Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Introduction to Sustainability

• Unit Code

  SCI1001

• Year

  2019

• Enrolment Period

  1

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

• Unit Coordinator

  Dr David John BLAKE

Description

This unit provides the conceptual and theoretical foundations for the principles of sustainability. It provides students with ways of conceptualising real-world problems and solutions where environmental, economic and social issues are involved together. Students will be introduced to an operational understanding of interdisciplinarity, and practical approaches to achieve integration across disciplines and fields of endeavour, using systems thinking and critical thought.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply principles of sustainability to real-world and global situations.
2. Articulate the nature of disciplines, describe the ways in which disciplines relate to one another, and be able to identify and distinguish multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability challenges.
3. Explain how principles of sustainability can be formulated from ethical, cultural and empirical foundations.
4. Use systems concepts and terminology in appropriate contexts, and describe the differences between systems thinking and other forms of thought.
5. Use teamwork to analyse a case study and identify the changes in attitudes and behaviours (at individual and community levels) that are required across environmental, economic and societal domains to achieve sustainability or sustainable development.

Unit Content

1. Exploration of case studies in sustainability and sustainable development.
2. Introduction to disciplinarity, and the nature of multi-, inter-, cross- and transdisciplinarity.
3. Introduction to systems thinking.
4. Principles of sustainability.
5. Teamwork for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary pursuits.
6. The construction of problem statements, and the nature of sustainable solutions.
7. The multiple perspectives of sustainability and sustainable development.
8. The roles of instigating and managing changes in attitudes and behaviours in sustainable solutions.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials/workshops (includes skills workshops and teamwork exercises using debates and role playing).

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Core Reading(s)

• Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability : Principles and practice. London.: Routledge. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/842364641?databaseList=638