Overview
This unit builds upon students' knowledge of the foundational principles of human and built-environment relationships. Through exploring theories and principles of environmental psychology and social design, students develop critical knowledge of the symbiotic relationships between human and the physical surroundings and the importance of human-focused, inclusive, socially and culturally relevant and empathetic, and environmentally sustainable design solutions. Online studio-based activities, series of case study analysis, and spatial design exercises support student to develop skills in spatial design research methods and to critically evaluate design solutions that go beyond merely addressing basic functionality to include the concerns for improved quality of human life, equality, social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Through engaging in project-based learning, students develop creative design and visual communication skills and design spaces that promote human health, well-being, and a sense of community and belonging.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: BLAR12036 AND (BLAR11045 OR ENEG11005)
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Academic Progression Policy and Procedure
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation Survey
There was a suggestion that the teamwork component is Assessment 2 to be replaced with an emphasis on participation in the online design critique sessions of online forums.
Review the strategies to further support online design critiques and peer-to-peer feedback on design tasks.
Feedback from Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation Survey
There was a comment about the lecturer being insightful and offering interesting discussion making students to contemplate each new public space they enter.
Continue to engage students in discussion about emerging studies and research in Human-Environment relationships.
- Explain and analyse fundamental principles and theories of human-environment relationships
- Apply spatial design research methods to evaluate design solutions for their impacts on community and human behaviours and experiences
- Propose spatial design solutions that are human-focused and culturally relevant
- Design built environments that are socially responsible and environmentally sustainable
- Demonstrate professional practice skills in creative use of visual presentation tools to communicate design ideas
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|
1.
Assessment 1
(40% of unit)
Part 1 -
Portfolio
|
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|
2.
Assessment 2
(15% of unit)
Part 1 -
Presentation
|
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|
3.
Assessment 3
(45% of unit)
Part 1 -
Reflective Practice Assignment
Part 2 -
Presentation
|
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Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
Environmental Psychology for Design
- Edition: 4th (2024)
- Authors: Dak Kopec
- Fairchild Books
- ISBN: 1501391860
The library holds an ebook of the book. It is recommended to use this. You may as well choose to purchase a hard copy of the book. If so, you need to source it yourself. Please note that a 5th edition of the book is to be published soon.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer headset (microphone + speaker)
- MS Office or equivalent software
- Web camera (webcam)
- Endnote bibliographic software. This is optional for formatting references.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
