Society Economy and Sustainability
COURSE SPECIFICATION
| Course Title: | Society, Economy and Sustainability | Code: | GEOY 1017 |
| Co-ordinator: | Dr Mike McGibbon | Level: | 1 |
| School: | School of Science | Credits: | 30 |
| Department: | Pharmaceutical, Chemistry & Environmental Sciences | ||
Aims
This course introduces Geography and Environmental Science students to social, economic and political processes and the resulting spatial patterns of population, built environment, economic development and environmental concerns that characterise contemporary society. The course addresses human-environment relations and issues of social justice and quality of life from a variety of methodological perspectives and at a variety of spatial scales. As such the course provides a broad platform for developing understanding of human geography/social science concepts and issues necessary for progression to more evaluative consideration of specialist Geographical and Environmental Science subject matter at level 2. Underpinning all of the material presented is the concept of sustainability as it pertains to the social and economic environment.
The course aims to:
- introduce the students to key human geography and social science concepts that are pertinent to both geography and environmental science students
- ensure the students appreciate how changing methodologies shape scholars' enquiry and evaluation of the social and economic environment
- to prepare students for more advanced critical study of the socio-spatial and environmental consequences of social, economic and political processes.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
- describe the contrasts between the scientific (positivist) tradition of enquiry and the variety of social science approaches to enquiry, including the Behaviouralist, Humanist and Political Economy perspectives
- define and describe key concepts in geography and environmental science, including globalisation, sustainability, and the emergence of environmentalism as a social movement
- describe the geographical characteristics and discuss the impacts of key socio-economic issues of importance in geography and environmental science
- demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills.
Indicative Content
- The nature of science and social science
- Behavioural, Humanistic and Political Economy perspectives
- The emergence of environmentalism
- The concept of Sustainability
- The concepts of Dominant Social Paradigm and New Environmental Paradigm
- Globalisation and the developed and developing worlds
- Introduction to international Geopolitical relations and Globalisation
- Global environmental concerns
- Work and housing as resources determining quality of life
- Gender as a determinant of life chances
- Dynamics of population change
- International migration
- Population, place and politics
- Population, technology and development
- Introduction to transport issues
Learning and Teaching Activities
The approach taken to teaching and learning is designed to promote the development of key transferable skills and to provide a platform for the development of progressively deeper and reflective learning. Accordingly, teaching is by means of formal lectures combined with reflective discussion sessions.
A range of both formative and summative assessments is employed including a phase test designed to test knowledge and understanding of key concepts early in the course and to provide early feedback to students (Learning outcomes 1 and 4) ; a group seminar presentation and associated individual report testing knowledge, teamwork, oral and written presentation skills (learning outcomes 2,3,4); an essay designed to test knowledge and the ability to discuss, argue and evaluate (outcomes 2,3,4); and, a final theory examination which challenges students to demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and to write essays coherently under the pressure of the exam setting (outcomes 1,2,3,4).