ONLINE: Contemporary Environmental Sociology - Einzelansicht

Environmental Sociology explores various relations, processes, and reciprocal interactions between human society and different natural and built environments. The primary purpose of this master level course will be to identify critical societal factors underlying environmental change and to explore the role sociology can play in dealing with them. Although the course is oriented towards contemporary social theories including Practice Theory, Environmental Flows, Rebound Effects, World Systems Theory, Risk and Ignorance, Rational Choice, Resilience, and Actor-Network-Theory (to name a few) empirical fields to be discussed in class may include green consumption, natural disasters, environmental risk assessments, chemical regulations, contaminated sites, climate change, or renewable energy systems.

Recommended Introductory Books

Boström, Magnus and Debra J. Davidson, eds. (2018): Environment and Society: Concepts and Challenges. London: Palgrave Macmillan (available as e-book in THULB).

White, Damian; Alan Rudy, and Brian Gareau (2016): Environments, Nature and Social Theory: Towards a Critical Hybridity. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Given the current COVID-19-situation, the course will be organized online in the tradition of Independent Study-Courses in sociology graduate programs abroad. Independent studies are directed studies of current problems/issues as well as special theoretical and analytic concerns. Depending on how many students register for the course, we may be able to meet in person a few times during the semester.

The idea is to allocate individually supervised readings, research, and writings of selected topics circling around contemporary environmental issues and theories in sociology and related disciplines. Overall this means that you will have to pen up to four short essays and/or reaction papers (each between 1.000 and 2.000 words) while classes are in session, that is, between the months of November 2020 and February 2021. This work will count as your final grade ("Hausarbeit") and/or a participation certificate. If you are not ready for such writing tasks during this time of the semester, please consider a different course.

Accordingly, our course syllabus in the Moodle system does not present fixed dates where we meet in class, but instead lists literature recommendations around certain topics for orientation. In order to communicate most effectively, we are going to use the Forum function in Moodle. Please check this forum at least once a week, as all updates, assignments and questions directed at you will be posted there. 

For further info, please consult the seminar’s teaching assistant (”Tutorin”) Monique Bechmann: monique.bechmann@uni-jena.de.

Reaction papers that count towards the final grade (in lieu of the "Hausarbeit") should be written in English. Oral exams can be held in either English or German.