SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Soc. 386-001

Environmental Sociology Instructor: David DuCoff

Spring, 2001 Office: Faner Rm. 3043

Tuesday - Thursday Hours: (Tues.,Thur.) 8:30

9:35 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., 11:00 -

Faner Rm. 2525 12:00 a.m. *all other times by appointment

Campus Phone: 453-7612

E-mail: dducoff@siu.edu

Required texts:

(1) Bell, Michael M. 1998. An Invitation to Environmental

Sociology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

(2) Hannigan, John A. 1995. Environmental Sociology: A Social

Constructionist Perspective. New York: Routledge.

Optional text:

(1) Harper, Charles L. 1996. Environment and Society: Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon and Schuster.

Course Description: (Environmental Sociology) Sociological analysis of the dynamic interrelations between nature and society. Focus on social structural conditions and institutions that have changed the natural environment, the socio-cultural consequences of the changes, and definition of the environment as a social problem. Responses to these problems will be addressed on the individual, group and institutional levels.

Course Objectives: This course is designed to present to the student a sociological examination of the global problem of environmental destruction and explore the nature of and possible solutions to these problems. Upon completion of the course the student should have a better understanding of the role of environmental degradation and the interrelations of humans with the natural environment. Furthermore, the student should be able to use sociological theory and methods for understanding socio-political based environmental movements and controversies. Topics in this course will provide an awareness of various environmental movements along with contemporary environmental issues, including the relationship of environmental risk and environmental racism, the social construction of environmental problems, and implications for future social issues. Understanding the ecological, economic, and societal effects of such issues provides a basis for a better understanding of the fragile relationship between humans and the biophysical environment. In addition, this course will attempt to challenge conventional ideas of the past regarding the environment and dissolve certain myths that exist in our society relating to the environment.

· Chapters designated by a (B) regard the text by Bell,

chapters designated by an (H) regard the text by Hannigan.

Assignments: TENTATIVE

January 16 Course int: Course overview and syllabus

18 Chapter 1: (B) Environmental Problems and Society

23 Chapter 1: (H) Environmental Sociology: Issues and Theoretical Approaches

25 Chapter 2: (B) Consumption and Materialism

30 Video ‘Affluenza’ and discussion

February 1 Chapter 3: (B) Money and Machines

6 Chapter 4: (B) Population and Development

8 Video ‘The Population Bomb’ and discussion

13 Article 1: Discussion and critique

15 Open Book review proposals and review

20 Quiz 1

22 Chapter 2: (H) Social Construction of

Environmental Problems

27 Cpts. 3&4: (H) News Media and Environmental

Communication (pp. 62-75)

(H) Science as Environmental Claims-

maker (pp. 76-91)

March 1 Chapter 9: (H) Biotechnology as Environmental

Problem

6 Chapter 5: (H) Constructing Environmental Risks

8 Video ‘Three Mile Island’ and discussion

13 No class Spring break

15 No class Spring break

20 Chapter 6: (H) Nature, Ecology, and

Environmentalism (discussion of

‘Environmental Racism’)

22 Article 2: Discussion and critique

27 Quiz 2

29 Open Oral presentations (O.P.) begin (*Book reviews due)

April 3 Chapter 5: (B) The Ideology of Environmental Domination (O.P.)

5 Chapter 6: (B) The Ideology of Environmental Concern (O.P.)

10 Topic American Environmentalism: Ideology,

Construction, and Action (O.P.)

12 Topic Movement for Animal Rights (O.P.)

17 Chapter 7: (B) Human Nature of Nature (O.P.)

19 Chapter 8: (B) Organizing the Ecological Society (O.P.) and class overview

24 Quiz 3

26 Oral presentations

May 1 Oral presentations

3 Oral presentations

8 Final Exam (Comprehensive; begin 3:10 p.m.)

Additional Course Work: Each student must read one book, excluding course texts, and write a ‘review’ of the book. Also, student participation in an oral presentation is required as is participation in group discussions focusing on the critiques of two articles over the course of the semester.

Grades: Grading will be on a standard ten point scale (e.g.; 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc.). Grades will be determined, in part, from a total of three quizzes (60 points each, 180 points total) and a final exam (100 points) during the semester. The final exam will be comprehensive. The second portion of the grade comes from a typed or word processed (handwritten material will not be accepted in this class) book review (50 points) including an oral presentation of the book reviewed (20 points). The final portion of the grade comes from attendance (25 points) and class participation (25 points; total points being 400).

Book reviews will be accepted up to and including the designated due date of March 29, 2001 by 9:35 a.m. All book reviews must be turned in by the time designated, I will not accept late reviews!

Quizzes and/or exams will consist of objective (multiple choice, matching, and fill in the blank) or a combination of objective and subjective (short answer and essay) material. When the first quiz is returned, a date and time may be designated for a brief, student-instructor conference.

Quizzes are to be taken on scheduled dates. Should a quiz be missed, scheduling of a make-up is the responsibility of the student and must be done within twenty-four hours of the original quiz. However, make-up’s are not automatic! A make-up will be given only if a quiz is missed for a legitimate reason (e.g., serious personal illness or accident, death in the family or a school sponsored function). Written excuses are to be supplied upon the instructor's request.

Extra credit: Each student will have the opportunity to participate in up to five extra credit assignments worth a maximum of two points each. The assignments will be discussed in class.

Attendance: Attendance will be taken at each class meeting. As fifty points of the overall grade comes from class attendance and participation, regular class attendance is expected! One major goal of an educational experience is to learn, therefore it can only follow that the learning experience is definitely negated when one is absent. Since material will be presented in lecture which may not be covered in the text, it will be highly beneficial to attend every class meeting. It is logical to assume that the judgment of the instructor when reviewing borderline grades will be influenced by the past concern, participation and "prompt" attendance of the student. * Also, clear any situations ‘prior’ which might involve leaving before the end of any class session.