Sociology 4803
Environmental Sociology
Spring 2006
Instructor: Dr. Laurel Holland T/R: 9:30-10:45
E-Mail: lholland@westga.edu CRN: 11428
Office: Pafford 232 Classroom: Pafford 106
Office Hours: M/W:10:00-12:00; T/R:2:00-4:00. Other times by appointment.
Phone: 678-839-6331
E-Mail: lholland@westga.edu
Required Texts:
Allen, John L. (2005). Annual Editions: Environment 05/06.
Easton, John A. (2006). Taking Sides on the Environment. (11th Edition)
Frey, Scott. (2001). The Environment and Society.
& Indicates that the reading is on library reserve.
Course Description: This course examines the relatively new field of environmental sociology from a political economic perspective. Topics for discussion include: the emergence of the field, the demographics of environmental concern, the economics of degradation, the politics of degradation, disasters, environmental justice, environmental movements, environmental beliefs and attitudes, environment and health, population, radical ecology and ecofeminism, and sustainability. Students will be encouraged to develop a personal worldview that expresses their own relationship to the natural environment.
Learning Outcomes
1. To acquire an understanding of the need for environmental sociology as well as an appreciation of the roots and future of the discipline.
2. To understand environmental degradation from a sociological perspective.
3. To be able to communicate (orally and in writing) how sociology contributes to an understanding of social reality.
Course Requirements:
Exams
There will be three exams throughout the semester. Exams will cover readings, lecture material, and classroom discussion. The exam format will be short essay. Each exam will be worth 100 possible points and will account for 20% of your overall grade. (3 Exams X 20% = 60%).
Note: Make-up exams will only be given in the case of a verifiable emergency.
Classroom Debates
Each member of the class will be assigned to a debate team and given a topic for debate from the "Taking Sides" text. Each team will debate once during the semester. On the day of the debate each team member should be prepared to turn in a debate outline and an annotated bibliography of at least five academic sources. Additional details of expectations for the debate will be discussed in class. The total of all debate assignments is 100 possible points and will account for 25% of your overall grade.
Debate Participation = 30 points
Debate Outline = 30 points
Annotated Bibliography = 40 points
TOTAL =100 points
LISTSERV Participation
The student is expected to participate in the class LISTSERV. The electronic list will serve as a kind of class journal for thoughts and reflections on assigned readings, local events related to environmental concerns and progression of the student's environmental awareness. Comments from the assigned readings should be given special emphasis. You will be graded on quality and quantity of journal entries. Your participation on the list will account for 15% of your overall grade.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend class regularly and be on time.
Academic Alert
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Tentative Schedule
Week One
(Jan. 10) Introduction
(Jan. 12) The Theoretical Roots of Environmental Sociology
Week Two
(Jan. 17 & 19) The Theoretical Roots of Environmental Sociology
Readings:
&Buttel, Chapter 1. "Sociological Theory and the Environment."
Week Three
(Jan. 24) Emergence of the Field of Environmental Sociology
(Jan. 26) A History of U.S. Environmentalism
Readings:
Frey, Scott. Reading #3. "The Evolution of Environmental Sociology."
Week Four
(Jan. 31 & Feb. 2) Environmental Threats
Readings:
Allen, John L. Reading #17. "Strangers in Our Midst: The Problem of Invasive Alien Species."
Allen, John L. Reading #22. "A Human Thirst."
Allen, John L. Reading #24. "Fire Fight."
Allen, John L. Reading #27. "Human Biomonitoring of Environmental Chemicals."
Week Five
(Feb. 7) An Environmental Crisis?
(Feb. 9) Debate: Team 1 vs. Team 2 (Issue #7)
Readings:
Frey, Scott. Reading #1. "Environmental Problems.
Easton, Thomas A. Issue #7. "Do Environmentalists Overstate Their Case?"
Week Six
(Feb. 14) The Impact of Globalization
(Feb. 16) Exam #1
Readings:
Frey, Scott. Reading #9. "Uneven and Combined Development and Ecological Crisis."
Allen, John L. Reading #2. "Five Meta-Trends Changing the World."
Week Seven The Politics of Environmental Degradation
(Feb. 21 & 23)
Readings:
&Cable, Sherry and Charles Cable. 1995. "Environmental Problems: Grassroots Solutions: The Politics of Grassroots Environmental Conflict." (Pp. 37-66).
Week Eight
(Feb. 28) The Economics of Environmental Degradation.
(March 2) Debate: Team 3 vs. Team 4 (Issue #3)
Readings:
Allen, John L. Reading #6. "Globalizing Greenwash."
Allen, John L. Reading #8. "An Economy for the Earth."
Easton, Thomas A. Issue #3. "Should a Price Be Put on the Goods and Services Provided by the World's Ecosystems?"
Week Nine
(March 7 & 9) Environmental Justice
Readings:
Frey, Scott. Reading #5. "Anatomy of Environmental Racism and the Environmental Justice Movement."
Frey, Scott. Reading #6. "The Hazardous Waste Stream in the World-System."
Frey, Scott. Reading #7. "Principles of Environmental Justice."
Allen, John L. Reading #10. "Why Race Matters in the Fight for a Healthy Planet."
Week Ten
(March 14) Environmental Movements
(March 16) Exam #2
Readings:
Frey, Scott. Reading #13. "Environmental Discourse and Social Movements."
Allen, John L. Reading #4. "Advocating for the Environment."
Week Eleven SPRING BREAK
(March 20-24)
Week Twelve
(March 28 & 30) Environment and Religion
Readings:
&White, L. (1967, March 10). The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis. Science, 155, 1203-1207.
Allen, John L. Reading #16. "What is Nature Worth?"
Week Thirteen
(April 4) Population
(April 6) Debate: Team 5 vs. Team 6
Readings:
Allen, John L. Reading #7. "Population and Consumption: What We Know, What We Need to Know."
Easton, Thomas A. Issue #13. "Is Limiting Population Growth a Key Factor in Protecting the Global Environment?"
Frey, Scott. Reading #8. "Rethinking the Impacts of Population, Affluence, and Technology."
Week Fourteen
(April 11 & 13) Sustainability Anyone?
Readings:
Allen, John L. Reading #14. "Renewable Energy: A Viable Choice."
Frey, Scott. Reading #20. "What Does Sustainability Really Mean?"
Week Fifteen
(April 18) The Future?
(April 20) Debate: Team 7 vs. Team 8
Readings:
Allen, John L. Reading #1. "How Many Planets? A Survey of the Global Environment."
Allen, John L. Reading #11. "Will Frankenfood Save the Planet?"
Allen, John L. Reading #13. "Personalized Energy: The Next Paradigm."
Easton, Thomas A. Issue #20. "Should the Military Be Exempt from Environmental Regulations?"
Week Sixteen
(April 25) Final Thoughts
(April 27) Exam #3