Course Title: Environmental Economics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental Economics

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ENVI1051

City Campus

Undergraduate

330H Social Science & Planning

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006

ENVI1051

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Brian Coffey

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 3980

Course Coordinator Email: brian.coffey@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 8. Floor 11. Room 26

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

The fate of the environment is inextricably linked to economic conditions. With rare exceptions, nation states emphasise economic growth over environmental considerations such as ecological sustainability, and air and water quality. In Australia, attempts to correct environmental damage via public policy have been met with considerable resistance. This course is designed to give you the skills necessary to articulately engage in this debate. You will learn key economic concepts, including the role economic ideology plays in environmental policy, how economists measure (or fail to measure) economic impacts on the environment, and how pro-environmental public policy might affect economic activities. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

 Program Learning Outcomes

In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

  • Apply a body of theoretical and practical knowledge of principles and practices in natural resource management, sustainability, globalisation and environmental management to professional practice or further study;
  • Critically analyse, synthesise and reflect on knowledge related to the social implications of environmental concerns and challenges both in Australia and globally;
  • Apply logical, critical and creative thinking to effectively solve a range of problems associated with environmental monitoring and management and associated policies and practices;
  • Assist in the identification of needs and the design, planning, resourcing and development of projects in environmental and social sustainability. 


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Understand the historical development of orthodox and heterodox economics ideas and how they value or undervalue the environment. 
  2. Recognise the role of economic activity in environmental damage and protection.
  3. Understand the nature and scope of contemporary environmental debates in relation to economic issues. 
  4. Be able to engage with economic arguments on environmental issues.   
  5. Recognise the local and global economic response to environmental damage, including from governments, industry, individuals and non-government organisations.


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning Activities include lectures and tutorials. Tutorials are based on a set of course readings and are student-led and designed to encourage deeper engagement with the concepts covered in lectures, to practice presentation skills and critical engagement with economic and environmental issues. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

Student resources including weekly readings, lecture notes, assessment criteria, and an electronic copy of the course guide will be available online throughout the semester. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment Tasks:

1. Reading analysis (25%) (Linked to CLO 1 and 2).

2. Understanding of environmental economic approaches and debates (30%) (Linked to CLO 1 and 3).

3. Analysing environmental economic case study - Group Task (45%) (Linked to CLO 3, 4 and 5).

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.