Environmental Sociology Syllabus
Spring 2014
University of Montana
Course Number: SOCI 470
Day: T/H
Time: 5:10-6:30pm
Class Location: LA 235
Professor: Cassie Sheets
Email: cassandra.sheets@mso.umt.edu
Office Location: Social Science 317
Office Hours: Thursdays, 4:05-5:05pm or by appointment
Course Description
Environmental sociology is a subdiscipline of sociology that takes into account how humans and the
“natural” environment influence one another. Environmental sociology is a useful tool for students
across disciplines, from Sociology, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Anthropology, Native American
Studies, Women & Gender Studies, and more. Environmental sociology asks questions such as Why do
different groups understand and interact with nature differently?, How is the environment a major
influence in economic and political affairs?, and How does natural resource allocation depend on a
person’s position in the social order? We will investigate these questions and more throughout the
semester. I highly encourage critical thinking about these interesting, large-scale inquiries.
This course focuses on several theoretical perspectives and concepts within the discipline of
environmental sociology. We will read from a textbook, readers, and academic journals to understand
theoretical frameworks and concepts. We will use case studies as examples to better understand the
theoretical perspectives and concepts we investigate.
Course Objectives
This course aims to give you an understanding of the history and theoretical perspectives of
environmental sociology. These theoretical perspectives include: social constructionism, political
economy, political ecology, environmental justice, risk society, and resource dependent society
frameworks.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to understand, analyze, critique, and compare all of the
above perspectives within an environmental sociology context. You will do this by writing and verbally
explaining to the class two theoretical comparisons, writing six short case study papers, and completing
two in-class essays.
Expectations
I expect everyone to come to class prepared and open for discussion. Respect is necessary for
productive learning to take place in the classroom. You are expected to listen respectfully when the
instructor or peers are speaking. No harassment regarding a person’s gender, race, gender identity,
sexual orientation, ethnicity, class position, age, physical or learning disability will be tolerated. If you act
disrespectfully, you will be asked to leave the classroom and may not return until the following class.
You are not allowed to use cell phones, iPods, or any computer programs other than for taking notes in
class. If the instructor sees you doing any of the above, you will be given one warning and then will be
asked to leave the classroom for the day.
If you cheat, you will receive zero points on that assignment – case study write-up, theoretical
comparison, or in-class exam – and will be subject to academic discipline and possible failure in the
class. Depending on the severity of cheating, you will lose your opportunity for extra credit points for
the entire semester. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. To avoid plagiarism, visit the following website for
tips, work individually on your assignments, and make sure to cite sources using American Sociological
Association (ASA) format, found at (http://www.asanet.org/students/QuickStyleguide.pdf).
Email communication via your University of Montana email account is necessary to receive all messages
about the course. You will also need to check your UM Moodle account regularly to receive important
information. If you email me, you may expect a response within 24 hours if sent on a weekday and 48
hours if sent over the weekend. Case study write-ups will be turned in electronically using Moodle.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Montana is dedicated to providing fair instruction for students with disabilities. Please
visit http://www.umt.edu/disability for more information. If you need disability accommodations, you
need to contact me at least 5 days in advance so I have time to communicate with UM’s Disability
Services to set up accommodations. If you have any questions, please contact me via email, speak with
me after class, or visit my office hour. Communication in advance is key; grades will not be changed
retroactively.
Grades
Grades will be earned through case study write-ups, in-class essay exams, and theoretical comparison
assignments. Up to 10 extra credit points may be earned by meaningful in-class participation. Comments
that are off topic or repeated will not count toward extra credit participation points. Any attendance at
a review session will count toward extra credit participation points.
The following scale will be used for grades:
95-100 = A
90-94 = A89-87 = B+
76-74 = C
73-70 = C69-67 = D+
86-84 = B
66-64 = D
80-83 = B63-60 = D-
79-77 = C+
59 or lower = F
If an assignment is late, with the exception of your or a direct family member’s hospitalization or death
(with hospital verification) or having gained approval from the instructor ahead of time, your grade will
drop down a full letter grade below what you would have earned if it was turned in on time. Each 24
hours past the due date and time is another drop of a full letter grade.
