First Year Breadth Subjects
Animals in Society
This course is designed to explore how and why animals are so integral to human society. We will investigate human - animal relationships, how they originated and their position in society today.
We will examine in detail some key relationships between humans and animals, including animals as pets, in agriculture, as research subjects, and in educational roles. We will investigate our attitudes towards animals and our moral and ethical obligations to them.
Within this discussion we will introduce the topic of animal welfare and discuss some of the current international animal welfare issues. Finally, we will look to the future and consider the position that animals may hold in society.
Breadth Cluster Available:
- Animals in Society
- Companion Animal Behaviour
- Animal Welfare and Ethics
- Animals in Society
- Companion Animal Behaviour
- Applied Animal Behaviour
Australia in the Wine World
The objective of this subject is to introduce students to the Australian wine industry and its role in world wine production. This subject examines the role of the Australian Wine Industry within the world wine trade. The size and location of the Australian Industry will be discussed with emphasis on the new and emerging wine regions throughout the continent. You will also be taken on a virtual tour of the wine regions of the world including both new and old world wine regions. Throughout each of the 8 modules there will be associated wine sensory analysis (tasting) designed to complement the viticultural and oenological information covering the regions of Europe, North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Topics covered in this subject include; Grape Varieties - Australia vs. The rest of the world; Viticulture and Oenology; Australian wine regions; Wine regions of the world; Wine business and commerce; Wine in society; Sensory evaluation and palate mapping.
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Describe the distribution and structure of viticultural and wine production throughout the world; and the pattern and trends of Australia’s wine industry.
- Describe the characteristics and distribution of major white and red wine grape varieties throughout Australia and the world.
- Understand the principles and practices of wine production the effect wine styles and character.
- Evaluate and assess wine using sensory techniques (tasting).
- Understand the place of wine in society.
- Appreciate Australia’s position in the global Wine Industry from a historical and current perspective.
- Appreciate the finer points of wine selection and be able to select wines from a wine list with confidence and knowledge.
Breadth Cluster Available
Wine and Viticulture:
- Australia in the Wine World
- Vine to Wine
- Wines of the World
Food for a Healthy Planet
In this subject you'll find out why people need healthy food for a healthy life. What is good human nutrition? How well will future populations be fed?
Food is a basic human need. How do we know what to eat? How should we judge our food: nutritionally and environmentally? Does Genetic Modification alter the nutrition / safety / environmental impacts of our food? What are the future challenges for sustainable and equitable food production and supply worldwide? How does good nutrition lead to a healthy planet? Find out about food and health obesity, allergy, functional foods, food quality, food rituals, fast foods, hunger and famine, globalisation, history and culture, exercise and sports.
Breadth Cluster Available:
Food Water and Wine:
- Food for a Healthy Planet
- Water for Sustainable Futures
- Wines of the World
Governing Environments
Environments and their resources have been the source of conflicting claims over rights of access, ownership and use. This conflict has led to the creation of a wide range of approaches to regulate the environment.
In this subject students will be introduced to a range of ecological and economic concepts. These will relate to the political use and management of natural resources and built environments. Students will also explore approaches governments use to resolve conflicts that arise, such as the development of policies, instruments, and institutions for effective implementation.
Case studies examined include: the built environment, land and water, forests, the energy sector, and global warming. These will be used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different governance models and their application.
Governing Environments will give students an understanding how the political, economic and ecological factors affect their environment.
Introduction to Climate Change
The issues around climate change are evolving rapidly, both politically and within the wider community, and already have international and global implications.
This subject is an introduction to the major topics in climate change. These include: the scientific basis of the greenhouse effect, the history of Earth's climate, different energy options, economics and public policy, and the effect of climate change on food, water and health. Students will also explore the national and international legal frameworks fort he management of climate change.
This subject is the first of a sequence of three subjects, aimed to provide a broad, cross-disciplinary approach to climate change. In particular, students will explore and debate the issues on a range of topics, with an emphasis on the international and global implications.
Natural Environments
Natural environments support every aspect of our lives and yet a basic understanding of the connectivity of natural systems and the rate at which change occurs often eludes those entrusted with developing policy for management and design of the world around us.
An understanding of how natural systems function is crucial if we are to sustainably manage our planet.
Students will examine the topical area of the Earth's climate and global weather systems and how the Earth's internal and external processes, have given rise to our present landscapes and associated ecosystems.
This subject will appeal to student's intent on a career of environmentally responsibly policy development. The subject draws on the expertise of scholars from diverse discipline areas to emphasise key fundamentals underpinning sustainable management and design. To understand Natural Environments is to understand the cornerstone of human society.