Key facts

UNE unit code: GEPL324

*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 2 - On Campus
  • Trimester 2 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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Sustainable land use and the appropriate management of related water, energy and other resources is critical to successful planning and ensuring environmental and social resilience.

This unit provides you with an expansive consideration of natural resource management and rural and regional planning issues. You will concentrate on the need for integrated policy and planning strategies based on an understanding of human behaviour and institutions as well as biophysical processes.

This unit facilitates understanding through student-selected research projects, roleplays, structured group discussion, unit readings, current news, assessment work and online media. For these reasons online access is essential.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 2On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 2Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
any 12cp or candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions
GEPL224

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Michael Reid
Michael ReidAssociate Professor in Physical Geography - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate a critical understanding of natural resource management and rural and regional planning concepts, including big ideas like sustainability and resilience, and awareness of issues such as environmental security and water and food security and conflicts about resource management;
  2. demonstrate a critical understanding of the interrelationships between people and their environments, and how conflicts over resources may be created;
  3. demonstrate a critical understanding of the different mechanisms which people use to attempt to meet their resource management and rural and regional planning goals, and of approaches to evaluating management mechanisms and the existing and requisite knowledge base for decision-making in natural resource management and rural and regional planning;
  4. demonstrate a critical understanding of the biophysical and social parameters of natural resources such as land, water, energy, minerals, timber, and the mechanisms which are used to manage and plan for these resources;
  5. demonstrate an ability to propose solutions to natural resource management and rural and regional planning problems through applying an integrated and critical understanding of the relevant issues; and
  6. demonstrate research, report writing, group participation, communication and critical thinking skills.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Major Study - Assurance TaskYes50%All offerings

Major study and interactive oral

Students must pass the Assurance Task in order to pass the unit. 

No. Words: 2000 (equivalent)

Pilot StudyNo15%All offerings

Pilot Study for a Major Assessment

No. Words: 500

Small Discussion GroupYes35%All offerings

Ten-minutes (approx.) per student

No. Words: 1500 (equivalent)

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

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Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

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