ESSP 160 - Sustainability Society
2021 Fall Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 7463
Course Information
You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced in a Blackboard Announcement. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.
Times and Location
Instructor Information
Sean Hammond
Course Description
Course Overview
David Foster Wallace’s question of “what is water” is an analogy for the unseen influences in our lives. Human interactions with the natural environment are filtered through the lens of society which has traditionally viewed environmental protection and socio-economics as trade-offs, always opposed to each other. This course looks at the concept of sustainability, the theory behind it, and what it means for individuals and societies. Above all, this course encourages students to ask themselves “what is my water?”
Assessments
The following assignments will be used to assess student progress toward understanding and effectively communicating: sustainability as a concept; what it means for individual behaviour, social action, economic activities, and leadership in some of the challenges facing current environmental problems. |
Grading System
|
Paper (30%)
Writing assignments/quizzes300 pts
Through these, students will show that they can summarize complex issues, compare and contrast ideas, and draw connections between course concepts.
Exam (50%)
Mid-term Exam200 pts
Students will show an understanding of course concepts and make connections between different ideas from class materials including readings, lectures, videos, & discussions.
Final Exam300 pts
Students will show an understanding of course concepts and make connections between different ideas from class materials including readings, lectures, videos, & discussions.
Group Project (20%)
Class participation and projects200 pts
Preparation and active engagement in course discussions, online lectures, small group activities, and online/in-class presentations.
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
Day: | Date: | Reading(s): | Agenda/Topic: | Due: |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tue | 8/24 | Class Introduction | ||
Thu | 8/26 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 1 | Waking Up to Nature | WA1 (Pre-class prespectives) due WA2 (Silly cats) due |
Tue | 8/31 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 2-3 | Stuff & Clothes | WA3 (Personal inventory) due |
Thu | 9/2 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 4 | Food | |
Tue | 9/7 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 5 | Automobiles | |
Thu | 9/9 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 6 | Screens | |
Tue | 9/14 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 7-8 | Parties & Sexuality | WA4 (Screen time) due |
Thu | 9/16 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 9 | Religion | |
Tue | 9/21 | "The Nature of College," chpt: 10-11 | Politics & Making History | |
Thu | 9/23 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 1-2 | Sustainability Concept & History | |
Tue | 9/28 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 3-4 | Biosphere & Anthropocene | |
Thu | 9/30 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 5 | Climate Change | |
Tue | 10/5 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 6-7 | Water & Ecosystems | |
Thu | 10/7 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 8 | Pollution | |
Tue | 10/12 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 9 | Energy | |
Thu | 10/14 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 10-11 | Livable Cities | |
Tue | 10/19 | Midterm Test | ||
Thu | 10/21 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 12 | Food | |
Tue | 10/26 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 13-14 | Products, Waste, & Recycling | WA5 (Waste record) due |
Thu | 10/28 | Video | "Merchants of Doubt" | |
Tue | 11/2 | "Sustainability principles," chpt: 15-17 | Agents of Change | |
Thu | 11/4 | Global climate change readings | Climate Change & World Views, part 1 - Case study 1 | |
Tue | 11/9 | Peru & Switzerland | Climate Change & World Views, part 2 - Case study 1 | |
Thu | 11/11 | No Class | ||
Tue | 11/16 | Petra & Chaco Canyon readings & videos | Water is life, part 1 – Case study 2 | |
Thu | 11/18 | Lake Chad, Aral Sea, & Phoenix, AZ | Water is life, part 2 – Case study 2 | |
Tue | 11/23 | “Tomorrow’s Table” chapters | Sustainable Agriculture, part 1 - Case study 3 | |
Thu | 11/25 | No Class | ||
Tue | 11/30 | Should trees have standing? | Sustainability Legal questions, part 1 - Case study 4 | |
Thu | 12/2 | Should animals have standing? | Sustainability Legal questions, part 2 - Case study 4 | |
Tue | 12/7 | Leadership for env. sustainability, chpt 3 | Challenges & strategies in leading sustainability | WA6 (Green leader) due |
Thu | 12/9 | Leadership for env. sustainability, chpt 6 | The End | WA7 (Post-class perspectives) due |
Tue | 12/14 | No Class | ||
Thu | 12/16 | Final Exam | Meet at 14:00? Officially 15:15 Meet at 15:30? Officially 17:30 |