Nature, People, Place unit (KGA172)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

This introductory unit develops your knowledge of how people depend on nature, and how increasingly the conservation of nature depends on people. We will explore these relationships through a values lens: how nature is important for its own sake, how natural resources are important to people, and how nature is important for people's wellbeing. Workshops will provide you with skills to map social and ecological landscapes, argue for the conservation and use of nature, and present your evaluations and arguments to others. Some workshops will be conducted in the field in and around Hobart and Launceston, with virtual field trips and workshops for distance students. This unit will be useful in a wide variety of occupations and professions in government, environmental NGOs, and industry - as well as your personal understanding of nature.

Note that this unit includes an 'assurance of learning' task which necessitates that students verify their learning either in person or via video online. Online students must have access to a camera and microphone so staff can see and hear them while discussing unit materials. This task must be completed for a student to pass the unit.

Summary

Unit name	Nature, People, Place
Unit code	KGA172
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Discipline	Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Coordinator	Doctor Emily Flies
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Introductory

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	4/7/2027	26/7/2027	29/8/2027	23/10/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• address conservation and sustainability challenges using geographical knowledge of ecological and social systems
• identify and analyse diverse perspectives on the values of nature
• apply geographical skills to collect ecological and social data, and use this to create basic maps and graphs
• communicate critical thinking through literature-based research, visual presentation of geographic data, teamwork and practices of academic integrity

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

XPD123

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Each week will include pre-recorded (asynchronous) lectures (~1 hour), a live/synchronous seminar (1 hour), a live/synchronous workshop (3 hours, including live or virtual field trips and field work), and independent learning activities, including reading material and working on assessment tasks (5-6 hours per week).
Assessment	AT1: Fortnightly Quizzes (20%)|AT3: Vegetation condition assessment (20%)|AT2: Workshop portfolio (25%)|AT4: Conservation management proposal (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Unit readings are available through the library electronic system or downloadable through MyLO and will be listed in the weekly MyLO material.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.