Course Coordinator:Stefanie Fishel (sfishel@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
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. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
In an interconnected world grappling with complex environmental challenges, the concept of justice must expand beyond the human realm to embrace the vast array of non-human species that share our planet. The course aims to redefine our ethical framework and explore innovative approaches to ensure a harmonious coexistence between humans and other species. It offers a comprehensive examination of the intricate web of relationships within the global ecosystem, challenging traditional anthropocentric perspectives. Through interdisciplinary scholarship, scientific insights, and case studies, students will delve into the philosophical, legal, and ethical dimensions of multispecies justice.
Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
Blended learning | |||
Learning materials – Online learning materials (e.g. videos, readings, activities, discussion board) | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly in-person tutorial/workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
Online | |||
Learning materials – Weekly online learning materials (e.g. videos, readings, activities, discussion board) | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Weekly online tutorial/workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
What is the Anthropocene?
Theories of Justice
Earth-Centered Law
The More-than-Human in Theory and Practice
Human and More-than-Human Rights
Multispecies Justice
The Intersections of Human and More-than-Human Rights
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
1 | Understand key concepts,theories, and philosophical approaches related to multispecies justice, including the historical development of these ideas and their relevance to contemporary issues. |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
2 | Conduct interdisciplinary research on topics related to multispecies justice and effectively communicate findings through written, oral, and multimedia presentations. |
Creative and critical thinker Sustainability-focussed Communication |
3 | Understand the role of international organizations and legal instruments in advancing multispecies justice. |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
4 | Develop skills to assess, design, and advocate for policies that promote multispecies justice at local, national, and global levels. |
Empowered Ethical Engaged Sustainability-focussed Communication |
5 | Appreciate the intersections of multispecies justice with other social justice issues, including race, gender, and class. |
Creative and critical thinker Ethical Sustainability-focussed Collaboration |
6 | Analyze case studies that illustrate conflicts and resolutions in multispecies justice. |
Knowledgeable Engaged Sustainability-focussed Problem solving |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
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Standard Grading (GRD)
High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Early feedback is provided in Assessment 1. Students will be given direct oral and written feedback on their preparation and participation in the tutorial related to readings and online-learning materials each week.
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 | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece | Individual | 25% | 1000 words |
Week 4 | Online Submission |
All | 2 | Journal | Individual | 25% | 500 words |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
All | 3 | Case Study | Individual | 50% | 2000 words |
Week 13 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
All - Assessment Task 1:Creative Essay and Policy Issue | |||||||||||||
Goal: | The primary goal of this creative essay assignment is to develop your ability to communicate the issues surrounding multispecies justice. By engaging in a creative process about your connection to nature and how you feel you can create justice in your everday life. You will enhance your writing skills, explore your creative potential, and communicate effectively. |
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Product: | Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece | ||||||||||||
Format: | Creative essay and policy review on a topic in multispecies justice. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Organisation |
All - Assessment Task 2:Weekly Journal Reflection | |||||||||||||
Goal: | The primary goal of the weekly portfolio assignment is to foster continuous learning and reflection on your progress throughout the course. This exercise is designed to enhance your understanding of the material, encourage consistent engagement, and develop your ability to critically evaluate your own work. |
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Product: | Journal | ||||||||||||
Format: | Handwritten journaling is encouraged. Can be submitted in tutorial or emailed to instructor. |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication |
All - Assessment Task 3:Policy Essay | ||||||||||||||||
Goal: | The primary goal of this case study assignment is to explore and analyze a specific topic within the broader context of multispecies justice. This includes grasping the ethical, ecological, social, and legal dimensions of the issue. |
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Product: | Case Study | |||||||||||||||
Format: | Research essay with policy application |
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Criteria: |
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Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation |
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.
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.
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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.
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
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
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The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
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