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Environmental Sociology

Summer 2023

Course Details

Role
Instructor of Record
Term
Summer 2023
Location
University of California, Davis
Syllabus

Description

What are the interconnections between social and ecological systems? What are the impacts of societal structures on the environment? How are humans collectively responding to these environmental impacts?

In this class, we will explore the questions above, diving into the relationship between society and the environment, more commonly known as the field of Environmental Sociology. We will explore the social structures involved in creating environmental problems as well as those aimed at addressing them. We will look at how we as humans are constantly interacting with the environment through food, transportation, energy use, production, money, and material culture. We will explore these issues from a political economic perspective incorporating understandings of social justice and inequality into our understanding of who is most impacted by environmental degradation.

This course is designed to be helpful to: (1) students in the social sciences who are interested in learning more of the relationship between society and the environment and (2) students from other disciplines (e.g., natural and physical sciences, agriculture, and business management) that are interested in learning how social systems impact and inform people’s conceptual, technological and material interactions with the environment. The course will explore these concepts through a combination of in-class activities, lectures, readings, and a research project that explores portrayals of environmental issues in the media.

Student Feedback

"The lectures are engaging and relatable, making the content easier to understand, I really enjoyed coming to class."
Sociology of the Environment, Summer 2023
Student
"I loved the topics we discussed, it was all very interesting. I also liked that the professor encouraged us to speak our opinions and add into the conversation. I felt safe speaking up"
Sociology of the Environment, Summer 2023
Student
"It taught me to think critically and understand information through various lenses. Good introduction to academic analyses with the project."
Sociology of the Environment, Summer 2023
Student
"It was full of very real world applicable knowledge and ideas, it was an organically interesting class that I was upset to miss when I had to. Group work and discussions fell hand in hand with the subject of sociology, and discussions were fun and interesting."
Sociology of the Environment, Summer 2023
Student
"Thank you for teaching this class. I learned a lot of valuable analytical and critical thinking skills. Even in your feedback ^ I've learned how to think more critically and deeply about environmental issues and content in general. It was surprising to see how many complex factors and perspectives are associated with fighting environmental degradation. I think as a STEM student I often risk being reductive in my understandings and views, so again, it is great to learn about sociological methods and views, and take a more multifaceted approach to these issues."