Course - Climate, Environment and Sustainable Societies - SOS8538
SOS8538 - Climate, Environment and Sustainable Societies
About
New from the academic year 2022/2023
Examination arrangement
Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Passed / Not Passed
| Evaluation | Weighting | Duration | Grade deviation | Examination aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 60/100 | |||
| Groupbased research assignment | 40/100 |
Course content
Climate change and environmental damage are seen as a major societal challenge of our time. How can changes in environmental awareness be explained? What stimulates and prevents participation, social change, and the great societal shifts that are needed? What do climate change and policies mean for social inequality, power relations, and social life? How is climate change communicated?
In this course, students learn environmental and climate sociology. The course provides an introduction to the subject's history, different traditions and discusses where we in the Norwegian environmental sociology stand today. The course problematizes different understandings of nature, from the wild and untouched to the one that is shaped by the humans. We discuss the many roles of science related to nature, climate and the environment, and the inherent controversies of the concept of sustainability and sustainability goals. The students learn about how values affect the understanding of climate and environment, theory about how society can change, and how change can be understood as the interplay between individuals' practices, social structure and politics.
Many environmental and climate-related issues are marked by controversy. There are different views on what the problem really is, if something is a problem and if so, how it should be handled. Various actors participate in the debate, and an analytical gaze is needed to understand their interests, concerns and positions. We go in depth on what can be understood as sustainable food production, social inequality and energy change, and climate communication. Inspired by the qualitative method "situation analysis", students gradually learn to analyze a controversy at the interface between environment/ climate, society, science, and politics, based on the media debate and previous research. The research-based teaching integrates academic content with method training.
Overall, the course provides students with both theoretical and analytical competence and practical tools for working with climate and environmental issues in a broad field of practice, both within and outside academia.
Learning outcome
Knowledge - the student:
* has in-depth knowledge of the sociology's approach to the relationship between human and nature.
* understands how different knowledge regimes compete and cooperate within the climate and environmental field.
* has in depth insight into the concept of sustainability, the sustainability goals and goal conflicts related to the fulfillment of these.
* can formulate and analyze sociologically relevant issues about climate, sustainability and the environment, and organize the climate debate within academic discussions.
Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:
* develop a project within a current climate and environment-related public debate, and communicate this in writing and orally.
* treat one of the themes which was discussed in instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner at an internationally high level.
Learning methods and activities
Lectures and seminars 4 hours per week.
Further on evaluation
Groupbased research assignment and individual paper
Recommended previous knowledge
Master's degree in Sociology or equivalent
Course materials
To be decided at the start of the course
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOS3522 | 10.0 | AUTUMN 2022 |
No
Version: 1
Credits:
10.0 SP
Study level: Doctoral degree level
Term no.: 1
Teaching semester: AUTUMN 2022
Language of instruction: Norwegian
Location: Trondheim
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Political Science
Department with academic responsibility
Department of Sociology and Political Science
Examination
Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
- Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
- Autumn ORD Groupbased research assignment 40/100
-
Room Building Number of candidates - Autumn ORD Paper 60/100
-
Room Building Number of candidates
- * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"