If you do not show up during the assigned class time to complete an in-class exam, with the exception of
your or a direct family member’s hospitalization or death (with hospital verification) or having gained
approval from the instructor ahead of time, your grade will drop two letter grades what it would have
been if you took the exam on time. If you do not contact the instructor within 24 hours of missing the
exam, you will receive zero points for your in-class exam.
Class Points
 6 Case study write-ups, 20 points each
 2 In-class exams, 30 points each
120 points
60 points

2 Theoretical comparisons, 20 points each

10 potential extra credit participation points
40 points
220 points total
Case Study Write-Ups
You are required to complete six case study write-ups during the semester. A video pertaining to the
case study will be shown in class before the write-ups are due. If you miss watching the video in class,
you will need to watch the video outside of class to complete the assignment. Videos will be on Reserve
at the Mansfield Library for one week following being shown in class. You will have one week after the
last segment of each video has been shown in-class before the write-up is due. Case study write-ups are
based on several questions which will be handed out in class on the first day of viewing a video. That
way, you may take notes as you watch the video, to later fully write up answers to the questions. You
need to incorporate assigned reading material in your write-ups to receive full credit. You also need to
cite readings in ASA (American Sociological Association) format to receive full credit. Further instructions
on case studies will be distributed before the first case study is assigned. Please keep the in-depth case
study instruction sheet, as you will need it throughout the semester.
Theoretical Comparisons
You are required to do a small amount of research outside of class twice during the semester as part of
exam reviews; theoretical comparisons are due the week before the midterm and the week before the
final. There is also a mock theoretical comparison at the beginning of the semester, which will not be
graded. You must find a non-academic, “current events” article or story that is about an environmental
topic interesting to you. Then you must write a one page paper comparing two of the theories we
learned in class as applied to the article’s topic/scenario. Further explanation will be given in class
before the first graded Theoretical Comparison is due.
Exams
There are two in-class essay exams during the semester, one approximately 2/3 through the semester
and one during finals week. Exams will be in blue books and are closed-note, closed-book. Each exam is
composed of three essay questions, and you will need to answer two of those three questions for each
exam.
Readings
Most readings can be accessed electronically using UM’s Eres. It is up to you whether or not you want to
read digitally or print out and read, but all assigned reading is required and you are expected to come to
class ready to review the material.
We will be reading from several books throughout the semester. Our main textbook is Michael Bell’s An
Invitation to Environmental Sociology, 4th edition, with most assigned chapters available on Eres. The
remaining required chapters will be given to you in hard copy. This book is also on Reserve at the
Mansfield Library to read. There are also assigned article readings from multiple sources, all available on
Eres. The following are assigned readings that are not available on Eres. You will either need to purchase
these books (available at the UM Bookstore) or read them at the Mansfield Library, since they will be on
Reserve: Robert D. Bullard and Beverly Wright’s Race, Place, and Environmental Justice After Hurricane
Katrina, Richard Heinberg’s The Oil Depletion Protocol, and Robert William Sanford’s Water, Weather,
and the Mountain West.
When reading is assigned on the schedule, you need to show up to class on that day already having read
the material.
