Sociology 392V - S-Environmental Sociology
Fall
2013
01
3.00
Kristen Shorette
TU TH 9:30AM 10:45AM
UMass Amherst
40265
This course will serve as an introduction the subfield of environmental sociology with a focus on political economic processes at the macro level.
We will begin with an overview of the field and its central theoretical perspectives and then move to consider the effects of human societies on the natural environment and vice versa. We will examine the societal, political, economic, and cultural causes of environmental degradation and resource depletion as well as environmental injustices-- or the disproportionate consequences of environmental problems based on social categories such as race and class-- within the US and globally. Finally, we will examine the social movement and policy responses to environmental issues.
We will begin with an overview of the field and its central theoretical perspectives and then move to consider the effects of human societies on the natural environment and vice versa. We will examine the societal, political, economic, and cultural causes of environmental degradation and resource depletion as well as environmental injustices-- or the disproportionate consequences of environmental problems based on social categories such as race and class-- within the US and globally. Finally, we will examine the social movement and policy responses to environmental issues.