SOC 352 - Environment and Society (S)

3 Credit(s)

This course provides students with an overview of major approaches and debates central to understanding the relationship between nature and society. The course deepens students’ understanding of the dynamics of power and inequality that shape individuals, human societies, and their interactions with the natural environment. Students engage with core theories of human-environment dynamics to consider issues surrounding the social construction of nature, political economy, environmental justice, and development. The course highlights diverse voices and perspectives to challenge the dominant narrative that shaped the beginnings of both the field of environmental sociology and the environmental movement. Students evaluate each theoretical perspective through case studies—both local and global. There is also an academic service learning component in which students engage with environmental justice initiatives in Chester, PA.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 105