Sociology 229: Environmental Sociology

How is the environment shaped by society, and how is society shaped by the environment? Who controls access to environmental resources, and who is impacted by environmental hazards? How is “nature” defined, and what role do societies have in that definition? This course addresses these and other questions, and provides an overview of the central debates in environmental sociology. We will explore current environmental topics from a sociological perspective, focusing on interactions between human societies and the natural environment. At the end of the course, students will be able to describe key theories in environmental sociology, explain how environmental sociologists look at issues like technological innovation and population stresses on resources, and apply these key theories to a variety of contemporary environmental problems. The course will include lectures, in-class discussions and assignments, papers, applied research projects and exams.