Syllabus
20. 2.
Course Intro; Environmental sociology: history, subject, key approaches 27. 2.
Main environmental problems and how they are related to human societies (Mgr. Miroslav Havránek) 6. 3.
(Classical) sociology and environmental sociology; Social construction of environmental problems 13. 3.
Climate change: How to mitigate the impacts of climate change? 20. 3.
Environmental policies and policy instruments, public opinion 27. 3.
Environmental justice (Mgr. Martin Kryl) 3. 4.
Consumption and production 10. 4.
Energy and transport: Social aspects of nuclear energy (Mgr. Martin Ďurďovič, Ph.D.) 17. 4.
Energy I. – A social history of energy transitions (Jean-François Auger, PhD.); 24. 4
Energy II. – Externalities, economic instruments, energy consumption, energy efficiency (Mgr. Milan Ščasný, PhD.) 1. 5.
Public holiday 8. 5.
Public holiday 14. 5.
Student presentations and discussion; Course wrap-up
Annotation
Environmental sociology is somewhat a young sociological discipline (founded in the 70s), which searches for answers to questions related to the interconnectedness of the natural environment and society. In late modern society, environmental issues rise to substantial (and existential) importance an environmental sociology quickly became an established and rapidly evolving discipline with an important interdisciplinary role. This course is an introduction to environmental sociology and the issues the discipline investigates a discusses. Given the scale of the course and the discipline, students are encouraged to participate in selection of topics covered in classes according to their personal and/or professional interests.
The course combines lectures, reading materials and related discussions and a team work on a project. To complete the course, students are required to submit weekly (reading) assignments and an academic poster (requires team work on a specific subject including literature review and/or analysis of empirical data).
Non-Erasmus students in the 7 or 9 credits versions of the course are moreover required to submit a paper.
Course aims:
• To introduce environmental sociology as an independent sociological discipline and the main topics and issues investigated.
• To develop critical thinking and analysis of environmental problems as social problems.
• To develop analytical skills through analysis of a chosen topic.
• To develop presentation skills through preparation and presentation of academic poster.
In the course, students can practice:
• team work;
• proposing own research project;
• analysis of empirical data;
• presentation of own work;
• terrain work.
Students will understand:
• key theories and methodological approaches in environmental sociology;
• results of both qualitative and quantitative studies in a diversity of topics;
• open access data sources and the possibilities of analysis;
• related academic fields, e.g., environmental history, environmental economy, and social psychology.