Schedule
Week 1
Introduction to Environmental Sociology
January 28th
In-class: Introduction to course
January 30th
Read: “The Evolution of Environmental Sociology” by Dunlap
In-class: Lecture on history of Environmental Sociology
________________________________________________________________________________
Week 2
February 4th
Read: Bell pp. 1-7, skim “Sustainability” (pp. 7-24), “Environmental
Justice” (pp. 24-33), and “The Beauty of Ecology” (pp. 33-36) sections in Bell, read Bell
pp. 37-38
In-class: Facilitated discussion about Theoretical Comparisons
Due: Theoretical Comparison 1 (not graded)
Social Constructionism
February 6th
Read Bell. Ch. 8 “The Human Nature of Nature”
In-class: Lecture on Social Constructionism
________________________________________________________________________________
Week 3
February 11th Read: BBC’s “Raising Cane,” BBC’s “Toads’ Australian march quickens,”
“Have Australian cane toads finally met their match?” by Jeremy Hance, “Cane Toads
Are Their Own Worst Enemy” by Stephen Luntz
In-class: watch Cane Toads: An Unnatural History
Political Economy
February 13th Read: Bell Ch. 2 “Consumption and Materialism,” Ch. 3 “Money and
Machines”
In-class: Lecture on Political Economy
________________________________________________________________________________
Week 4
February 18th Read: State of Alaska’s “Red King Crab,” Science Daily’s “King Crab Goes
Deep to Avoid Hot Water,” UAF’s “New findings show increased ocean acidification in
Alaska,” US Global Change Research Program’s “US National Assessment of the Potential
Consequences of Climate Variability and Change Region: Alaska”
In-class: watch Pots of Gold
Due: Case Study 1 write-up
Political Ecology
February 20th Read: “Who Owns America? Social Conflict over Property Rights” by
Jacobs, “Property, Properties, and the Distribution of Wealth” by Gudeman
In-class: Lecture on Political Ecology
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 5
February 25th Read: “Officials struggle to regulate homeless camps in Missoula” by
Kidston
In-class: Article activity/discussion
Due: Case Study 2 write-up
February 27th
Read: “Land (and How it Gets that Way)” by Garkovich
In-class: watch Land (and How it Gets that Way) Part I
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 6
March 4th
In-class: watch Land (and How it Gets that Way) Part II
Environmental Justice
March 6th
Read: Bell Ch. 5 “Body and Health,” Katrina book –start Part I
In-class: Lecture on Environmental Justice
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 7
March 11th
Read: “Anatomy of Environmental Racism and the Environmental
Justice Movement” by Bullard, “Principles of Environmental Justice,” Katrina book -finish
Part I
In-class: Environmental Justice activity
Due: Case Study 3 write-up
March 13th
Read: Katrina book, Part II
In-class: watch When the Levees Broke Part I
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 8
March 18th
Read: Katrina book, Part III, IV
In-class: watch When the Levees Broke Part II
Review
March 20th
In-class: Theoretical Comparisons
Due: Theoretical Comparison 2, Case Study 4 write-up
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 9
March 25th
In-class: Review session, Writing Center speaker
March 27th
In-class: Essay exam
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Spring Break! (March 29th-April 6th)
________________________________________________________________________________
Week 10
Risk Society
April 8th
In-class: Go over Midterm exams
April 10th
Read: Bell Ch. 9 “The Rationality of Risk”
In-class: Lecture on Risk Society, Writing Center follow-up
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 11
April 15th
Read: PBS’ “Meltdown at Three Mile Island,” NPR’s “Three Mile Island
30 Years Later,” NPR’s “Fukushima, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl: Putting It All In
Perspective”
In-class: watch Meltdown at Three Mile Island
Resource Dependent Society
April 17th
Read: Bell Ch. 4 “Population and Development”
In-class: Lecture on Resource Dependent Society
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 12
April 22nd
Read: The Oil Depletion Protocol by Heinberg, Part I-III
In-class: Resource Dependent Society activity
Due: Case Study 5 write-up
April 24th
Read: The Oil Depletion Protocol by Heinberg, Part IV-VI
In-class: watch The Crude Awakening
__________________________________________________________________________________
Week 13
April 29th
Read: Water, Weather, and the Mountain West by Sanford, Part I
In-class: Theoretical Comparisons
Due: Theoretical Comparison 3
May 1st
Read: Water, Weather, and the Mountain West by Sanford, Part II
In-class: Policy activity
Due: Case Study 6 write-up
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Week 14
May 6th
Read: Water, Weather, and the Mountain West by Sanford, Part III-VI
In-class: Review session
May 8th
In-class: Essay exam
Enjoy summer break!