Course Outline

GEO101 Space, place and the Anthropocene

Course Coordinator:Theresa Ashford (tashford@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Human geography is the study of societies and their environments, of peoples and places. This thought-provoking course will engage with geographical theories to better understand our everyday connections to landscape and place; colonialism and global economies; sites of consumption and production; identities, difference and exclusion. This course is foundational to further studies of geography, and will also provide a strong basis to compliment study in social and environmental sciences, planning and the humanities.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online asynchronous/pre learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face to face tutorial 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Online
Learning materials – Online asynchronous/pre recorded learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online synchronous tutorial 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

Module One: Ways of Seeing the World

Module Two: Ways of Being in the World

Module Three: The Anthropocene

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Competencies from multiple Professional Bodies (see below) *
1 Identify, describe and explain the foundational themes, concepts, theories and perspectives in Human Geography. Knowledgeable
1, 2, 4.1.1
2 Use a specific Human Geographer's approach (Cloke, Massey, or Whatmore for example) to investigate various case studies, diverse topics or applications. Creative and critical thinker
2, 6
3 Use Human Geography thinking to evaluate and describe global or local social worlds. Sustainability-focussed
3, 4
4 Ethically communicate Human Geography knowledge using appropriate language, images, and texts. Ethical
6

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Australian Learning & Teaching Council
1 Knowing: Demonstrate a coherent geographical understanding of trends, processes and impacts that shape Australian and other environments and/or societies at different spatial and temporal scales.
2 Knowing: Demonstrate an understanding of Geography as an academic discipline, including awareness of its concepts, history and principal subfields, whilst acknowledging the contested, provisional and situated nature of geographical understanding.
3 Thinking: Apply geographical thought creatively, critically and appropriately to specific spaces, places and/or environments.
4 Thinking: Recognise, evaluate and synthesise various views, arguments and sources of knowledge pertinent to solving environmental and social problems.
6 Communicating: Communicate geographical perspectives and knowledge effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences using appropriately selected written, oral and visual means.
Education for Sustainable Development Goals
4.1.1 The learner understands the important role of education and lifelong learning opportunities for all (formal, non-formal and informal learning) as main drivers of sustainable development, for improving people’s lives and in achieving the SDGs

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 30%
Multiple choice
Refer to Format Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Journal Individual 30%
1500 Words
Week 5 Online Submission
All 3 Journal Individual 40%
2000
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online Geography Quiz
Goal:
To develop your knowledge and understanding of human geographical concepts
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic format MCQ randomly generated quiz questions on Canvas
These are weekly quizzes (weeks 1 - 12) on the readings and learning materials
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Demonstrates understanding of the introductory concepts in human geographical thinking
1
Generic Skills:
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Space, Place and the Anthropocene J1
Goal:
You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of human geographical concepts as they have been presented in the course text.
Product: Journal
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic Format Short notes. You will use APA7 referencing and pull out good quotes and big ideas. You will also create a glossary of human geography terms.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Description of the introductory concepts in human geographical thinking
1
2
Use of key concepts and specific Human Geographer's approaches to illustrate the answer
2 3
3
Ethical communication - recognising where knowledge comes from
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Space, place and Anthropocene J2
Goal:
This second Journal for this course will cover major Human Geographical fields of practice. The feedback from your first journal will support your work for the second instalment.
Product: Journal
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic format
 APA or Harvard referencing
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Knowledgeable - Description of concepts, relevant geographers and geographical thinking/theory
1
2
Empowered - Relate human geography terms and make linkages of theory to a case study or application
2
3
Empowered - Summary and synthesis - using human geography to make sense of problem or
question
3
4
Referencing and communication
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
Geography Threshold Learning Outcomes
All delivery modes Journal Space, Place and the Anthropocene J1 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Space, place and Anthropocene J2 1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
6 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Quiz/zes Online Geography Quiz 2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
POLICY FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF AUSTRALIAN PLANNING QUALIFICATIONS 2016
All delivery modes Journal Space, Place and the Anthropocene J1 2.1.4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Space, place and Anthropocene J2 2.1.4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Paul J. Cloke,Phil Crang,Mark A. Goodwin 2005 Introducing Human Geographies n/a Routledge

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: