Environmental Sociology

Okoljska sociologija

Course credits:

6.00 ECTS / 45 (30 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 15 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Matjaž Uršič

Type:

Required

Language:

English

Semester:

First semester

Study degree

2. level

Course execution:

• Postgraduate Programme of Sociology

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure.

Objectives and competences

OBJECTIVES: The basic objective of the course is theoretical training for consistent and radical reflection on the relationship between society and the environment. COMPETENCES: To identify the environmental consequences of social development, capacity for analysis and synthesis of specific problems, logical design of ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, oral and written communication.

Content (Syllabus outline)

The course deals with the archetypal relationship between society and nature - until the second half of the 20th century overlooked topic in sociology. With the aggravation of environmental problems has also developed environmental sociology, which deals primarily with the environmental effects of social development. Since the programme is rather exhaustive, course present firstly the development of theoretical ideas on the relationship between "culture and nature" . The second part deals with specific environmental problems and dilemmas of modern societies . Topics of lectures: social construction of nature , the split between "naturalism and constructivism", changing the perception of nature and the environment, entropic loop and "utopia" of sustainable development, social construction of environmental risks, environmental justice, institutional and individual reflexivity environmental problems , post-modern "return" to nature , environmental motives of spatial mobility, environmental movements , citizens' participation in the protection of nature.

Intended learning outcomes:

The students develop reflection on environmental problems, can define, compare, generalize and predict developmental trends, analyze and evaluate the effects of social and technological innovation, apply research methods and operationalize the research findings.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, seminars, consultations, individual and group work with professors, field work, simulations etc.

Assessment

Written (verbal) exam 70 % and 30 % preparation of seminar paper and presentation.

Obligatory literature

Additional literature