understanding of various topics in human-environment interactions. Topics include: the meaning of space from philosophical, historical, personal, and societal perspectives; exploring innovative measures of the environment; understanding the theories and models that attempt to explain human-environmental interactions; individual differences that interact with environments; the positive and negative influences of the environment on human behaviour and the social dilemma associated with human impact. The remaining content focuses on special topics that include: environmental design; pro-environmental behaviour, and social issues such as homelessness and the prevention of crime.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP154 Bachelor of Applied Science (Psychology):
- PLO 1: Understand appropriate and relevant fundamental and applied evidence based knowledge and undertake life long learning to improve personal and professional practice
- PLO 2: Demonstrate a capacity to employ a variety of approaches and procedure to research to permit judgements and decisions to be supported by appropriate evidence that places practice within a global and local context
- PLO 3: Applied knowledge to diagnose and solve problems in a wide range of diverse situation, with an ability to work independently or with others and incorporate the analysis of evidence based scientific literature to solve psychological problems
On successful completion of this course you should be able to:
- Critically examine the rational and scientific approaches to the application of psychology to the environment
- Describe the human factors that influence environmental behaviours
- Describe the environmental influences on human factors
- Demonstrate pro-environmental behaviour
Overview of Learning Activities
Activities associated with this course including lectures and tutorials will primarily take place in on-line environments.
This will be supplemented by online learning materials and interactions including other video-based and multi-media learning content, online learning exercises and participation in discussion forums.
During lectures, you will acquire theoretical and evidence-based frameworks of psychological knowledge associated with environmental factors, and tutorials will help you to apply this theory and evidence-base to real-world problems.
Prior to tutorials, you will be required to complete preparatory reading and engagement with structured online learning materials to contribute to these sessions with discussion, problem-solving, critical appraisal and other activities.
The assessment associated with this course will include formative and summative elements, incorporating a variety of assessment modes. Assessments will be spread throughout the semester and include an early assessment task, major project assignment and quizzes.
Assignments may be prescribed as individual or group tasks and are designed to encourage you to demonstrate a critical analysis and application of the core principles presented in the course.
Feedback on your progress will be provided throughout the semester from the teaching team and your peers.
Overview of Learning Resources
The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources including recommended textbooks. Material chosen may be digitally available to you. Lecture material will also be delivered via Echo and other recordings. Practice learning activities will be provided in a variety of ways, including simulated learning activities. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems, including Canvas.
A Library Subject Guide is available at http://rmit.libguides.com/psychology
Overview of Assessment
This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1: Environment Project proposal
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4
Assessment Task 2: Project task
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3 & 4
Assessment Task 3: Online quizzes
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3