FSS:SOC165 Introduction to Environ. Soc. - Course Information

SOC165 Introduction to Environmental Sociology

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 12 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Benjamin Jeremiah Vail, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Karel Svačina, M.A. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies

Timetable

Mon 9:45–11:15 U35

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 19 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

This course introduces many of the major schools of thought and topics of research in the field of environmental sociology, and presents a historical overview of the development of environmental sociological theory and research over time.

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

- Recall and relate fundamental theories related to social-environmental interactions
- Identify and explain major contemporary and historical environmental issues
- Analyze the significance of environmental issues in their daily lives
- Critically examine contemporary debates about environmental policy

Syllabus

• The course is organized as a series of weekly topics which include lectures, required reading, and some required videos and other multimedia.
• The weekly topics include:
• 1. Introduction to environmental sociology
• 2. Consumption, materialism, and modern society
• 3. The treadmill of production
• 4. Sustainability
• 5. Health, environmental justice, and risk
• 6. Ideologies of environmental domination
• 7. Ideologies of environmental concern
• 8. The sociology of food
• 9. The social construction of nature
• 10. Sociological perspectives on global climate change
• 11. Energy and society
• 12. Environmental problems and solutions
• Literature
• The course is based on two textbooks and supplemented by other scientific literature. The two textbooks are:
• Bell, M.M. 2012. An introduction to Environmental Sociology (4th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
• Harper, Charles L. 2012. Environment and Society: Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues. 5th ed. New York: Prentice Hall.

Literature

• BELL, Michael and Michael S. CAROLAN. An invitation to environmental sociology. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press, 2012, xiii, 384. ISBN 9781412990530. info
• Environmental sociology : from analysis to action. Edited by Leslie King - Deborah McCarthy. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005, xxx, 487. ISBN 0742535088. URL info
• BROWER, Michael and Warren LEON. The consumer's guide to effective environmental choices : practical advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. 1st ed. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999, xii, 292. ISBN 060980281X. URL info

Teaching methods

The course is taught as a normal classroom lecture course. The pedagogical approach includes the use of weekly lectures, required reading and other resources, and films and other multi-media presentations.

Assessment methods

Each week, participation in this course typically involves attending the lecture and reading or watching the required study materials which include literature and videos.

Success in this course depends on attending lectures and reading and watching all assigned materials, which serve as the basis for two quizzes that determine the grade for the semester. Students are expected to attend every lecture. A final letter grade (A-F) is earned for the semester based only on the quiz grades.

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2015/SOC165