Environmental Studies 233HA - Topics in Environmental Studies: 'Introduction to Human-Animal Studies'

This course introduces the study of human relationships with other animals. We will explore how these relationships shape, and are shaped by, social, political, and economic forces. Key questions include: How do specific, historic, and cultural perspectives inform our understandings of animals? What ethical and political concerns emerge from human-animal entanglements in various contexts such as agriculture, conservation, and companionship? What are the key debates on animal welfare and conservation? We will explore the complexities of those connections through critical discussions that draw on interdisciplinary methods of inquiry.