University of Sydney

Sydney, Australia

APPLY

www.sydney.edu.au

Available Courses

Engagement with natural environments in Australia forms a significant part of growing up for many Australians whether in formal educational settings, organised leisure activities or through informal recreational experiences. It is also of interest for a growing number of overseas visitors wishing to experience Australia’s unique natural environments. Learning in Outdoor Education examines the nature and significance of the learning that takes place through these experiences. While the unit aims to build knowledge and develop understanding of specific areas of natural significance, its principal focus is the theory and practice surrounding Experiential Education. It does this by examining two different, yet interrelated, modes of learning in and about natural environments through lectures about these places and by experiences in these places. During the course of the unit students will come to know the places they visit through distinctly different learning experiences provided by two field trips.

Sport and Learning in Australian Culture provides students with a socially critical perspective on the place, meaning and practice of sport in contemporary Australian society and culture. Focused on the range of learning that takes place through youth’s engagement in sport, it examines the practice of sport at levels ranging from elite international sport to grassroots sport. In striving to provide a meaningful educational experience this unit places students’ first hand experiences of Australian sporting culture at the centre of the unit of study through the provision of field trips to relevant sporting events in Sydney. These involve attending sporting events ranging from Super Rugby Union to Australian Rules football matches. These experiences of Australian sporting culture are informed by a socially critical examination of sport in Australia through lectures, field trips, assessments and readings.

This unit of study focuses on the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since colonisation, exploring key social, political and legal events, issues and debates, and the people behind them. Students will learn about important historical events and social issues in areas such as civil and political rights, land rights, self-determination and reconciliation, developing an understanding of how these events and issues have shaped the shared history of Australia. The unit introduces a decolonising methodology that will underpin further work in the major.

Critical to effective management in international and multicultural business environments is an understanding of cultural differences and how to manage those differences. This unit provides conceptual frameworks and evidence from practice that develops an understanding of the ways in which cultures differ, how these differences can impact management, and how cultural issues can limit organisational effectiveness. Strategies for managing and harnessing cultural differences are also evaluated. The subject matter is explored from an internal perspective as well as from an external perspective, looking at issues within the company as well as issues between the multinational company and its host environment. Major topics include the significance of culture in international management; the meaning and dimensions of culture; comparative international management styles; managing communication across cultures; global business ethics; cross-cultural negotiations; cross-cultural leadership and motivation; culture and consumer behaviour; and managing cross-cultural conflict.

Why does America have so much influence globally? What is the nature of this influence? And what are the consequences of this influence? What are the nature and consequences of the influence of the rest of the world on America? Why given America’s global influence, and globalisation in general, does America remain such an insular society? This unit takes an interdisciplinary approach to these questions with a focus primarily on the United States in the 21st century.

In the 21st century the population of the world will increase both in size and its expectation in terms of food, energy and consumer demands. Against this demand we have a planet in crisis where natural resources are degraded, biodiversity is diminishing and planetary cycles related to climate are reaching points of irreversible change. Management of our precious natural resources is a balancing act between production and conservation as always, but now we have to do this against a background of potential large scale changes in climate. In this unit students will gain an understanding of the key environmental challenges of the 21st century; namely food security, climate change, water security, biodiversity protection, ecosystems services and soil security. In the second half, using Australian case studies, we will explore how we manage different agro-ecosystems within their physical constraints around water, climate and soil, while considering linkages with the global environmental challenges. Management now, in the past and the future will be considered, with an emphasis on food production. This unit is recommended unit for students interested in gaining a broad overview of the environmental challenges of the 21st century, both globally and within Australia.

This unit of study provides a geographical perspective on the ways in which people interact with each other and the physical world, focussing on the processes that generate spatial variation and difference. Students will consider the development and characteristics of natural environments across the globe, and will explore how these environments both constrain, and are influenced by, humans. In the process, they will learn about the biophysical, political, economic, cultural and urban geographies that shape contemporary global society. Each of these themes will be discussed with reference to key examples, in order to understand the ways in which the various processes (both physical and human) interact. The unit of study is designed to attract and interest students who wish to pursue geography as a major within their undergraduate degree, but also has relevance to students who wish to learn how to think geographically about the contemporary world.

This unit draws on concepts from industrial relations and human resource management to examine the interests and strategies of workers, unions, managers, employers and the state. It explores the relationships between these parties as they seek to manage their environments and workplaces and to exercise control over each other. The unit enables students to understand how and why the organisation, regulation and management of work are changing in Australia and globally. As well as providing an introduction to all aspects of the study of the employment relationship, this a foundation unit the industrial relations and human resource management and management majors.

This Unit of Study explores the very nature of science and how it is practised. Using contemporary and historical scientific examples, the unit looks into whether a sharp line can be drawn between science and non-science, and what criteria can be used to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Various tools of science will be examined philosophically and historically, including theories, models, explanations, data analysis and concepts. The unit also looks into the ways in which science is a social process, with an emphasis on values, biases, and the institutionalized organization of science. To complete this broad overview, topics such as science denialism (not accepting various bodies of scientific knowledge) and scientism (valuing science above all other knowledge systems) will also be addressed.

In a world where nutrition advice is commonplace but not always accurate, learning the basics of good nutrition habits is vital for development and growth at all stages of the life cycle. If practiced correctly, nutrition can help prevent disease, assist in reaching health goals, influence sports performance and reach academic outcomes. This elective aims to equip students with the knowledge required to make informed food choices and gain skills in analysing their personal diet and nutrition habits. At the conclusion of the elective, each student will be a mythbuster of common diets, supplements and fads touted by the media, and be able to separate fact from fiction. Topics covered in the unit include the anatomy and physiology of digestion, the link between common diseases and nutrition practices, nutrition for sports performance, practical tips for shopping and cooking and the use of food to improve cognition.