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

SOC165 Introduction to Environmental Sociology

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Benjamin Jeremiah Vail, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová

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 120 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/120, only registered: 0/120, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/120

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 18 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. The course consists of weekly thematic modules that typically include textbook and other readings, multimedia lectures, and graded activities. Students should read the assigned chapters in the course textbook and use the IS e-learning system to read the supplemental literature, which is available electronically in PDF and/or Word format.

This is an e-learning course that will require as much time and effort from students as a traditional classroom lecture course. Because this course will be taught via the Internet using e-learning methods, rather than as a lecture course in a physical classroom, students are expected to be comfortable using computer hardware and software, and to be comfortable doing reading independently.

Students must be proficient in English, and this course is an opportunity for you to practice English. Students must also have regular access to a computer and high-speed Internet connection, and be proficient in the use of various software applications, including word processing, e-mail, Internet searching, and use of multimedia programs such as Real Player, Windows Media Player, and Youtube. Students need an Internet browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, or Firefox, to connect to the online course content. Lectures are provided using Microsoft Office PowerPoint.

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. Marx and the environment
• 9. The social construction of nature
• 10. Sociological perspectives on global climate change
• 11. Resource Scarcity and Modern Society
• 12. Environmental problems and solutions
• Literature
• Bell, M.M. 2004. An introduction to Environmental Sociology (2nd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
• Brower, M. and Leon, W. “How Many Simple Things Do People Need to Do to Save the Planet?” Chapter 1 in The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices Practical Advice from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Three Rivers Press.
• Bullard, R. Can Americans trust the government to protect them? Lessons from the World Trade Center ground zero and the aftermath of Katrina. CommonDreams.org, September 11, 2006.
• Burkett, Paul. 1996. “On some common misconceptions about nature and Marx’s critique of political economy.” Capitalism-Nature-Socialism. Volume 7, pp. 57-80.
• Buttel, F.H. 2004. “The Treadmill of Production: An Appreciation, Assessment, and Agenda for Research,” Organization & Environment 17(3):323-336.
• Cohen, M. Some inconvenient truths about the politics of environmental crisis. Counterpunch.org, February 2, 2007.
• Dickens, Peter. 1997. “Beyond sociology: Marxism and the environment.” Pages 179-194 in M. Redclift and G. Woodgate (editors). International Handbook of Environmental Sociology. London: Edward Elgar.
• Dunlap, R. Michelson, W. and Stalker, G. 2002. “Environmental Sociology: An Introduction,” pp. 1-32 in Dunlap, R. and Michelson, W., eds., Handbook of Environmental Sociology, Westport: Greenwood.
• ExxonMobil. 2007. “Peak Oil? Contrary to the theory, oil production shows no sign of a peak.”
• Giddens, A. 2006. “The Environment and Risk,” pp. 936-969 in Sociology. 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Jackson, D. Z. 2006. Insurance industry feels the heat of global warming. The Boston Globe newspaper, March 15.
• Kelly, M. 2006. The hidden opportunity in global warming, Alternet.org. December 21.
• Kennedy, R.F., Jr. 2003. “Crimes Against Nature,” Rolling Stone Magazine, December 11.
• Kunstler, J.H. 2005. “The long emergency,” Rolling Stone magazine, March 24.
• Luttwak, E. N. 2005. The truth about global oil supply. The First Post, August 11.
• McCarthy, D. and L. King. 2005. pp.xi-xxx in Environmental sociology: From analysis to action. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
• Monbiot, G. 2006. Save the planet in 10 steps. The Guardian newspaper (UK), October 30.
• Morris, D. 2006. What Al Gore hasn’t told you about global warming. Alternet.org, January 9.
• Murphy, Raymond. 1994. “Environmental accountability under state socialism” in Rationality and Nature. Westview Press, pp. 149-157.
• O'Connor, J. (1988) Capitalism, nature, socialism: A theoretical introduction. Capitalism, Nature, Socialism 1:11-38.
• Prugh, Thomas and Erik Assadourian. 2003. “What is sustainability, anyway?” World Watch Magazine, pp. 10-21.
• Selva, M. 2006.Toxic shock: How Western rubbish is destroying Africa. The Independent newspaper (UK), September 21.
• Simon, J. and Buckley, W.F. 1982. “Answer to Malthus? Julian Simon Interviewed by William Buckley.” Population and Development Review 8(1):205-218.
• Šimůnek, P. and Růžička, 2007. M. Klaus: Radar yes, when ... Hospodářské noviny. February 14.
• Slade, G. 2006. Electronic waste a ticking time bomb. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, April 13. Slater, D. 1998. “Themes from the sociology of consumption,” Paper presented at the Consumption, Environment, and the Social Sciences Seminar, 6-7 July.
• Worldwatch special section on peak oil. Pages 9-24 in WorldWatch Magazine, January/February 2006.

Literature

• Environmental sociology : from analysis to action. Edited by Leslie King - Deborah McCarthy. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005, xxx, 487. ISBN 0742535088. URL info
• BELL, Michael and Michael S. CAROLAN. An invitation to environmental sociology. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge Press, 2004, xvi, 325. ISBN 0761987754. 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 using e-learning methods. These include the use of pre-recorded lectures, online reading and other resources, and films and other multi-media presentations.

Assessment methods

Each week’s study will typically involve required readings, viewing of lecture materials and required videos, and taking the weekly quiz. The weekly quiz, to be taken via the IS, may include questions about the lecture and any required reading or videos for that week.

Students will receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components:

30% – Weekly quizzes
35% – Mid-term exam
35% – Final exam

Using the MU Information System
Class resources are available to students through Masaryk University’s online Information System (IS). Under the course title “SOC165: Introduction to Environmental Sociology” you will find an interactive syllabus which contains important general information about the course and the weekly schedule with links to required course materials, such as the lecture files and quizzes.

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2009/SOC165